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14 Of The Best Brightening Serums For Your Most Radiant Complexion Ever

Go from grey to glowing with these wonder serums.

By ELLE Beauty Team
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A bright, even complexion is something we all covet. But, how exactly does one go from grey to glowing? Brightening serums might just be the answer.

Not to be confused with skin lighteners, which facialist Kate Kerr describes as using prescription strength ingredients such as hydroquinone to ‘actively lighten pigmentation by very quickly bleaching it out’, brightening serums take a much gentler approach that's more about evening out skin tone instead of lightening it.

Over time brightening serums work to increase luminosity and enhance the way light interacts with our skin delivering that much-desired radiance, one of the cornerstones of a youthful complexion. Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting points out that brightening serums work in a variety of different ways depending on ingredients, ‘chemical exfoliants like lactic acid will increase skin brightness, by revealing the younger, more radiant cells underneath, as will topical retinoids, which speed up cell turnover’.

To really amp up the radiance Dr Sam is a fan of combining brightening ingredients such as retinol and niacinamide to ‘create a real wow factor’. Other luminosity boosting ingredients facialist Kate Kerr recommends looking out for include arbutin, liquorice, vitamin C and Kojic acid.

All skin types can benefit from incorporating a brightening serum in their routine. Dr Sam Bunting points out that ‘once you reach your mid 20s, cell turnover starts to slow down a little, and the impact of our 24/7 lifestyle can start to take its toll, especially for city dwellers.’ By adding a brightening serum to the mix it helps to increase skin cell turnover, slowing down the ageing process and helps to deliver a much-needed dose of luminosity to lack-lustre complexions. A real win, win result.

Read on to discover the 14 best brightening serums to bring a touch of radiance to your complexion, including results driven product recommendations from Dr Sam Bunting and facialist Kate Kerr.

1

Templespa Let's Concentrate Skin Glowing Serum

Let's Concentrate Skin Glowing Serum
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Templespa Let's Concentrate Skin Glowing Serum

£50 at Harrods
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Not happy to settle for just another vitamin C product, this gel-textured serum combines the powers of two high-performance brightening ingredients, vitamin C and alpha arbutin, as well as a host of other skin-boosting ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and zinc to create a super cocktail that immediately delivers glow to your skin, and over time will even out pigmentation and dark spots left by blemishes, while smoothing and rejuvenating your complexion.

2

Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum - £25

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Vitamin C is arguably the most popular ingredient in the brightening game, but if you find your skin doesn't get on with it, don't despair! Glowing skin is still within reach. This sheer pearlescent serum is enriched with niacinamide to return your skin to optimal levels of luminosity, bolstered by antioxidants to prevent further damage from free radicals.

3

REN Clean Skincare Glow & Protect Serum

Glow & Protect Serum
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REN Clean Skincare Glow & Protect Serum

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You know that gorgeous, lit-from-within glow your skin gets after a day spent in the sun (wearing SPF of course)? Well, if you could bottle that effect, we imagine it would look a lot like Ren's Glow and Protect Serum. Drawing on the rich, natural extracts from kakadu plum, dragonfruit and pomegranate, your microbiome is supplied with all it needs to keep up the good fight, while your skin shows off its newly found radiance.

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4

Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum

Renaissance Brightlight Serum
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Oskia Renaissance Brightlight Serum

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Whoever said 13 was unlucky clearly just hadn't come across Oskia's Renaissance Brightlight Serum. Formulated with (you guessed it) 13 bio-available active ingredients, such as pumpkin and papaya enzymes which will gently exfoliate the surface of the skin, you'll be looking fresher faced after the first application.

5

Dr. Sam's Flawless Nightly Serum - £44

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This hard-working serum contains four brightening ingredients (Niacinamide, Azelaic Acid, Retinol and Bakuchiol), and was developed with a grown-up glow in mind. Dr Sam encourages you to ‘invite the light’ by using it regularly every evening.

6

Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

Crystal Retinal 6
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Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6

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Another Dr Sam recommendation, this retinol is a great choice for sensitive skin as it comes in varying strengths meaning you can slowly work your way up to reveal a brighter more even skin tone.

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7

versed Stroke Of Brilliance Brightening Serum

Stroke Of Brilliance Brightening Serum
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versed Stroke Of Brilliance Brightening Serum

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Packed with brightening superheroes such as liquorice root, niacinamide and vitamin C, this super serum helps to fade pigmentation and increase luminosity.

8

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

C E Ferulic Serum
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SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

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A high potency vitamin C serum that protects the skin from ageing free radicals and pollution whilst visibly brightening and evening out skin tone.

9

Zelens Lumino Brightening Serum

Lumino Brightening Serum
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Zelens Lumino Brightening Serum

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With super brightening powerhouse niacinamide as the main ingredient this supercharged, complexion-correcting serum will tackle dull, lack-lustre skin types.

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10

Garden of Wisdom C-Deep Vitamin C Serum

C-Deep Vitamin C Serum
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Garden of Wisdom C-Deep Vitamin C Serum

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Featuring a super potent form of vitamin C (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate) this serum penetrates deep into the skin helping to fade discolouration, brighten and stimulate collagen production. A real anti-aging superhero.

11

Dr Dennis Gross Professional Grade IPL Dark Spot Concentrated Serum - £99

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Packed with glow-giving ingredients such as lactic acid, kojic acid, and arbutin, this radiance giving formula targets surface discolouration whilst protecting against environmental stressors.

12

Paula's Choice Clear Skin Clearing Treatment With Azelaic Acid

Clear Skin Clearing Treatment With Azelaic Acid
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Paula's Choice Clear Skin Clearing Treatment With Azelaic Acid

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Perfect for oily acne-prone skin, azelaic acid helps to prevent breakouts, diminishes redness and helps to fade acne marks, brown spots and unwanted pigmentation. A true multi-tasking wonder.

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13

The Inkey List Alpha Arbutin

 Alpha Arbutin
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The Inkey List Alpha Arbutin

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Don’t let the purse friendly price fool you, this Alpha Arbutin serum from The Inkey List packs a glow-inducing punch. With a good dose of hyaluronic acid this serum not only helps to even out the complexion, it also gives thirsty skin some much-needed hydration.

14

Summer Fridays CC Me Serum

CC Me Serum
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Summer Fridays CC Me Serum

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With two forms of vitamin c and niacinamide this serum is a real triple threat when it comes to brightening. This serum's radiance-revealing properties will definitely make you want to go filter free.

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