Product Recommendation: Paul & Joe Whitening Serum

One of the coolest things about starting this blog is that I get to connect with other people who have the same interests as me, and are on the same journey of skin lightening. So whenever I get messages from other people telling me their success stories with certain products, it really enthralls me and prompts me to research so I can post about it here, helping to give more options to people out there looking for skin lighteners that actually work.

So, I got a message from a wonderful girl who told me that she has found a product that her skin really responds well with. She's been using a product called Paul & Joe's Whitening Serum (formally called Whitening Emulsion, however the Serum version I have read is superior) for a little over a month and has said she is almost at her goal skin tone. Granted, she only wanted to brighten her skin (not lighten up significantly) but mainly just fade the blotchiness and various acne marks/dark spots. She has stated her skin has gotten almost 2 shades lighter, and not in a pasty, unnatural looking way, but a very natural skin lightening process.

Ofcourse I was happy for her, and decided to look more into Paul & Joe's Whitening Serum and found that there are several glowing reviews of this little gem. Everything from people claiming this product lightening their skin 2-4 shades over a span of 5 months, to people planning on using this as a staple in their skin care routine.

Now you must keep in mind, and I have mentioned this so many times but everyone's skin is different. A skin lightener might lighten somebody's skin color but might just brighten or give a glow to yours. Take Makari for example: even though I broke out horribly to the Night Cream and Caviar Cream, I saw some drastic lightening on my skin (and at the time I wasn't even using retinoids). However I know some people who mention that they do not get any lightening or any reaction to Makari. So...really it's a unique process for everybody. However I think this particular product is actually a really good skin lightener.

I stumbled upon another skin care blog, where a woman lightened her skin almost 8 shades with the Paul & Joe Whitening Serum! Holy crap! That is ridiculously insane, lol. Obviously I am sure her case is a rarity, and she got some IPL done to correct the majority of her hyperpigmentation, but you can see in the after picture that her overall skin tone is much lighter. Here is the link with pictures she has taken:
 
http://www.makeupforprofessionalasianwomen.com/2009/03/results-paul-and-joe-whitening-emulsion.html
 
Paul & Joe Whitening Serum seems like a standard skin lightener, but I'm guessing it is the potency of the ingredients, the right formulation (meaning pH, handling of the ingredients) and just combination of all these botanical extracts (that inhibit melanin) and mild antioxidants that have the ability to make such a drastic change.
 
It's main purpose is to banish all forms of irregular pigmentation (hyperpigmentation, overall uneven skin tone, dark spots etc.) Packed with botanical extracts, antioxidants and humectants and natural (fairly skin friendly in comparison to other notoriously pore-clogging oils like soybean oil) citrus oils.
 
The Vitamin C in this product is the stable, synthetic form ascorbyl glucoside which is very effective (and more stable than L-ascorbic acid) but obviously is not as potent. Still, it seems to be breaking down melanin in a lot of people just by reading the reviews and comments. I want to note, this is the same version that is used in Vichy Bi White Double Reveal.
 
Aside from the small amounts of citrus oils (which most of the time aren't a problem unless your skin is very sensitive or very acne prone. Personally I think if you are deligent with your exfoliation (meaning you have some form of daily, non-irritating exfoliation like from an AHA product or BHA product, mask or retinoid) it can prevent any pore issue problems) the product has a light liquidy texture. A lot of people who use this, including the person who told me about this product told me it does not clog their pores. This is obviously something that varies from person to person, but just because something isn't oil-free doesn't mean it necessarily cannot be used.
 
Another feature it has that I know might rub people the wrong way is that it does have fragrance - but not any added fragrance. The scent comes soley from the orange flower extract. Personally, if the fragrance of a product isn't overtly offensive I can tolerate it and my skin never reacts to it.
 
I think what balances out  citrus oils is the alcohol content. Mind you, alcohol isn't bad for the skin. It is a cosmetic form of alcohol and really it's not bad at all -especially for oily, acne prone skin types. Retin-A gel contains alcohol and it's one of the most benefical products out there. I think the silicia and alcohol together help to keep this whitening emulsion light, semi-matte and non-comedogenic for so many people.
 
Paul & Joe Whitening Serum comes in a 40 ml pump bottle that keeps the various antioxidants and plant based lighteners stable and fresh. The price varies very drastically across the spectrum depending on where you get. On the official site and many online vendors sell it for $80.00 + which is ridiculous. However if you check out Dermstore, they are selling it for $45.00 and ebay has some really, really good deals
 
This product really does interest me. It's been awhile since I've seen just a regular old skin lightener get such positivity aside from Hypercream or Makari. I'm so glad someone told me about this. You know I think after using the Vichy Bi White Double Reveal (which I love! I updated my review on it just to let everyone know I am still using it and getting solid results. Plus it slightly hydrates my skin under my super matifying Sofina sunscreen) I discovered my skin really likes ascorbyl glucoside. I know L-ascorbic acid is the the pure, most usable form of Vitamin C to the skin, but if I do a comparison I can honestly say that ascorbyl glucoside (though not as powerful in terms of skin lightening) does a pretty decent job for a synthetic form  and causes no irritation (something that sometimes happen when I over do it with L-ascorbic acid products).
 
In a way Vichy Bi White and this are very similar. It seems though with the addition of so many intense botanical extracts and other forms of antioxidants, the Paul & Joe Whitening Serum is ultimatley more powerful in regards to actually making the skin shades lighter.
 
I say go for it, if you are looking for a basic skin lightener and are tired of using the standards (aka Makari and Hypercreme).
 
=D
 
 
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Alcohol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glcyol, Neopentyl Glycol, Dicaprate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, C14-15 Dialkyl Carbonate, Behenyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Water, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Malva Sylvestris (Mallow) Extract, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Seed Extract, Olea Euopaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Disodium Phosphate, Hydrogenated Rapseed Glycerides, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sodium Phosphate, Sorbitan Palmitate, Xantham Gum, Limonene, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben