Facial brightening - the next big thing in anti-aging?

According to Bremenn Research Labs, the maker of newly-launched Lumedia Facial Brightener, the 'brightness scale' or 'full spectrum reflectivity' could become a more widely banded about phrase within the beauty industry if consumers decide it works.

Not to be confused with facial whitening products or age spot removers, Lumedia and other products appearing on the market such as Elizabeth Arden's Ceramide brightener, SK Whitening Source and TYK White Glow, aim to tap into a wide range of consumers, from the 50-plus baby generation, to the under 30s.

And it is because the anti-aging market is so all-encompassing that facial brighteners could mine in to the huge growth that has helped to consistently make it the fastest growing segment in the industry.

Anti-ageing products tend to focus on skin care, where anti-wrinkle cosmetics are now taking the market by storm. In 2005 Euromonitor International estimated that the total market for skin care products is valued at $38.3 billion globally, a figure that is second only to the hair care sector in size.

As a result of growth anti-aging treatments have proliferated in recent years, with anti-wrinkle products becoming the mainstay of the category, alongside more sophisticated procedures such as Botox injections and dermabrasion.

So what's the advantage of facial brightening treatments? Well according to manufacturers, it can make individuals look much younger.

Aging of skin leaves the skin 'off color', resulting in a dull splotchy and lifeless complexion generally characterized by older skin, Bremenn researchers say.

"As we approach the age of 30 skin becomes duller,"​ explained Dr. Nathalie Chevreaux, Ph.D., RD, director of women's health at Basic Research.

"Skin starts to turn a kind of 'mousey brown' ... spottier and splotchier as it loses that warm, radiant, 'pinkish' glow we used to have when we were kids. And interestingly enough, this change in skin tone and color can occur in all ethnic groups. Unfortunately, no injection, scalpel or filler can bring back the radiant glow of youth. That's why facial brighteners are becoming so important."​

Bremenn's research and development has focused on the color frequencies of the face and how it reflects light. However, as skin ages, the ability to reflect light diminishes. This is caused by the fact that proteins in the skin's epidermis become cross-linked and rigid, resulting in a loss of transparency and color.

As with most skin brighteners, Lumedia has been developed for use all over the face, as a means of restoring skin color. The result, according to the company, is brighter skin that amplifies full-spectrum reflectivity. Luminescence and clarity.

"Participants in clinical trials reported younger, brighter, more radiant-looking skin in 29 days,"​ said Heather Hurst, Bremenn Labs spokesperson. "I've spoken to users who saw a big difference in about a week."​

The product does not come cheap though. Lumedia Facial Brightener costs $90 for roughly a three month supply and is available at leading top end US retailers as well as on-line.