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1. My Skin Mentor Dr. G Brightening Peeling Gel is a physical exfoliatior that flippin' works — the gel instantly forms into little balls of cellulose that sloughs off way more dead skin cells and surface debris than you thought possible for a smoother, brighter (hello, Vitamins C and E!) complexion.
2. Acwell Licorice pH Balancing Cleansing Toner uses the naturally brightening powers of licorice root and peony extract to keep your skin lookin' fresh and glowy, and it also has green tea to combat and reduce pigmentation, so what can it *not* do, tbh?
3. Glossier Solution is truly the ~solution~ (you knew it was coming) to your endless battles with acne- and dark-spot causing pores — we could wax poetic about the whole formula, but glycolic acid is the hero brightening and tone-improving AHA that breaks apart water bonds that attach dead cells to your skin.
4. Garner SkinActive Clearly Brighter Anti-Puff Eye Roller contains Vitamin C and caffeine to deliver a cooling punch to your puffy undereyes and lessen the intensity of your unwelcome dark circles — hello, wake-up call in your palm!
5. Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask has a satisfying, pudding-like texture coined as "shape memory cream" that instantly seeps into and clings onto your skin so you have a super smooth barrier between your skin and ~all the elements~ — it's also packed with antioxidants that brighten skintone, promote collagen production, and absorb UV rays so your Vitamin C products (work even better in conjunction!
6. Tarte Cosmetics Brighter Days Highlighting Moisturizer marries glow and hydration in one feels-barely-there formula with light-reflecting mineral pigments that give off a sheer highlight, because we love a good hybrid product — and P.S., it's sweat-resistant!
7. The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + HA 2% mildly exfoliates your skin to reveal your inner glow, while also reducing signs of inflammation and sensitivity (hi, Tasmanian pepperberry!). And that price tag is *chef's kiss*.
8. The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Light Cleansing Oil and Cleansing Foam are the power couple of double cleansing — rice water is a known brightening ingredient, and it helps gently remove all of your makeup without stripping it of moisture.
9. Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum packs in 20% Vitamin C and 10% AHA for a brightening effect you can't even try and fake — it absorbs practically instantly and goes right to work supporting cell turnover, removing debris, improving moisture levels, protecting skin from oxidation, and reducing UV damage for brighter skin over time.
10. Aveeno Positively Radiant Skin Brightening Exfoliating Daily Scrub is for anyone who gets terrible flashbacks of abrasive scrubs because it's super, super gentle (but has enough grit to feel like it's really doing something) and contains soy extract, which gradually brightens your skin, evens out your complexion, and improves any redness you might have.
11. Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask wraps your skin in a blanket of hydrating, plumping, and brightening your skin while you snooze, while leaving out all of the bad stuff, like clogging your pores and feeling super heavy and not sinking in.
12. Peace Out Microneedling Brightening Dots are your dark spots' worst nightmare because they deliver hard-hitting ingredients like niacinamide, licorice extract, and tranexamic acid more effectively than your hands alone — those little spikes you see are "micro-channels" that help lighten your dark spots in half the time that it takes normal products.
13. Peach & Lily Glass Skin Serum is like a skin superbooster that gets you way closer to achieving that coveted ~glass skin~, which simply means taking great care of their skin to the point where it looks as smooth, bright, and clear as a pane of glass!
14. Lumene Valo Arctic Berry Cocktail Brightening Hydra-Oil concocts a beautiful, bi-phase (you shake to mix the two "colors" together before applying!) refreshment for your skin to slurp up, but it does a lot more good than a normal cocktail, because it is powerful in its brightening and hydrating abilities — thanks to a combination of Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Arctic cloudberry, and cranberry seed oils.
15. Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème should be your first line of defense against dark circles and helps your concealer work way better — inspired by banana powder, it contains special pigments (as well as Vitamin C and collagen!) that instantly brighten up your undereyes.
16. Pixi Glow Tonic is an affordable fan favorite that'll make you swear off expensive brands because it does the damn job by employing glycolic acid to reveal brighter skin, as well as calming ingredients like aloe vera, ginseng, and botanical extracts to improve circulation and keep skin happy.
17. Summer Fridays Overtime Mask uses pumpkin (which has Vitamin C in it!) and apricot seed powder to polish away dead skin cells to reveal luminous, glowing skin, while oat kernel proteins help keep everything looking and feeling balanced.
18. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Sukari Babyfacial hits the refresh button on your skin because its potent 25% percent AHA blend banishes dead skin cells and revs up surface turnover for a ridiculously smooth and bright visage, while chickpea flour keeps your skin's brightness level all the way up (probably like the screen you're reading this on right now).
19. Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum brightens your skin tone over time, fades brown spots, and prevents further pigmentation from ruining the glow party that is your face.
20. Sunday Riley Good Genes All-In-One Lactic Acid Treatment is worth its $$$ price tag because it practically refreshes skin overnight — high potency lactic acid helps exfoliate dull skin and unclog pores, while licorice and lemongrass help enhance brightness. Facial in a bottle, is that you?
21. Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Daily Cleansing Pads tackle breakouts with just a few swipes of its resurfacing abilities, made up of 2.8% glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, and witch hazel — because achieving glowing skin shouldn't cost an arm and leg, or require a super extensive routine.
22. Dr. Roebuck's Lifesaver Skin Brightening Toner does an A+ job at reducing redness, evening out your skintone, and cleaning out your pores with crowd-favorite ingredients like organic witch hazel, aloe vera, and grapefruit and peppermint oils (which are natural AHAs!) — brighter skin in a few spritzes? Sign me up!
23. CeraVe Eye Repair Cream is gentle as can be (fragrance-free, hypoallergenic) and nips puffiness in the bud, while noticeably brightening dark circles — all the while replenishing ceramides and delivering long-lasting moisture.
24. Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner puts skin cell turnover on fast forward and enlists papaya extract to smooth skin and give it a natural glow that'll attract compliments from everyone you pass by.
25. Whamisa by Glow Studio Charcoal Chai Tea Pore Refining Glow Pads are alcohol-free exfoliating pads that gently and effectively buff away dead skin cells and dry flakes, so your glowy skin has a chance to truly shine.
26. Cosrx Triple C Lightning Liquid works overtime to help fade pigmentation (like brown spots or acne scarring) and protect your skin from free radical damage — and with 20.5% pure Vitamin C, you're sure to see an increase in brightness and glow faster than products with lesser amounts.
27. Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum uses a stabilized version of Vitamin C in conjunction with Vitamin E and ferulic acid to promote the production of collagen and reduce discoloration — and with the addition of hyaluronic acid, you know for sure you'll wake up with hydrated, glowing skin!
28. Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum corners dark spots with an oil-free formula of viniferine actions, olive squalane action, organic chamomile action, and organic grape water actions, so they don't have any choice but to fade away and leave behind a smooth, radiant mug.
29. Body Merry Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Cleanser contains a trifecta of brightening ingredients: glycolic acid (duh), willow bark, and jojoba beads to unclog pores, slough away dead skin cells and buildup, and banish dull skin for as long as you keep using it.
30. Elizavecca Milky Piggy EGF Retinol Cream is the nighttime cream that does it all: targets/treats acne, smooths fine lines, and brightens your skin tone — hello, soft, glowing skin!
31. Mediheal Vita Lightbeam Essential Masks provide targeted treatment for any uneven skintones and/or dark spots, so in 15 to 20 minutes' time you'll have instantly glowier skin!
32. Dr. Dennis Gross Clinical Grade IPL Dark Spot Correcting Serum truly has a professional-grade ingredients list, which includes but isn't limited to L-ascorbic acid, lactic acid, and kojic acid — all of that together fights against environmental aggressions, reduces visible discoloration with continued use, and improves skin brightness.
You and me after trying these products:
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