I still wish I could turn back time and tell my younger self not to lie on the beach all day with insufficient sun protection (reapplication? Probably once), but that’s not going to happen. Instead, I’m trying skincare products that might help erase the sun spots. The test subject for the past 2 months? Embryolisse Anti-Dark Spot Lightening Serum (RRP in Belgium: 39,95 euros).
You have most probably heard of Embryolisse before, if not for this serum (it’s relatively new on the market), then for the famous Lait-Crème Concentré. It is a French pharmaceutical brand, and by now we know how many French pharmaceutical products can really exceed our expectations!
The reason why this serum sparked my interest in the first place is the fact that the ingredient list is plain and simple. I was doing a little market research at that point, and I realized most brightening/dark spot lightening serums contain at least alcohol denat. My skin does not seem to react particularly badly to it, but it is an ingredient that I prefer to avoid. As you will see at the end, the ingredient list of Embryolisse Anti-Dark Spot Lightening Serum is very straightforward, and it is paraben-free as well.
Embryolisse Anti-Dark Spot Lightening Serum has very simple packaging. The bottle is opaque, and it has an airless pump so you don’t have to worry about wasting any product or having it go bad. The serum is a clear gel. The smell is a little peculiar (I don’t know why, but it seems to remind me of medicine. It is not unpleasant though) and it lingers for a little while, but it is not strong.
In short, the Embryolisse Anti-Dark Spot Lightening Serum works with glycolic acid, lactic acid, azelaic acid (and a more stable form of it too). It promises to prevent and visibly fade pigmentation imperfections. It is also supposed to “lighten the complexion” (though to be very honest, I think Embryolisse should find a better translator. The text in English isn’t very accurate of what the original version in French expresses).
The serum spreads out very easily, and it is absorbed very easily into the skin. In the beginning I wasn’t too sure I was going to like it, as it is not the most hydrating serum I have tried. Since the weather has been bitterly cold, I ended up alternating this with my regular holy grail Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. However, I made sure I at least use this in the areas where I have spots, just to make sure the result would be representative of how this works.
For the first 6 weeks, I didn’t really witness any change, or let me say I wasn’t sure if the skin-lightening was because of the weather or the serum. It does also provide, to a lesser extent (in comparison with the Caudalie serum) an instant brightening effect, but that was all I was experiencing. Then one day, I noticed the smaller and lighter spots on my cheeks were looking a little lighter. I wasn’t altogether sure, but as I went on using it, I could see there really has been some dark spot lightening. After 9 weeks, nothing is really gone, but some smaller ones are definitely less visible!
Also, Embryolisse isn’t joking about the minimizing the risk of allergic reactions part. When something that contains AHAs doesn’t work for me, things go south very fast. With Embryolisse Anti-Dark Spot Lightening Serum, I haven’t experienced any redness or blotchiness.
Here is the ingredient list if you’re interested:
Bottom line: Embryolisse Anti-Dark Spot Lightening Serum does what it promises to do. It is not the most hydrating serum on the block, but within 2 months it has managed to lighten some of my less serious sun spots. In this weather I prefer to use it as a target treatment for the spotty area, and I would like to see what it can achieve after I’m done with the whole bottle!
Have you tried anything from Embryolisse? How about something that does help fade pigmentation? Would you recommend anything that works really well?
Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx
