A tranexamic acid serum for dark spots, age spots and uneven tone, with no hydroquinone and no retinol. Alastin's own summary is that it helps reduce the appearance of surface pigmentation, minimize recurrence, and protect against future damage.

What is Alastin A-LUMINATE Brightening Serum?

A-LUMINATE is Alastin's discoloration serum. One to two pumps morning and evening, and it is built to be used alongside in-office work such as chemical peels and lasers rather than instead of it.

What is in it, and what each part does

Tranexamic acid is the active, and Alastin encapsulates it in a liposome so that, in their words, "it helps correct the appearance of hyperpigmentation". It sits fourth in the ingredient list, above the niacinamide.

PATH-3 Technology is the part most listings leave out. Alastin describes it as helping to minimize the recurrence of surface pigmentation and protect against future damage with continued use. So one half of the formula works on the marks already there, and the other half works on the ones that have not arrived yet.

Niacinamide is third from the top. Alastin states the formula improves the appearance of redness too.

A-LUMINATE specifications

Alastin A-LUMINATE reviews

• Buyers use it as a makeup primer, and Alastin never mentions makeup. Four say so independently: it works under foundation, it helps makeup go on smooth, and it leaves a glow without looking oily.
• The texture surprises people. One describes it as "thicker than your average serum, almost somewhere between a fluid and a light cream", absorbing fast with no tackiness. Another calls it creamy and genuinely moisturizing.
• Two pumps is the dose, and it changes the maths. Two reviewers work out the cost per use from a 1.7 oz bottle at two pumps and conclude it lasts.
• Sensitive skin has done well. One reviewer with sensitive, reactive skin and a history of sun spots and redness reports zero irritation and calmer, more even skin. Alastin makes no sensitive skin claim, so that is her experience rather than theirs.
• Sun spots are what people come back to report. One notices facial sun spots lightening, another sees a change inside a month.

Where it fits

Morning and evening, after cleansing, before moisturizer. Alastin's instruction is to put sunscreen on after it in the morning, so finish with something from face sunscreen. If you came here looking for the vitamin C serum, that is a different product: C-RADICAL Defense. A-LUMINATE has no ascorbic acid in it. Around professional treatments, Regenerating Skin Nectar is the one built for that, and the rest of the line is in Alastin.