Top 10 Face Brightening Cream: Picks for Glowing Skin

Achieving the best and glowing skin requires an in-depth skincare routine that involves various actives and steps. Identifying your skin and its concerns can help in achieving the glowing and plump skin more effectively and efficiently. Starting with a simple cleanser, toning serum, applying a day cream as a moisturiser, and layering it with a good sunscreen with high SPF is an ideal way of layering the products.

What is a brightening cream, and why should you opt for it on a daily basis?

A brightening cream is a type of face cream or moisturiser that not only locks in the moisture of the skin. If you are looking for an all-in-one product that not only keeps your skin hydrated but also helps with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone, then here’s a list of brightening creams available in the Indian market that are under a budget, effective, and lock in hydration all day long, considering all skin types.

What is the process for using a brightening cream?

1. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser free of sulphates and parabens.
   
   
2. Deep cleanse with a hydrating toner.
   
   
3. Apply Brightening Face Cream for brighter and spotless skin.
   
   
4. Apply sun protection with a non-chemical SPF of 30 or higher to protect, your skin from the harmful effects of the sun's rays, even if you are indoors.

Top brightening cream in Indian markets

1) Light Up Beauty Vitamin C Cream For Brightening & Pigmentation

This product uses the GOLD Standard of Vitamin C cream, which penetrates the skin 3 X faster and boosts collagen by up to 50%, making it ideal for pigmentation, dullness, and dark patches.

Alpha-arbutin enriches the product, reducing pigmentation and dark patches. The product also contains milk peptides, which enhance elasticity and hydration, and bioretinols, which tighten and sculpt the skin.

2) Foxtale Super Glow Moisturiser with Vitamin C

An illuminating moisturizer that delivers a luminous glow from its first use balances uneven skin tones and brightens skin over time.  Formulated with glow-boosting ingredients like encapsulated Vitamin C, Peptides, and Niacinamide, it goes 2X deeper into the skin to effectively eliminate pigmentation, improve complexion, and give your skin a radiant glow that’s long-lasting. This moisturizer, with its quick absorption, light texture, and intense hydration, is the ideal addition to your routine for enhancing your skin's glow.

3) L'Oreal Paris Glycollic Bright Glowing Day Cream

This day cream stimulates skin renewal by reducing dark spots in 2 weeks, reducing hyperpigmentation, and revealing even skin tone through cell renewal—a process made possible by the glycollic acid used in dermatological peeling treatments. It also contains SPF 17, which enhances the skin's defense against harmful UV rays.  The glycollic potent helps with the brightening of the skin and makes the textural difference.

4) Dr. Sheth's Ceramide & Vitamin C Daily Brightening & Repair Cream

It visibly brightens the skin due to the presence of powerhouse antioxidant Vitamin C, which fades discolouration and fights free radicals to promote younger-looking skin. Ceramide Complex and Centella Asiatica are good at repairing and strengthening skin barriers. They help fix and revive damaged skin barriers, which brings back dull, damaged skin. The glow-boosting Amla Extract and Vitamin C boost collagen production and enhance skin luminosity, thereby promoting overall radiance.

 5) Re’equil Skin Radiance Cream

This cream has tetrahydrocurcumin, which helps in reducing dark spots and hyperpigmentation by regulating melanin production. It also improves the skin texture as it has niacinamide, which tightens the enlarged pores and promotes collagen synthesis for better skin elasticity and firmness. It even boasts that it can achieve even skin tone and brighter skin in just 28 days, with a 17% improvement in skin tone and a 14% increase in skin brightness.

6) Deconstruct Brightening Face Cream

Formulated with Niacinamide, Kojic Acid, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E, it targets dark spots and tanning, brightens uneven skin tone, and leaves skin hydrated and plump. Have a super-light formula that absorbs quickly deep into the skin and doesn’t feel sticky. All skin types, including oily, normal, dry, combination, and sensitive, can safely use this face cream, which is fragrance-free, paraben-free, sulphate-free, alcohol-free, cruelty-free, and vegan.

7) Neutrogena Bright Boost Gel Face Cream

Scientists have proven that neoglucosamine, a prestige amino sugar, can help prevent hyperpigmentation and reduce the appearance of dark spots. It also hydrates, boosts natural surface skin cell turnover, and improves skin tone. One week of regular and generous usage can reveal noticeable differences. Additionally, dermatologists prefer this product due to its clinically proven effectiveness on all skin tones and its technology. It is oil-free, alcohol-free, non-comodogenic, and has a mild fragrance.

8) Dot & key brilliant moisturiser

Sicilian blood orange, a rich antioxidant that lessens damage from free radicals, is one of its ingredients. Triple vitamin C diminishes dullness, pigmentation, and dark spots. Vitamin E shields the skin from external aggressors, promoting a healthy skin texture, while shea butter provides deep moisturization and locks it in, resulting in soft, supple skin.

9) Garnier Bright Complete Serum Cream

This day cream caters to all skin types, especially those with dull skin and dark spots. It hydrates the skin, enhances its brightness, diminishes dark spots and acne scars, and shields the skin from additional sun damage. To use it, clean your face using a face wash and serum first, then apply moisturiser evenly over the face. Avoid the eye contour

The product contains a high concentration of Vitamin C to brighten the skin and UV filters to protect it.

10) Chemist at play Brightening day cream

Dull body skin refers to skin that lacks radiance and appears lackluster; it is often characterized by a lack of natural glow and a rough or uneven texture. Dullness occurs when the skin's surface reflects light unevenly due to the buildup of dead skin cells, reduced collagen production, or various external factors that impair skin health. This cream treats uneven skin tone, tanning, and dark spots, as well as dryness and sun damage, as it has SPF 30 PA++++. This cream enhances the skin's brightness and radiance and safeguards it. The product also packs ceramides, which act as a cement to hold the skin cells together. The texture is light, free from petroleum or mineral oil, and it leaves no white cast behind.

Also Read: 

• 10 Best Day Creams for Radiant & Hydrated Skin

As much as a proper brightening cream can make a difference, consistency in using it is crucial. Applying and massaging the cream generously, allowing it to settle in the skin, and blending it evenly can significantly improve the skin's tone, plumpness, and brightness more quickly.