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There are countless skincare serums on the market that promise to brighten skin and minimize dark spots, from expensive luxury buys to drugstore bargains. One exciting new entry on the affordable side that crossed our desks and caught our eye: Eucerin Radiant Tone Dual Serum. So we asked our in-house experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab to evaluate the formula's science and real-world application to get the scoop on what makes it stand out on the crowded store (and online) shelves.
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THE EXPERTS
THE SCIENTIST: Sabina Wizemann, GH Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab Director
Wizemann is a cosmetic chemist who has conducted and overseen in-Lab and consumer testing of beauty products at Good Housekeeping, including skincare, for 12 years. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the Good Housekeeping Seal and Beauty Awards programs. Wizemann also has more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
THE BEAUTY EDITOR: April Franzino, GH Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Director
Franzino has headed Good Housekeeping’s Beauty Department for more than a decade, overseeing all beauty editorial content for the magazine and goodhousekeeping.com. She produces and edits in-depth skincare coverage based on GH Beauty Lab product testing and expert insights, highlighting the latest in science-backed advice, technology and trends.
THE SCIENCE
Wizemann investigates what makes the serum's formulation and ingredients special.
✔️ The Formula: The serum has a gel-like texture that is lightweight, spreads easily, absorbs quickly and doesn't feel greasy. It leaves a smooth and instantly hydrated finish on skin.
✔️ The Technology: Unlike some other serums, the formula is created to treat two concerns at once. It contains separate specialized ingredients that target dark spots by preventing excessive melanin (skin pigment) production and prevent moisture loss by attracting and retaining water molecules in skin, which also can also smooth texture, boost elasticity and reduce irritation.
✔️ The Ingredients: The formula is made with a blend of two topical skin-brightening ingredients: Thiamidol, a derivative of the exfoliating compound resorcinol, and the botanical licorice root extract, which has antioxidant properties. The combination of the serum’s ingredients reduces the look of persistent dark spots due to sun exposure, aging and other factors.
The serum's hydrating effects come from a set of hero moisturizing ingredients, hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that naturally occurs in skin, but its levels diminish with age, resulting in dryness and fine lines. In skincare products, it acts as a humectant that provides intense hydration by holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water, enhancing skin volume, minimizing wrinkles and fortifying the skin barrier to reduce moisture loss. Glycerin is another humectant ingredient that offers similar moisturization benefits, along with skin plumping and calming effects.
THE BEAUTY
Franzino shares how and what it's like to use the product in your skincare routine, plus the results you can expect.
✔️ The How-To: Each morning and evening after cleansing and toning your face, smooth the serum all over skin, including the eye area. Spread any excess product on your neck and the backs of your hands. Follow with moisturizer as needed, and, in the morning, apply a broad spectrum face sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher as a last step to protect skin from sun damage, GH Beauty Lab experts advise.
✔️ The Experience: Let's start with the packaging: The bottle features sleek metallic accents that give it a high-quality, luxurious look and an airtight pump dispenser that helps preserve the formula and delivers the right amount of product with no mess. The serum itself has a fresh scent and is creamy but not heavy on skin. It glides on effortlessly and since it soaks in fast, there is no pilling when applying other skincare products like moisturizer, eye cream and sunscreen afterward.
✔️ The Effects: The formula felt softening on skin upon application and didn't cause irritation, even on reactive complexions, GH Beauty Lab experts found. In a study of 44 women with dark spots who used the product twice daily, 78% of women agreed skin appeared more radiant after just two weeks. Expert clinical grading also found their skin tone was significantly more even after four weeks, and dark spot visibility and intensity was significantly improved after eight weeks. Consistency (and patience) is key; for best results, serums like this one should be used for at least four and up to twelve weeks to see full benefits, the GH Beauty Lab says.
April (she/her) is the senior beauty and style director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
