3 month experiment with Skinceuticals Phyto+

I’ve been testing out Skinceuticals Phyto+ a brightener for 3 months now and here are my thoughts… My primary skin concern right now are my sunspots and hyper pigmentation due to sun exposure without sun screen. (yikes!)

This skin brightener contains kojic acid which is a milder brightener than hydroquinone.

I was interested in trying this because of the positive reviews I’ve read as well as the simple ingredient list which included anti-inflammatory ingredients which would be good for my sensitive skin.

The product is housed in a science-y looking glass dropper bottle and it is a fresh green color.

Skinceuticals Phyto+

Ingredients:

• Brightening ingredients:  Kojic acid and Arbutin Glycoside (Tyrosinase inhibitor)
• Anti-inflammatory/Anti-bacterial: Thyme and Cucumber. These help reduce redness and irritation.
• Anti-bacterial/Anti-oxidant: Uva Ursi Extract (commonly known as Bearberry extract)
• Hydration:  Sodium hyaluronate base

Despite the product name which stated that it was a botanical gel, I found the consistency to be more watery. The directions included recommended a twice daily, 1 – 2 drops application over discolored areas.

I used 3 drops twice a day, once immediately after cleansing my face and drying it off in the morning and right before bedtime.

The product is dispensed from a dropper and since the Phyto+ is watery, the drops will roll down your face pretty quickly. (I also blame my flat face for this!) I usually just rub the product into my freckles with my fingers tips. If you are extremely fair, it may give your skin a slightly greenish tint if you don’t rub it in enough.

The product absorbs well and doesn’t leave any stickiness. I personally love the fresh herbal/grassy scent. I do miss it after using this daily for the last 3 months. It might have lasted longer if my significant other didn’t occasionally steal a couple of drops here and there ;p He was curious to see what the hype was about and wanted to share my “green stuff”.

Cost: $78 (USD) for 1 oz

Results: It faded some of my sunspots, reduced the redness in my skin, and evened out my skin tone. My pores also looked smaller especially around the cheeks. My skin is still far from perfect, but I do believe this product has helped with the sun damage.

Before/After with Skinceuticals Phyto+

Click on the image for the “gory” details!

Ratings: I give this a 5 star rating. I would definitely repurchase and I’m actually already experiencing withdrawal symptoms from not having my green dropper bottle handy.

Traveller’s note: This is NOT a travel friendly bottle at all. I travel frequently and had to leave this bottle behind each time.

Handy tip: I kept this bottle in the fridge and the awesome fresh scent and soothing cold droplets brightened my mood in the morning.

Summary: This is a great overall skin brightener for sensitive skin. The product is a little costly ($78/1 oz), but one bottle can last up to 4 months.