Best Brightening Day Creams of 2025

Charlotte Powell Avatar
Charlotte Powell
Last Updated: 8 Feb 2025

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Brightening day creams are skincare products designed to give your skin a brighter and more radiant appearance. These creams are formulated to even out skin tone, reduce the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation, and give your skin a healthy glow. They typically contain ingredients like vitamin C, niacinamide, and kojic acid, which work to brighten and improve the texture of your skin. While results may vary depending on the individual, using a brightening day cream can be a great addition to your daily skincare routine.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Garnier Organic Rosy Glow 3in1 Youth Cream Cover #TOP 1
Garnier Organic Rosy Glow 3in1 Youth Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Olay Vitamin C Day Moisturiser with SPF 30 Cover #TOP 2
Olay Vitamin C Day Moisturiser with SPF 30
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Simple Protect 'N' Glow Brightening Gel Cream Cover #TOP 3
Simple Protect 'N' Glow Brightening Gel Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Brightening Day Creams

Garnier Organic Rosy Glow 3in1 Youth Cream

3600542397605
WHITE
1 count (Pack of 1)
Garnier Organic Rosy Glow 3in1 Youth Cream Cover
Garnier Organic Rosy Glow 3in1 Youth Cream 50ml, For Radiant and Glowing Skin, With Rosehip Seed Oil and Brightening Vitamin C, Vegan Formula, Suitable For All Skin Types , Pack of 1

The Garnier Rosy Glow Cream is designed to nourish and firm your skin, leaving it looking radiant and glowing. If you have dull or tired skin, this cream can help enhance your natural glow without the need for additional makeup products. Infused with rosy pearlescent pigments, it catches the light beautifully and suits all skin tones. Enriched with Organic Rosehip Seed Oil and plant-based Vitamin C, it not only hydrates but also brightens your complexion for a more youthful appearance.

What We Like
Nourishes and firms skin
Enhances natural glow
Suitable for all skin types
Organic and cruelty-free

Olay Vitamin C Day Moisturiser with SPF 30

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white
50 ml (Pack of 1)
Olay Vitamin C Day Moisturiser with SPF 30 Cover
Olay Vitamin C Face Moisturiser Day Cream SPF 30, Skincare with Niacinamide 99% Purity Brightening Skin Care: Anti-Dark Spot Action, Evens, Hydrates Non-Greasy, Non-Sticky 50ml

Olay Vitamin C Moisturiser offers brightening benefits with its SPF 30, helping to combat dark spots and even out your skin tone. It provides hydration for a full 24 hours, ensuring your skin feels refreshed and looks healthy from the very first day. Over a fortnight, you can expect a more even skin texture and tone. The inclusion of 99% pure Niacinamide works deeply to promote cell renewal, enhancing the overall appearance of your skin.

What We Like
Brightens and evens skin tone
24-hour hydration
Lightweight, non-greasy formula
Includes sun protection
Dermatologist approved

Simple Protect 'N' Glow Brightening Gel Cream

Orange
Simple Protect 'N' Glow Brightening Gel Cream Cover
Simple Protect 'N' Glow Brightening Gel Face Cream Facial Moisturiser With Antioxidant Vitamins C & E And Ginger Root For A Radiant Glow 50 ml

The Simple Brightening Gel Cream is designed to instantly enhance your skin's brightness, softness, and smoothness. It features antioxidant Vitamins C and E, along with Ginger Root Extract, which work together to reveal your skin's natural glow. A recent survey showed that 100% of users felt their skin was soft and smooth, while 94% noticed a restoration in dull, tired-looking skin. This gel-textured cream is free from artificial colours, perfumes, and harsh chemicals, making it suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

What We Like
Instantly brightens skin
Contains antioxidant vitamins
Suitable for all skin types
Free from harsh chemicals
Leaves skin soft and smooth

Eclat Vitamin C Face Cream with Hyaluronic Acid

dndf-28
1 count (Pack of 1)
Eclat Vitamin C Face Cream with Hyaluronic Acid Cover
Vitamin C Face Cream - Vitamin C Cream with 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid + 2% Squalane, Vitamin C Moisturizer for Face, Brightening Cream to Reduce Uneven Skin Tone and Wrinkles, Antioxidant Firming Cream

The Eclat Vitamin C Cream is designed to rejuvenate your skin effectively. With a dermatologist-tested 2.5% concentration, it helps avoid skin irritation while promoting a healthy complexion. This moisturiser addresses ten common skin concerns, including wrinkles and uneven skin tone, giving you a more radiant appearance. Enhanced with 2.5% hyaluronic acid and 2% squalane, it retains moisture and boosts collagen production, making fine lines less noticeable. Ideal for all skin types, this cream nourishes without synthetic fragrances or colours.

What We Like
Effective against multiple skin concerns
Hydrates and plumps skin
Dermatologist-tested for all skin types
Natural and cruelty-free ingredients
#TOP 5

Olay Vitamin C Day Gel Moisturiser with AHA

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white
50 ml (Pack of 1)
Olay Vitamin C Day Gel Moisturiser with AHA Cover
Olay Vitamin C Face Moisturiser Day Gel Cream with AHA, Skincare with Niacinamide 99% Purity and Vitamin E Brightening Skin Care: Anti-Dark Spot Action, Evens, Hydrates Non-Greasy, Non-Sticky 50ml

The Olay Vitamin C Gel offers a brightening solution for your skin. It instantly hydrates for 24 hours, helping you achieve a visibly brighter complexion in just one day. After 14 days of use, 8 out of 10 women observed a more even skin tone and texture. With a powerful combination of Vitamin C and AHA, this gel cream renews your skin's surface, providing a refreshing and non-greasy application. It is also dermatologist approved for its effectiveness in preventing dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

What We Like
Brightens skin effectively
Hydrates for 24 hours
Lightweight, non-greasy formula
Approved by dermatologists
#TOP 6

Indy Beauty Brightening Day Cream with Arbutin

Indy Beauty
50 ml (Pack of 1)
Indy Beauty Brightening Day Cream with Arbutin Cover
Bronze Face Moisturiser, 50ml - Brightening Day Cream with Arbutin, Hyaluronic Acid & Liquorice Root - Natural Glow Enhancer Face Cream - Fragrance Free - Dermatologically Tested Glotion - Indy Beauty

The Indy Beauty Brightening Cream is designed to enhance your skin’s natural radiance while providing long-term brightening benefits. Formulated with arbutin, it effectively combats pigmentation, leaving your complexion more even. The inclusion of liquorice root extract and hyaluronic acid helps to deeply hydrate and support your skin's barrier, ensuring a healthy glow. With added pomegranate enzyme, this cream gently exfoliates, revitalising your skin and making it perfect for daily use.

What We Like
Instant radiance boost
Hydrates and evens skin tone
Gentle for all skin types
Vegan and cruelty-free
Made in Sweden
#TOP 7

L'Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Day Cream with SPF

GLBDC015
15 ml (Pack of 1)
L'Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Day Cream with SPF Cover
L'Oréal Paris Glycolic Bright Day Cream with SPF 17, 15ml |Skin Brightening Cream with Glycolic Acid that Visbily Minimizes Spots & Reveals Even Toned Skin

The L'Oréal Glycolic Bright Cream is designed to help you achieve brighter, more even-toned skin. It stimulates cell renewal, reducing dark spots and hyper-pigmentation in just two weeks. The inclusion of niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, not only moisturises but also aids in treating acne and hyperpigmentation. Additionally, it works effectively on the skin's surface to slough away dead cells, revealing a fresh, luminous appearance. With this cream, you can enjoy a more radiant complexion with minimal effort.

What We Like
Reduces dark spots quickly
Moisturises and treats acne
Reveals brighter skin
Stimulates skin cell renewal
#TOP 8

Fade Out Collagen Boost Day Cream SPF 25

3302050BS
Beige
50 ml (Pack of 1)
Fade Out Collagen Boost Day Cream SPF 25 Cover
Fade Out Collagen Boost Brightening Day Cream SPF 25 - Anti-Aging, Skin Firming & Dark Spot Reducing Moisturizer - 50ml

The Fade Out Day Cream offers an advanced anti-ageing formula that visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles, helping you achieve a firmer and more youthful appearance. It features brightening power to lighten dark spots and even out skin tone, giving you a radiant glow. With broad-spectrum SPF 25, you can protect your skin from harmful UVA/UVB rays while keeping it hydrated. Additionally, the cream is infused with hyaluronic acid for deep hydration, ensuring your skin feels soft, supple, and revitalised throughout the day.

What We Like
Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Brightens skin and evens tone
SPF 25 for sun protection
Provides deep hydration
Suitable for all skin types

KIKO Milano Bright Lift Day Cream with Marine Collagen

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Clear
50 ml (Pack of 1)
KIKO Milano Bright Lift Day Cream with Marine Collagen Cover
KIKO Milano Bright Lift Day | Brightening And Lifting Day Cream With Marine Collagen - Spf 15

The KIKO Milano Bright Lift Cream is a brightening and lifting day cream enriched with marine collagen. This cream helps tone the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, which can restore a youthful radiance you desire. It also perfects your make-up application and extends its wear throughout the day. Additionally, its active ingredients protect your skin from oxidative stress, ensuring you maintain a healthy glow while feeling confident and radiant.

What We Like
Brightens and lifts skin
Extends make-up wear
Protects against oxidative stress
Contains marine collagen
Dermatologically tested
#TOP 10

Olay Vitamin C Day Cream with SPF 30

white
50 ml (Pack of 1)
Olay Vitamin C Day Cream with SPF 30 Cover
Olay Vitamin C Face Moisturiser Day Cream SPF 30 REFILL, Skincare with Niacinamide 99% Purity, Antioxidant Vitamin E. Brightening Skin Care: Anti-Dark Spot Action, Evens, Hydrates. Non-greasy, 50ml

The Olay Vitamin C Day Cream offers a fantastic solution for brightening your skin while providing SPF 30 protection. With its hydrating formula, you can enjoy 24-hour moisture, helping your skin look visibly healthy and glowing from day one. After just two weeks, you’ll notice a more even skin tone and improved texture. Enriched with antioxidant Vitamin C and 99% pure Niacinamide, this cream penetrates deeply to promote skin renewal, giving you a radiant complexion.

What We Like
Brightens skin effectively
Long-lasting hydration
Even skin tone improvement
Lightweight, non-greasy formula
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our brightening day cream research, we found 123 brightening day cream products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 35,142 customer reviews through our big data system to write the brightening day creams list. We found that most customers choose brightening day creams with an average price of £12.52.

The brightening day creams are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of brightening day creams, including Garnier, Olay, Simple, Eclat Skincare, Indy Beauty.

Written by
Charlotte Powell Avatar

Charlotte Powell is a dermatologist and a licensed cosmetologist from Westminster, London. However, she was first a cosmetologist from London Beauty Training School. According to Charlotte, she needed better insight into the human skin, hence the dermatology degree. Long before she acquired her degree, she wrote and edited articles, eBooks, and editorials for companies and websites. Charlotte combines her skill and knowledge in providing DIY Beauty tips amongst other fashion related topics.