Product Review - Environ Evenescence Clarifying Lotion (update)

For those of who do not know, I've been using the Environ Evenescence Clarifying Lotion for the last 2 and a half months. I first recommended this skin lightening lotion back in mid-March: Product Recommendation: Environ Evenescence Clarifying Lotion. During the time I was researching heavily on sepiwhite; a unique skin lightening ingredient that inhibited melanin by suppressing the hormonal response (initial trigger) of tyrosinase (the enzyme that create pigmentation). I really wanted to try it out, since it's been a long running statement on the internet that sepiwhite is the best skin lightening ingredient.

The two active ingredients in the Environ Evenescence Clarifying Lotion are niacinamide and sepiwhite. I do not know the exact percentages of these two ingredients - I even e-mailed the official Environ site and Skinhealth Canada (distributor of Environ) and got no responses. Regardless, these two ingredients can work very well alongside one another as they both lighten skin and fade dark spots in different ways.

The texture of the product is definitley not one a dry or even normal skin type might deem as comfortable since it lacks oil-based emollients. It has purely water soluble ingredients and many of them which are acid-based. To me, it seems very toner-like in consistency and finish. It does not hydrate at all (or have any richness) which makes it ideal for oily or combination skin types. I also found that it didn't have any soothing properties to it, which are so essential to skin lighteners. Despite the witch hazel and niacinamide content, it is a very overwhelming product on the skin that can cause irritation (I can imagine) if not used in conjunction with a skin regimen that balances out the skin's moisture and pH levels.

I did not experience any irritation from it whatsoever, but I did find when layered underneath my Retin-A gel (which is drying in itself) that my skin was on the verge of becoming irritated.

I will say however the product does lighten (well, not as much as I would have hoped so but it does nonetheless). Since I got off the Skinceuticals Phyto+ my skin was almost at my goal skin tone. By the 3rd week of using this clarifying lotion I noticed my skin was getting glowier and more radiant but not lighter 'in shades'. But now that it's been 2 and a half months, I can now see that the product was more of a maintenance one since I haven't lightened a full shade.

This doesn't mean the product doesn't lighten, it does but since I was already almost at my goal skin tone I think my skin needs a really strong lightener to just suppress the melanin content a bit more. The good thing is that is maintained the results that I got from the skinceuticals phyto+ which only means that it was doing something.

I will say though that I am ever so slightly disappointed since I wanted sepiwhite to be the ingredient. I know better than to think that, since I've been talking so much for so long about how skin lightening is a process and a regimen, not just one thing, but a part of me was curious to see if this revolutionary ingredient could break some new ground. I'm not saying sepiwhite isn't a good skin lightening ingredient, I think I just expected more.

I think the main problem with the Environ lies within the percentage of the sepiwhite and niacinamide. I don't think it is high enough (on both ends) to cause the effect that I was hoping. Also the inactive ingredients aren't the best for having a comfortable finish.

Having said all this, I still think it is worth it. The product did something to my skin which is pretty good since so many skin brighteners and lighteners out there are completley ineffective. I think specifically with my case, I just need something stronger since my face and neck are pretty much identical to my body skin color. But...not now. I am perfectly happy returning to Phyto+ which is both soothing and mildly effective at the same time.

If you are interested in trying out a sepiwhite product, I still would recommend this. Especially if you have oily skin (and now that it is pretty much summer).

It's been brought to my attention that sites like FirstforSkinCare.com and Protea.com are illegal vendors.

Rating: 6.5/10

Ingredients:
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Denatured Alcohol, Niacinamide, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine (Sepiwhite), Ethoxydiglycol, Propylene Glycol, Witch Hazel Water (Hamamelis Virginiana), Undecylenic Acid, Witch Hazel Bark/Twig/Leaf Extract (Hamamelis Virginiana), Tromethamine