Clinique Derma White

I've been using the Clinique Derma White Advanced Brightening Essence and the Derma White Moisture Milk since the end of January 2009, along with the Derma White Super City Block Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 40++ since the end of December 2008. You can read my initial thoughts on the Super City Block here. In this post, I will review the essence and moisture milk, and also update you with my current thoughts on the sunscreen.

As I've stated before, the Clinique Derma White line is available exclusively in Asia, as it's especially formulated for Asian skin, but you will probably find online retailers who will ship to other parts of the globe. Currently, the only Derma White product carried in the US Clinique office is the Powder Makeup SPF 15++, which I have no desire to try, haha.

The website says that the purpose of their "lab-certified" line is to "undo the visible evidence of sun damage, dark patches, skin stresses, and age spots for brightness and clarity." Notice how I emphasized visible...meaning if your skin is damaged from tanning and such, any brightening or whitening products only serve to improve your skin's appearance, not actually heal or repair the damage. So it's extremely important to limit your exposure to the sun, because no whitening or brightening product is going to turn back the clock on the damage your skin has already suffered. It's like

The products contain ascorbyl glucoside to prevent and inhibit the production of melanin (or pigment) in the skin by physically blocking them from being released. In addition, the Black Out Yeast extract disperses whatever melanin is released from the skin, in order to lighten the dark spots. Glucosamine and salicylic acid exfoliate the surface of the skin to prevent dead cell buildup, and a special complex of Apigenin, White Birch, and Oili extract work to slow down the release of melanin to the skin's surface. (Glucosamine is also in Estee Lauder's Idealist, an effective exfoliant serum I use religiously.) In addition, there are many antioxidants in the products to help slow down free radical activity.

The Brightening Essence and Moisture Milk both come in extremely durable, nice packaged 30 ml (one ounce) bottles, but the Brightening Essence bottle is larger in size. I'm puzzled why two ounce products are different sizes, but I can only guess that the serum/essence is packaged in thicker plastic. Both of these bottles are extremely thick and somewhat heavy! While I like that sunlight won't seep through the bottles and whittle away the products' efficacy, and that the pumps are extremely easy to control (unlike some pumps that are hard to push and you end up getting more amount out of the bottle than you need), I'm annoyed that I can't see how much product is left. So I have no idea when I'll finish these bottles...I can't even tell if I'm halfway through because the bottles are so heavy.

I've been applying these once a day, in the morning, or sometimes after I shower since the end of January. I waited awhile before this review since Clinique says that the Derma White line takes 4-6 weeks for results to appear. I agree; I didn't really see results until the end of February. I think my skin probably got one shade lighter, but the difference is very subtle since I'm not that dark to begin with. What I think this helps with is preventing me from tanning, because I tan VERY easily and always consciously hold my purse next to my face for protection while running around in direct sunlight like a crazy person.

I think these products will only work well for those who have normal to combination oily/normal skin. If your skin is dry at all, you probably should stay away from whitening products. I haven't tried other whitening brands yet so I can't compare Clinique Derma White's strength, but I used the products only about 3 or 4 times and my skin did completely dry out at first and turn super flakey. Eventually, my skin got used to these, and stopped drying out. However, because I have skin that's EXTREMELY prone to clogged pores, whiteheads, and blackheads, it requires an insane amount of exfoliation...in the end, this line has actually benefitted my skin. If you read the ingredients (which I've listed at the end of this post and the previous one on the sunscreen), you'll see that this line uses really superior, quality ingredients...though the line may be expensive, I think it's worth it for the ingredients alone, since they are there to really improve the condition of your skin, instead of just "whitening" it.

Also, as for the Derma White Super City Block SPF 40 ++...if you read my initial review you know I started off not really liking this sunscreen because I thought it gave my face a weird matte shimmer that was unflattering. However, I've really changed my mind about it. I don't think this sunscreen is a substitute for tinted moisturizer or foundation by any means, but many times I find myself skipping base makeup because this sunscreen offsets the redness and blemishes on my skin with its matte effect. And you know me--anything that speeds the "getting ready" process and helps me reduce the amount of product on my face is a winner. Also, after over two months of using this sunscreen, it has not broken me out. Though I had initial reservations that the SPF value wasn't high enough and it didn't provide the maximum possible UVA protection, I put those worries to rest after realizing how many antioxidants and healing ingredients Clinique has put into the sunscreen--something I don't think you will find anywhere else, at least I haven't found it anywhere else yet. :-)
Cosmetic Garments is selling this sunscreen for $22.50 if you want to give it a try and aren't located in Asia.



Lastly, here are the ingredients right off the boxes:

Advanced Brightening Essence-
Water\Aqua\Eau, Isododecane, Cyclopentasil-oxane, Butylene glycol, Yeast extract\faex\extrait de levure, Dimethicone, Silica, Cetyl PEG\PPG-10\1 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ascorbyl glucoside, Polysilicone-11, Glycine Soja (Soybean) seed extract, Curcuma longa (Turmeric) root extract, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) root extract, Hydrolyzed rice bran extract, Chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) flower extract, Betula alba (Birch) bark extact, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, Rosa roxburghi fruit extract, glycyrrhetinic acid, saccharomyces lysate extract, Angelica cutiloba (Japanese angelica) root extract, Zizyphus Jujuba fruit extract, citrus unshiu peel extract, poria cocos sclerotium extract, Gardenia florida extract, paeonia albiflora (peony) root extract, Hordeum vulgare (Barley) extract\extrait d'orge, Porphyra Yezoensis (algae) extract, Carthamus Tinctorus (safflower) flower extract, Helianthus annus (sunflower) seedcake, Bifida ferment lysate, sucrose, sodium RNA, caffeine, acetyl glucosamine, PEG-6, Salicylic acid, glucose, PPG-3 Myristyl ether, Phospholipids, Tromethamine, Propylene glycol dicaprate, sodium hyaluronate, arginine, tocopheryl acetate, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Laureth-12, Caprylyl Glycol, Disteardimonium hectorite, Hexylene glycol, Disodium EDTA, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide (CI77891), Mica

Moisture Milk-
Water\Aqua\Eau, Dimethicone, Butylene glycol, Hydrogenated lecithin, paeonia suffruticosa (peony) root extract, carthamus tinctorius (safflower) flower extract, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, Peonia albifloria (peony) root extract, Angelica acutiloba (Japanese angelica) root extract, Gardenia florida extract, saccharomyces lysate extract, poria cocos sclerotium extract, Rosa roxburghii fruit extract, Zizyphus jujuba fruit extract, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, betula alba (birch) bark extract, Glycyrhetinic acid, Laminaria saccharina extract, tocopheryl acetate, yeast extract\faex\extrait de levure, hordeum vulgare (barley) extract\extrait d\orge, chamomilla recutita (Matricaria), squalane, chamomilla recutita (Matricaria) extract, sodium RNA, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seedcake, propylene glycol dicaprate, polyethylene, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Glucose, Diethylhexyl Succinate, HDI\Trimethylol Hexyllactone Crosspolymertromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Butyparaben, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Mica, Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)