Product Review: Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator

Moving to Australia over a decade ago, the harsh sun has no doubt been very hard on my sensitive Scandinavian skin, and as a consequence I sadly have pigmentation that seems to be increasing by the day. I have been using the Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator since it was launched in the middle of 2011, and have since then re-purchased it several times. Recently I was lucky to win a massive pack of beauty products, which all won the Best in Beauty 2012 award, (if you haven't seen my haul, you can see it here) - and this pack included another bottle of the Idealist serum, and this has prompted me to finally do a review. Here are my thoughts; 

What They Say:

Instantly: redness is reduced, skin looks fresh and radiant. In just 2 weeks: 62% of women showed a significant improvement in skintone in a clinical test. Over time: skin looks noticeably clearer and brighter, vibrant and more even-toned. This intensive, yet gentle oil-free serum features powerful technologies to address the look of every key sign of uneven skintone: Triple-Optic Technology provides skin with a brighter, more luminous look from the very first application. CorrectTone Technology visibly reduces uneven skintone in 2 weeks, while anti-oxidants help prevent its re-appearance.

RRP: 30ml: $80, 50ml: $115 - Available from department stores, and Estee Lauder Online

What I Say:

I have combination skin, and have a fair bit of pigmented areas on my face, which just seems to be getting worse and worse year by year, and add to this dark spots and scars from past acne.

Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator comes in the hard plastic bottle, which is turquoise and has slight iridescence to it. It has a gold lid, and underneath you find a hygienic pump dispenser.

And I really love creams which come with a pump dispenser, as it is more hygienic than if in a jar, and when you are paying a lot of money for your serum, the last thing you want is for it to spoil and get contaminated before you get a chance to finish the product.

The product itself has a nice citrus scent, which I really love. This scent is however still very faint and gently and quickly disappears once the serum has absorbed.

According to Estee Lauder, the serum needs to be applied on clean skin, and then followed with an SPF moisturiser, and for maximum results use AM and PM for the first 12 weeks, then continue with your regular Estee Lauder regimen, using Even Skintone Illuminator every AM. If you use Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum at night (which I do) continue to apply it first, then follow with Even Skintone Illuminator, and hereafter apply your moisturiser.

The serum has a creamy texture, and is beige with a nice pearlescent gleam. At first I was very worried about the shimmer, thinking that I would look like a disco queen, but that was not the case. The serum leaves the skin with a nice glow and sheen, without making the skin looking greasy. This sheen however does more or less seem to disappear when applying foundation afterwards, so this the illumination is partly due to the presence of the shimmer particles in the serum.

 

 

The serum is very concentrated, and I found that I needed less than two pumps to cover my whole face. In terms of hydration, the serum is not very hydrating, but it is also intended as a serum to be used under the moisturiser.
Even Skintone Illuminator works well under makeup and stops the foundation from settling into fine lines as well as it makes my makeup stay put throughout the day, without added grease.

When taking my make up off at night and when waking up in the morning, my skin has felt soft and smooth to touch with a nice glow.

Already in the first few days of using the serum, I started to see a difference with clearly reduced the appearance of pigmentation and pores, and some dark marks from past acne. I had several dark spots which now seems significantly reduced in appearance, and I can see a clear improvement in my skins overall tone and my skin is brighter and more glowing. As for my acne scarring, while it has not completely removed these, they are looking smaller and better than they ever had.

So all in all I am very impressed with this product, and the Even Skintone Illuminator really does live up to its claims, as it has reduced the appearance of my pigmentation and marks from acne, - The results speaks for themselves, so I will definitely continue to use this serum, as day by day, my skin tone continues to become more and more even.

The serum used to be $105 for 30ml or $150 for 50ml, but has recently been reduced in price to $80 30ml and $115 for 50ml, which is fantastic news. Still, the serum is a little on the pricey side, however, as a little goes a very long way, and a bottle will last you a very long time.

I really love this serum and what it has done to the look of my skin, so I will continue to purchase it, and if uneven skin tone and pigmentation is an issue for you too, then I recommend that you try it too. You’ll love it!

 

Have you tried the Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator? What product(s) have you found to be most efficient in the battle against pigmentation and uneven skin tone?