The Most Popular Skin-Care Brand in the Country Launched the First-Ever Brightening Treatment That Doesn’t Irritate My Sensitive Skin

No matter how stacked my skin-care routine is (or how overstuffed my vanity shelves are), there’s always room for another Skinceuticals product. The brand has earned itself the title of “most popular in the country,” and its derm-approved products (like the GOAT vitamin C serum and the TikTok famous Triple Lipid Restore Cream) are well worth their admittedly-hefty price tags. I can tell you from personal experience that the newest moisturizer is no different.

Skinceuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment ($110) is a lightweight, gel texture moisturizer that promises to help “soothe and correct out-of-balance skin to improve brightness, texture, and clarity.” It was launched just this year and is already amassing 5-star reviews across the internet.

Skinceuticals Phyto A+ Brightening Treatment — $110.00

It makes sense that the product’s been dubbed a ‘brightening treatment’ and not just a moisturizer, because it really does pack a punch. This all-skin-type (yes, including sensitive!) hydrator is designed to replenish dull and dry skin, reduce acne, assuage sensitization, and brighten discoloration.

The ingredient list includes azelaic acid, an anti-inflammatory that fights acne, redness, and discoloration; alpha arbutin, which brightens skin; and a phyto-botanical blend that mimics the dullness-reducing effects of retinol (and accounts for the formula’s green tint).

These actives come together to deliver pore-shrinking, oil and redness-reducing, smoothing, and brightening results. That wide range of benefits is perfectly suited for my currently hormonal, always dry, sometimes sensitive. After testing it out for several weeks, it has become a mainstay in my regimen.

Thanks to the formula’s calming and anti-inflammatory properties, I noticed a substantial reduction in the redness I had been experiencing from my hormonal breakouts. And because it treats acne without any harsh, stripping side effects (a rarity for most zit-fighting formulas), it’s been great for quashing pimples on my dry, sensitive skin.

Another reason I loved this product? It plays well with others. I’m always bummed when I try out a new skin-care product only to discover that it pills or doesn’t absorb fully when used alongside the rest of my routine. I was able to apply this moisturizer on top of my favorite serums and underneath SPF, and it blended beautifully. You can use it morning and night, and you won’t have to worry about it getting all wonky with your other formulas.

This latest addition to the Skinceuticals repertoire will run you just north of a hundred bucks, but if you struggle with any of the aforementioned skin woes, it will undoubtedly be well worth the extra cash. Not only is it effective, but it truly works harder than your average moisturizer—she works hard for the money!

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