For some of us, the spooky season brings horrific exposure to the sun damage of past summers. When August’s glow wears off, it’s often left behind with melasma and hyperpigmentation—which means doubling down on skin-balancing nighttime ingredients like vitamin C and retinol.
To combat my own skin discoloration, I bought the StriVectin Brighten & Restore Discovery Kit, which is designed to—you guessed it—brighten and restore skin. The three-piece set is affordable and includes three products, namely Super-C Retinol Brightening and Correcting Vitamin C Serum, Multi-Application Repair Cream and Super-C Dark Circles Brightening Eye Serum, all priced at 79 Dollar. My goal with this set was to minimize sun damage, but the fact that it also helps reduce wrinkles is a huge bonus – multitasking is a must!
how it works
These products claim to work synergistically to brighten, moisturize and condition the skin. The star ingredient in this set is vitamin C, which is known for its ability to fight discoloration. “Vitamin C brightens skin by down-regulating an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is responsible for the production of melanin,” says board-certified dermatologist Rebecca Marcus, MD, FAAD. Key enzymes in the synthesis process.
This serum pairs powerful ingredients with retinol to take its evening complexion effects to the next level. “Vitamin C and retinol both stimulate collagen production, and retinol also inhibits collagen breakdown and improves cell turnover,” says Dr. Marcus. “Combining them into a single serum may be beneficial because it reduces the number of steps in your skin care routine.”
Although Multi-Action Repair Cream contains very few active ingredients, it serves an important purpose as part of a holistic care regimen. “Using a cream over your serum enhances the serum’s activity by strengthening the skin barrier and preventing skin moisture from evaporating,” says Dr. Marcus. “The shea butter in the cream is an excellent emollient, Helps support the skin barrier and reduce transepidermal water loss. ”
Related stories
what happened when i tried
Super-C Dark Circles Brightening Eye Serum is a lightweight, sheer formula that I noticed brightening and firming effects after a few days of use. I have dry skin, so I wear it under my eye cream at night. I appreciate how concentrated it is, yet it causes zero irritation and glides on perfectly under concealer (so I need less since dark circles are reduced!).
The facial serum is also very light and the smell reminds me of vitamin C chewable tablets! However, I’m glad that it doesn’t have a strong scent and most importantly, it’s not sticky. Since using it, my skin so Smooth – just like after a facial. Despite using the product daily, the retinol (quite surprisingly!) did not irritate my skin or cause any peeling. Instead, my complexion looks brighter and the damage from the summer sun is visibly starting to fade. I am so excited about the low pain, high yield results.
Multi-Action Repair Cream is very hydrating but absorbs completely quickly. I love this cream when my skin is dry and use it morning and night. It won’t clog pores and is an ideal makeup base. It also promises anti-aging benefits, and since I started using this set my forehead looks like I’ve had Botox (sans the needle!), so it’s a great option.
From the first time I tried this trio, I was impressed with how radiant and smooth my skin looked. So now it’s just me and the Strivectin Power Trio to simplify my morning skincare routine.
we also like
Our editors independently select these products. Purchases made through our links may earn Well+Good a commission.
