Review: Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector

If you've seen my last post, you'll find that the Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector has made its way into my daily skincare routine. Equitance is a Japanese skincare brand with a skincare line that targets the brightening and radiancy of the skin. I've been lucky to try their key serum which retails for $125.

I'm definitely no stranger to Japanese brands and their brightening skincare products. Shiseido's White Lucent line and SK-II products constantly show up on my monthly empties. The important thing to remember is that Asian brightening products are not meant to make you look more "white", no matter what we do, we won't turn caucasian. Brightening skincare is meant to leave you looking radiant and healthy glowy.

Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector

Now for the facts:

Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector Facts

• Packaging - Comes in a squeeze tube with a long nozzle so that it's nice and hygienic. But at $125, I expected it to be in a little luxe packaging instead of a lightweight plastic. Not an issue, because the pinkish gold color made up for it.
• Size  - 1 oz 
• Price - $125 - same as Shiseido's serums
• Specifications - Spot targeting serum that aims to diminish hyperpigmentation and dark spots while leaving a brighter, more radiant skin 
• Directions - 2-3 drops on face and neck morning and night
• Ingredients - Their key ingredient is linoleic acid (safflower seed oil extract) which does all the works of diminishing dark spots and brightening the skin. I couldn't recognize any of the jumble of chemicals except for dimethicone (most commonly found in Aveeno products)

Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector Review

• Scent - a very pleasant light fragrance that's very common amongst Asian drugstore items
• Essence - a thick opaque lotion/cream that doesn't look serum-y at all. But when warmed against finger tips, you'll notice it starts turning into a clear gel almost where the serum touches skin.
• How I Use It - Part of my routine day and night. I squeeze out about 1 pea size onto my finger tips. The 2-3 drops in the instructions doesn't really make sense when the serum isn't even that runny. I dab it on my hyperpigmentation spots first and then smooth/pat the rest all over my face.
• Overall Experience - Does it work? At the time of this post, I've only tried it out for a little more than 3 weeks - daily use twice a day. Besides my SK-II I don't use any products for brightening purposes since fall started. The first 2 weeks of use, I did notice that my skin complexion looked more radiant. But then the dry fall weather hit and my skin started getting dry and flaky and all those luminosity was gone. My skin became so dull and dry, I had to pull our my Josie Maran Argan Oil as an addition to my night cream. On an acne that just left a mark on my nose bridge, I tried dabbing this on to see if the spot correction would help. But after over 3 weeks on a fresh mark, I don't feel it sped up the diminishing spot process.

With the great results that I saw after the first 2 weeks, I couldn't say I wasn't disappointed when I realize it's not very moisturizing. It's probably a product I'll consider during the spring/summer when the weather isn't so dry.  Their website says results are seen by most after 4 months of use.  I'll continue to use it to see how it works out, but the serum is about 50% done, so I can't imagine how many you would have to buy in order to reach that 4 month period.

In the end, this might not be something I'll repurchase. This is not an all in one product, you will need to layer other serums if you need anti-aging/hydrating boosts.  Maybe I'll try it with the rest of the line, they were meant to be used all together to achieve the best results. If anybody is interested in trying this out, Influenster & Equitance is offering a 15% coupon code INFL15 for Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector AND a free trial kit of their entire line. Valid till Nov 20.

P.S.  The Equitance Brightening Serum & Spot Corrector was sent to me for review courtesy of Influenster and Equitance. Though I was asked/required to write this review, everything written here is 100% my honest opinion.