Though its name is of French origin, DECORTÉ is one of J-beauty's most coveted prestige beauty brands. Though I'm a fan of several of the brand's formulas (the AQ Pore Blackhead Dissolver Deep Pore Cleanser was one of my favorite exfoliators last year), its brightening products are particularly special. One of the DECORTÉ's best-selling duos in this category is the AQ Absolute Glow-Radiant Brightening Emulsion and AQ Absolute Glow-Radiant Brightening Lotion, which have what it takes to restore skin's youthful glow. Here's my honest review.
The Benefits of This Brightening Duo
In the U.S., emulsions and lotions aren't as mainstream as your classic "moisturizer," but these two steps can dramatically enhance your skin-care routine, especially if you're targeting a specific concern. When brightening is the goal, the two-step AQ Absolute Glow-Radiant Brightening Emulsion and AQ Absolute Glow-Radiant Brightening Lotion will help set your skin up for success.
Step 1 is the Emulsion, which uses kojic acid, neem leaf extract and licorice root extract help minimize hyperpigmentation and brighten your overall skin tone. But, of course DECORTÉ added hydrating benefits courtesy of polyglutamic acid and white birch water, as well as a collagen-based double peptide to increase skin firmness. I love the way this formula feels on my skin: You apply it with a cotton pad like you would an essence or toner, and it’s not sticky, but rather silky and quick to absorb. It makes everything you apply after it absorb so much better.
Step 2 is the Lotion, which my skin really drinks up! This concentrated treatment “layers hydration and brightening care,” and together, the ritual leaves my skin super smooth (the kind you don’t want to stop touching) and visibly rejuvenated. You know that kind of dewy, plump hydration you can see when you look at someone with great skin.
Both formulas also contain the brand’s proprietary FLEX-FUSION OLEIN CAPSULES (advanced encapsulation technology), which help deliver the active ingredients deeper into skin for optimal results. They both also have the same scent, which DECORTÉ describes as “a soothing, fresh-floral, musky scent centered on the floral scents of Michelia champaca and a rare flower known as the Queen of the Night that helps relax the mind and soul.”
Another noteworthy feature of these products is that they harness the brand’s neuroscience research, tapping into “the connection between emotions and skin.” The formulas are designed to “support the skin’s ability to transform oxytocin—often called the ‘happiness hormone’—into visible radiance.”
How to Use Them
Use both products morning and night. After cleansing your skin, apply two pumps of the Emulsion to a cotton pad and smooth over your face, neck and decollete. Then follow with the Lotion, also on a cotton pad, patting it into your skin. If you have dry skin and need more moisture, follow with your go-to moisturizer or night cream.
