Being exposed to the sun constantly has taken a toll on my skin. In recent years, I am starting to see pigmentation on my cheeks.

In the past, I have often balked at using whitening skincare products. I tried using cleansers and toners with AHA (alpha-hydroxy acids) once. They burnt my skin and I felt that good skincare should not feel painful on the skin. I am conscious of the fact that sloughing off the older and dead skin cells with AHA, and lack of proper care could cause more pigmentation as the younger skin cells could get excess exposure to the sun and experience more melanin production.

However, after listening to some testimonials from happy users, I decided to take a closer look at the Atomy Hydra Brightening set. Even though it is deemed as a “set”, there are only two products to use. This suits me as I am afraid that I may use the products in the wrong sequence if a set comprises five or more products. I also didn’t want to spend too much time on my skincare routine as I am often rather busy with work.

Therefore, starting with just two products is appropriate for me. The Hydra set comprises an essence and a cream. The bottle of essence essentially tones and preps the skin before the brightening cream is applied. When the skin has been prepped, the skin absorbs the goodness of the brightening cream more readily. Hence, maximum benefit is reaped.

The Hydra essence is jam packed with excellent herbs such as birch sap and sea buckthorn extract, as well as Vitamins C and E. The serum looks “bubbly”. These bubble-like structures are actually micro capsules containing nutrients.

After cleansing my face, I just need to apply a generous amount of this serum onto my skin. The heat of my skin melts the micro capsules, which then releases the nutrients into my skin.

The birch sap cools and calms the skin. The sea buckthorn extract contains Vitamin C, E and omega 3, 6,9 to nourish my skin. The antioxidant properties help to brighten my skin without overly exposing the baby skin cells in the deeper layers to the sun.

The essence is very light and is not sticky. After applying it to the skin, the skin feels cool and relaxed. The essence is readily absorbed into the skin without clogging my pores.

Next, I apply the lightly pink moisture cream. The cream provides pink antioxidant energy from Vitamin B12. It hydrates my skin and also forms a skin barrier to protect my skin. This cream easily smooths over the skin and is readily absorbed. It doesn’t leave behind a sticky feeling. The cream is rather light and is readily absorbed, and doesn’t stay on the skin to clog my pores. A little goes a long way.

The products have a touch of fruity green floral scent, which makes my skin smell really good. I have sensitive skin, but I don’t experience any ill effects from the scent.

The entire Hydra set costs about USD 46, and it easily lasts about 5 months. After just two months of using the product, the pigmentation on my skin is less noticeable. My skin has also grown much softer to the touch. This product definitely suits both young and matured skin. The Hydra essence and cream are also sold separately. Hence you can just buy what you need when you run out.

I have grown to love this product as it has the additional benefit of a dramatic brightening effect as compared to other good moisturizers.