Estée Lauder says its new patent pending CL-302 Complex is a match for the prescription drug hydroquinone in terms of performance without any of the reddening and irritation side effects. The material is being incorporated into a new Clinique product, Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector, and is said to offer prescription strength effectiveness for evening skin tone in a skin care product.
Working closely with the Kobe Institute in Japan, Lauder has developed CL-302 Complex which includes a new plant derived technology from Dianella ensifolia (border silver), found in south east Asia and said to dramatically reduce and prevent the appearance of uneven, pigmented skin; its effect is said to be 22 times stronger than kojic acid. It is also a potent antioxidant molecule. The complex also contains ascorbyl glucoside, a potent vitamin C derivative to help reduce the appearance of dark spots; blackout yeast extract to provide effective brightening results by visibly breaking up large clusters of pigment at the skin’s surface into microscopic particles that are diffused throughout the skin, helping to diminish the appearance on uneven skin tone; and glucosamine and salicylic acid to exfoliate and help normalise cell turnover.
In addition the Clinique product contains patent pending trametes versicolor extract, a mushroom extract that visibly brightens; Curcuma longa turmeric root extract and Scutellaria baicalensis root extract as antioxidants; and anti-irritant glycyrrhetinic acid.
Clinical tests on the product showed performance at four, eight and 12 weeks to be equivalent to 4% hydroquinone in terms of skin tone improvement and age spot improvement and better in terms of skin brightening.
The product can be used on all skin types and ethnicities, and because it doesn’t cause drying, redness or irritation it can be used continuously. Usage twice daily is recommended.
Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector will retail at £37.50 (€58) and is launching in the US and Europe from March.