Lira ClinicalPRO Brite-Plus Serum - Hydration & Dark Spot Serum - Tranexamic Acid Serum, Ferulic Acid & Vitamin C - Brightens, Firms & Minimizes Pores & Skin - For All Skin Types - 0.5 fl oz

This serum took a minute to get here, but it was worth the wait! I use another Lira product that is also science based so I knew this wouldn’t disappoint. This is the type of vitamin C serum I like the best because it sinks right in and it’s not loaded with oils that dilute it. It does have my favorite vitamin C additive, ferulic acid that helps stabilize as well as provide moisture. I used to use a very pricey vitamin C plus ferulic acid serum and this is comparable in performance at half the price. For added hydration there is hyaluronic acid and squalene, but as I said, it’s not at all greasy and is easily absorbed. Yet I still get that morning vitamin C glow and photo protection. There is a mild citrusy scent that dissipates quickly.Tranexamic acid is a relatively new lightening ingredient on the skin care scene that could well take the place of hydroquinone. I spot treat the few dark spots I have with hydroquinone which is a pain, so I am going to like using this serum on my entire face instead. Although I use SPF, the melanin in your skin still gets activated at this time of year. Same goes for the use of self tanning products. So I am really looking forward to using this serum in fall when it’s skin rehab time for me! I know the results will be gradual but hopefully effective.Solid, science based daily serum that I highly recommend!

Pretty good

Founded in 2010 by 3 aestheticians and a nurse, Lira's aim is to create "brighter, healthier, younger looking skin." I've tried a couple of their products before and found them mostly meh. And if you want me to pay $120 per ounce for a serum, it needs to be a lot better than basic.This Pro Brite-Plus serum claims to "clinically brighten skin tone while preventing future dark spots from aging, acne, and environmental damage." To this end it highlights well-respected brightening and discoloration fading ingredients vitamin C, Ferulic Acid, and Tranexamic Acid, a more recent addition to skincare formulations that has shown a lot of promise in fading existing discoloration, one of the tougher beauty issues.This has a light, semi-viscous texture that is easy to apply and absorbs quickly. I have some mild melasma on my cheeks leftover from my last pregnancy and am always looking for something that will fade it more than my normal Vitamin C serums, without also irritating my somewhat sensitive skin.The good news here is that this didn't irritate my skin, but it also didn't seem to have any effect on my melasma, nor did I see any pore minimization or texture benefits that this also claims. Now, this could be because I'm already using nightly C serum, as well as regular AHA exfoliation, so your mileage may vary if you're not already doing some of those things.For me, this formulation wasn't bad, per se, but I didn't see anything that made it worth its price point either.

Smells so awful. Other Lira products smell fine.

This serum does a fantastic job of providing overall brightening results quickly. Tranexamic Acid is a great skin brightener that doesn’t have the irritating side effects that other brighteners can have. It’s paired with Ascorbyl Glucoside which is a nice, stable form of Vitamin C and we all know how good C is for making our skin look more radiant. Ferulic acid makes Vitamin C even MORE stable and increases photoprotection. Then there’s Vitamin E which ALSO works well with Vitamin C by increasing UV protection.I am not familiar with the Masq-Tech technology but I can assume it’s related to the ingredient Pistacia Lentiscus Gum Oil which is an anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and used as an astringent for tightening pores.For dark spots, the effective ingredients do not work immediately but rather over a period of weeks, at least 4, to see results. So be patient. Anything that makes a dark spot disappear within days is probably harmful to skin and having a good skin barrier is necessary for regeneration.The serum is thin and has an oily consistency. It absorbs quickly and smells like citrus. I like to apply a ceramide cream over the top.I’m impressed with the powerful and proven ingredients in this serum and recommend for most skin types.

I've really enjoyed using this over the last few weeks, I can definitely tell it has made a difference in some of my little spots and the overall brightness of my face. It pumps out super thin, and you really only need one pump to cover your whole face, maybe 1 1/2 if you want to take this down to your neck/chest area. It works into the skin really easily and doesn't stay on the face too long so you can easily layer this with other products. I wasn't a huge fan of the fragrance in this, but it's not offensive either and doesn't stick around for long thankfully. At this price point I'm a bit undecided, I think the combination of ingredients in this little bottle is very nice, but I also think if you are on a budget you can get a similar dupe with about the same effectiveness at your local drug store as well. Overall, I do really like it and would recommend it.

(Lira Clinical PRO Brite-Plus Serum - Hydration & Dark Spot Serum - Tranexamic Acid Serum, Ferulic Acid & Vitamin C - Brightens, Firms & Minimizes Pores & Skin - For All Skin Types - 0.5 fl oz $60.50)This seems like a decent serum. But I had a few issues. I see a lot number but no made on date or expiration date. It is really expensive. And the fragrance is horrible! It's pretty masculine which I don't mind at all but it smells so strong. It almost a smoky smell. I was not a fan. But it does feel nice.