Brushing your teeth is arguably the most boring part of the day. Two minutes twice daily seems to last an eternity, yet we religiously do it in the name of hygiene.
Traditionally dominated by names such as Colgate and Oral-B, dental care has never been a massively hyped-about topic. That was until Hismile came onto the scene.
The brand has testimonials from celebrities and influencers who have all taken to social media to share their glistening pearly whites. You may have seen the promotional videos flood your Instagram feed. These are most probably showcasing the V34 Colour Corrector serum that magically whitens a girl’s single tooth in seconds. Well, this piqued my interest, and I wanted to try it for myself.
Hismile launched its first Teeth Whitening Kit in 2014, aiming to promote an at-home teeth whitening treatment that was equally as effective as peroxide, minus the damaging side effects of sensitivity and enamel damage.
The label soon garnered the support of famous faces such as Tammy Hembrow and Kim Kardashian, the latter of whom has become the company’s No.1 poster girl.
Not glossing over the fact that the SKIMS founder has made some questionable collab choices (the ever-controversial Dolce & Gabbana springs to mind) but for someone with the ability to support any brand or try any product, the fact that she’s chosen Hismile carries gravitas.
So, what does Hismile offer that’s different from other whitening brands? The brand uses bleaching agents including Hydrogen Peroxide, Carbamide Peroxide, and Phthalimidoperoxycaproic Acid, or PAP for short. Like peroxide-based agents, PAP uses oxidising action to diminish stains and lighten the tooth.
However, peroxide releases free radicals, which attack organic molecules to reduce discolouration, but can also catalyse sensitivity, gum irritation and demineralisation. PAP combats staining without the release of free radicals, meaning the molecules can be broken down safely with no risk of unwanted side effects.
Teeth whitening that’s safe to use and presented in uber-marketable colourful packing? Sounds peachy, but does it really work? Find out below.
Buy now: Instant Whitening Bundle - £21, Hismile
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Ultimate Whitening Bundle
PAP+ Whitening Strips
The dentist-backed PAP+ Whitening Strips promise no gum irritation and no tooth sensitivity. They certainly delivered on this part, as post-application there was absolutely no tooth sensitivity or sensory hint of damage. Granted, teeth whitening strips don’t have the best rep when it comes to damaging your enamel, but these strips were no problem to use day after day, with zero negative side effects. They didn’t have a strong taste or require a subsequent brush to rid any excess product, which often occurs when using charcoal strips that blacken your gums.
Upon application, my teeth immediately appeared whiter through the transparent strips. Yet, after 30 minutes of seamless tooth whitening, I removed the strips to find that not much had changed at all.
I repeated this process multiple times throughout the week, using the seven strips provided in the kit. Slowly (very slowly) but somewhat surely, the strips began to lift some discolouration - but it wasn’t nearly as drastic as what the brand’s social media portrays, which left me slightly disappointed.
Now, to ensure this is a fair test, it’s important to note that during my time experimenting with Hismile, I still consumed copious amounts of tea and coffee, which are known for staining teeth. So while this may have hindered results, I was still hoping for a more effective outcome.
Buy now £12.80, HiSmile
V34 Colour Corrector Serum
Considering the brand’s promotional videos that pepper social media depict incredible whitening results, I had high hopes for the V34 Colour Corrector Serum. There's no doubt the serum is a quick fix. Simply coat your teeth in two pumps of the purple liquid gel, which tastes minty fresh, leave on for 30 seconds and rinse.
Like the strips, the serum automatically makes your teeth look brighter when applied.
Hismile notes that the “V34 works to brighten teeth by utilising colour correcting technology. By counter-balancing the different hues in your teeth, V34 conceals stains and improves brightness.”
Purple, the opposite of yellow on the colour wheel, acts as a complementary colour, hence why the pigment is purposed to tackle any yellow tint on your teeth.
Recommended as a post-whitening treatment, the serum is rather fun to use. Staring at yourself in the mirror while looking like a possessed Barney the Dinosaur never gets old.
The 30 seconds didn’t seem to be quite long enough. Even after five minutes, the results were subtle. Combined with the whitening strips, the serum did help to brighten the teeth slightly, but it was still a far cry from whiter-than-white gnashers of Love Islanders and Simon Cowell on the Hismile Instagram feed.
Buy now £15.20, HiSmile
Vanilla Toothpaste
There are certain things we wish childhood carried over into adulthood. Being pushed around in a pram all day, Calpol and flavoured toothpaste. Hismile served up serious nostalgia with the release of its flavoured toothpastes, which span notes such as mango sorbet, grape bubblegum and red velvet.
I tried the vanilla toothpaste, and it was an experience. The taste was reminiscent of a fairy cake bursting in your mouth. The super-sweet, moreish flavour felt odd when encountered first thing in the morning and last thing at night. It wasn’t the most palatable taste upon rolling out of bed, even for a self-professed sweet tooth such as myself. But it made for a creative 4pm pick-me-up when the sugar cravings hit.
While I’ll probably stick to a minty fresh option, the toothpaste is a fun product to use. I mean, dessert for breakfast? How could I refuse?
Buy now £7.20, Hismile
Verdict
Overall, the kit didn’t quite live up to the hype. This is a shame considering the science is all there. Damage-free strips, peroxide-less ingredients, purple tones to lift yellow tints - but the execution fell short.
My teeth did seem a smidgen brighter, but I would have loved to have seen better results. Having said that, would I sacrifice my dental health for strips that damage my enamel and cause sensitivity? No, I’d take the Hismile and patiently wait for the effects to work its magic over the course of a few months.
It goes without saying that the kit may have different effects on different people. For £21, roughly the cost of other whitening strips without the extra serum, it may still be worth a try for those who are still intrigued.
For now, we’ll use the serum for last-minute colour corrections, and Kim K can keep the rest.
Buy now: Instant Whitening Bundle - £21, Hismile
