Arbutin, also known as alpha arbutin, can be derived from the bearberry plant, or made synthetically, and is used in skincare to lighten dark spots. It works by breaking down in the body into hydroquinone, which can inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for producing melanin. It is one of the most well-researched actives for lightening pigmentation, with better skin tolerability vs. prescription hydroquinone.

Renude

I have chosen this cult serum as your evening treatment step, to provide a resurfacing and brightening action and address your key skin concerns.

Arbutin can be derived from the bearberry plant, or made synthetically, and is used in skincare to lighten dark spots. It works by breaking down in the body into hydroquinone, which can inhibit tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for producing melanin. It is one of the most well-researched actives for lightening pigmentation, with better skin tolerability vs. prescription hydroquinone.

arbutin

Sugar Cane extract is a natural ingredient that works as a humectant when applied to the skin, meaning it draws water molecules towards it, plumping & hydrating the area. It is also the natural plant from which glycolic acid is derived, so it is thought to have some degree of exfoliating & brightening action, although there is currently insufficient research proving this.

saccharum officinarum (sugar cane) extract

Salix Alba (white willow) bark extract, is a plant extract containing naturally-occurring salicylic acid as it’s active constituent.

Salicylic acid works as an exfoliating acid to dissolve the keratin that binds the outermost layers of the skin, encouraging the natural exfoliation process of the skin. Due to its oil-soluble form, salicylic acid can penetrate inside the pore, to clear out dead skin cell build up and prevent comedones (blocked pores) from occurring, or acne-causing bacteria to overpopulate within the pore. This P.Acnes bacteria is anaerobic so needs an oxygen-free environment to thrive, and thus require a pore to be blocked.

salix alba (willow) bark extract

Willow bark contains naturally-occurring salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works as an exfoliating acid to dissolve the keratin that binds the outermost layers of the skin, encouraging the natural exfoliation process of the skin. Due to its oil-soluble form, salicylic acid can penetrate inside the pore, to clear out dead skin cell build up and prevent comedones (blocked pores) from occurring, or acne-causing bacteria to overpopulate within the pore. This P.Acnes bacteria is anaerobic so needs an oxygen-free environment to thrive, and thus require a pore to be blocked.

Bilberry is a natural fruit, rich in antioxidants to protect from free radical damage.

vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) fruit/leaf extract

iS Clinical's most popular product, this fast-acting, long-term, results-oriented formula decreases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, visibly evens skin tone, and is excellent for blemish-prone skin. Touted by physicians as “remarkable” and “phenomenal,” ACTIVE SERUM usually produces results within a couple of days. Potent activity will be noted upon application as evidenced by a cool tingling sensation.

I have chosen this Vitamin C serum to support your skin goals without causing any flare ups. The formula is specifically designed for those with rosacea / acne, and offers high strength antioxidant protection and anti-inflammatory benefits.

L-ascorbic acid is Vitamin C in its purest form, and the active form required by the body to result in the many skin skin benefits of Vitamin C. The issue with L-ascorbic acid is in the delivery, as it is very unstable in water, and needs a pH 4 or below for it to penetrate the skin. That being said, when it can be stabilised in a formula and is able to penetrate the skin, it provides the highest potency of any form of Vitamin C currently available.

ascorbic acid

Vitamin C has many skin benefits, including its action as an antioxidant, to neutralise free radicals (reactive molecules with an unpaired electron), preventing them from causing damage to cells within the body. Vitamin C is also involved in the collagen-production process, so provides anti-wrinkle activity through this mechanism. Lastly, Vitamin C inhibits the enzyme tyrosinase, which is involved in melanin-synthesis, and can therefore visibly reduce areas of hyperpigmentation in the skin.

polyporus umbellatus (mushroom) extract

Mushroom extract is used in skincare to naturally brighten the skin and reduce hyperpigmentation. Studies have shown that compounds from specific mushroom types can inhibit tyrosinase activity (an enzyme involved in melanin synthesis), which in turn visibly minimises areas of hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin A, aka Retinol, is one of the most well-researched actives used in skincare today. Retinol and all of its derivatives are broken down within the skin first into retinaldehyde, then into retinoic acid, the active form recognised by the body to trigger it’s skin benefits.

Retinoic acid (aka tretinoin) is the gold standard of anti-ageing and works in a number of ways. Firstly, it blocks the production of collagen-degrading enzymes, meaning collagen does not get broken down as quickly in the skin. After prolonged use (6M+), it has also been shown to stimulate the production of type I and type III collagen, reducing wrinkles and improving skin firmness. It has been shown to protect against UV-induced damage, as well as reducing the appearance of hyperpigmentation in the skin. Skin treated with retinoids is smoother, more even-toned, firmer and younger looking.

retinol

Features iS Clinical's scientifically advanced Vitamin C time-release technology combined with a superior form of olive leaf extract and pure vitamins A & E this clinically proven formula delivers high antioxidant protection and exceptional healing properties. A must for Acne & Rosacea sufferers.

I have chosen this highly active brightening serum as your morning treatment step, to target wrinkles, pigmentation and scarring.

Asiatic acid is one of the active constituents found in Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass). This plant has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for it’s healing properties.

asiatic acid

Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass) has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for its healing properties. It contains phytochemicals which research shows can stimulate blood flow, strengthen the skin and provide antioxidant protection, all of which combined accelerate the wound healing process.

It is also believed to have the ability to stimulate the fibroblasts to produce type 1 collagen, which further supports wound healing as well as providing anti-ageing benefits. Collagen is also a protein whose production decreases with age, and is essential for maintaining skin firmness & smoothness, so this collagen-boosting property gives the added benefit of reducing wrinkles and firming the skin. It has also been shown to stimulate the production of hyaluronic acid in the skin, another molecule whose production slows with age, but is essential for keeping skin looking hydrated, plump & youthful.

Asiaticoside is one of the active constituents found in Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass). This plant has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for it’s healing properties.

asiaticoside

Calcium pantothenate is the salt of pantothenic acid, a form of Vitamin B5. Its main benefit in cosmetics is as a humectant, meaning it can draw water molecules to it, hydrating and plumping the area it has been applied to.

Pantothenic acid also supports the natural lipid barrier of the skin, by encouraging the production of a precursor to fatty acids & sphingolipids, both of which are essential parts of the skin barrier. This mechanism helps to moisturise the skin by reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), therefore retaining more moisture within the skin. This also helps to reduce inflammation in dry or broken skin, as an intact skin barrier will prevent potential irritants from getting into the epidermis.

calcium pantothenate

Vitamin B5 is a humectant, meaning it can draw water molecules to it, hydrating and plumping the area it has been applied to. It also supports the natural lipid barrier of the skin, by encouraging the production of a precursor to fatty acids & sphingolipids, both of which are essential parts of the skin barrier. This mechanism helps to moisturise the skin by reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), therefore retaining more moisture within the skin. This also helps to reduce inflammation in dry or broken skin, as an intact skin barrier will prevent potential irritants from getting into the epidermis.

copper tripeptide growth factor

Copper peptide (GHK-Cu) is involved in a number of processes in the body: wound healing, collagen synthesis, and as an anti-inflammatory agent. There is evidence to show that the level of this protein in the blood reduces as we age, so including this in our skincare may help to support the body’s natural anti-ageing processes.

Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide which occurs naturally in the body. Hyaluronic acid works as an extremely powerful humectant, able to attract 1000x its own weight in water, to immediately plump and hydrate the area it is applied to. The body’s own production of hyaluronic acid slows with age, so supplementing this ingredient in topical formulations helps to support the skin’s natural moisture-binding, anti-ageing mechanisms.

hyaluronic acid

l-ascorbic acid

Madecassic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene by classification, is one of the active constituents found in Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Kola or Tiger grass). This plant has been used for centuries in Eastern medicine for it’s healing properties.

madecassic acid

Urea is humectant ingredient found in the skin’s natural moisturising factor (NMF), making up around 7-8% of the total composition. Its humectant properties mean it can bind to water molecules in the atmosphere, drawing them to it, and in turn plumping and hydrating the skin. Research also shows that Urea has a mild exfoliating action on the skin, encouraging the removal of dead cells which results in smoother, healthier, more hydrated skin.

urea

SUPER SERUM ADVANCE+ is a scientifically advanced, clinically proven formula that, for the first time, combines a 15% concentration of our next generation L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) with a bioidentical Copper Tripeptide Growth Factor. SUPER SERUM ADVANCE+ also contains powerful botanical antioxidants and safe skin brighteners. Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Helps improve the look of hypertrophic (raised) scar tissue and fine stretch marks. Safely brightens and helps visibly diminish uneven skin tone. Provides support against environmental aggressors. Provides extremely powerful antioxidant protection.

Vitamin C works as an antioxidant to protect the skin, as well as helping to reduce visible hyperpigmentation, and improve overall radiance.

Vitamin C serum picks - Ascorbic acid

This aesthetician favourite combines 15% L-ascorbic acid (the most potent form of Vitamin C) alongside copper growth peptides and is clinically proven to improve skin texture and tone over time. The formula also includes arbutin to help fade pigmentation marks, plus hyaluronic acid, urea and extracts of centella asiatica to hydrate and soothe the skin, mitigating any potential side effects of the high strength Vitamin C.

This formula combines 15% L-ascorbic acid alongside additional antioxidants vitamin e, b5 and glutathione. Perfect for those looking to maximise their daily antioxidant protection.

A very high-strength formula, this is well suited to those who do not have sensitive skin or those who are used to using vitamin c in their regime already. It is paired with hyaluronic acid, panthenol and allantoin to hydrate and soothe, so may be possible to introduce slowly into your routine even if you haven't used a vitamin c product before (if this is what your expert recommends).

This is a super high-strength water-based serum which includes 23% pure L-ascorbic acid plus Ferulic acid to offer antioxidant protection and to stabilise the Vitamin C. This one tingles on application as it gets to work, and really delivers on results.

Arbutin

What is Arbutin?

What does Arbutin do?

Who is Arbutin good for?

Who should avoid Arbutin?

Arbutin

What is Arbutin?

What does Arbutin do?

Who is Arbutin good for?

Who should avoid Arbutin?

Treatments (3)