Light bulb moment

Eureka!  Last week someone Crone hadn’t seen for well, must have been a couple of years at least, told her she was looking younger. Then, on the very same day, a colleague asked if she’d had Botox.  Not being a fan, she was able to raise an eyebrow. Why such glowing compliments?

Then I remembered I’d tried yet another ‘brightening’ serum for the first time that very morning. Now call me a cynical old Crone, I’m still not convinced that Estée Lauder’s new Even Skintone Illuminator can hog all the limelight on this one, but I’m willing to entertain its potential. This formula chucks the book at lacklustre complexions with instant glow-getting Triple Optics - three different grades of light deflecting pigments - that brighten, blur and even out blotchy, dingy-looking skin. Long term actives include sugar-derivative glucomsamine and vitamin C to ‘energise’ skin and gently exfoliate dark spots away, plus anti-irritants to help reduce and prevent redness. Now, this side of prescriptions and procedures, age spots are buggers to shift, so don’t expect rapid results from any strictly cosmetic formula. Really, your best bet’s prevention - an SPPF30 at least, which this serum doesn’t have because it’s designed to be worn under protective moisturiser. But the oil-free texture’s a silky dream and - ahem! - a brilliant base for makeup. (Crone’s wearing it under her trusty mineral powder foundation).  According to Lauder tests, it will take another week at the very least before Crone can expect to see any difference in the two brown splodges on her right cheek that she maintains for testing purposes. (Well, that’s her story…).  Yet already she’s inclined to agree with the 84% of women who agreed their skin appeared more even-toned. Perhaps the best thing about Even Skintone Illuminator, is that its well-balanced brightening optics suit all complexions, even black skin upon which some products leave a slimy-looking ashy film. Worth a glow? 

• Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator, from £46. Previewing at Selfridges from 16^th May; nationwide and online at www.esteelauder.co.uk from 7^th June.