Disclosure: this article is sponsored by Colgate Optic White — but you know we only tell you the real, unvarnished truth. 

There are two things you can do right now to help your teeth stay bright and white: stop drinking red wine and give up the coffee. If that sounds about as appealing as sticking a fork in your eye, I’ve got good news: thanks to the MANY at-home teeth whitening kits around, it’s never been easier to brighten your pearly whites without giving up alcohol or caffeine—and from the comfort of your home. Win win. 

I’ve tried a couple of different kits before—strips, gels, pens—but I was keen to try this newbie from Colgate Optic White because I’ve been a Colgate toothpaste girl from way back, so I knew I could trust them, but also because it uses LED which, a) I’ve never used on my teeth before, and b) LED does amazing things for my skin, so I’m thinking it might do the same for my teeth, right? 

Here’s the official need-to-know:

Optic White PRO LIGHT featuring an LED Accelerator and the Optic White Whitening Pen. It uses the same ingredient that a dentist uses to whiten teeth—hydrogen peroxide.

AUD$150.

The Overnight Pen Serum deposits a smudge-proof, concentrated hydrogen peroxide film on teeth. This does an excellent job of whitening teeth all on its own (and is available to purchase separately), but the PRO LIGHT device uses light energy to amplify the whitening power of the pen, for teeth that are up to six shades whiter—in just 10 minutes a day.*

Sounds good, right? But does it actually work? 

I brushed my teeth in the evening as per normal, and then, following instructions, I dried the top row with a tissue, and got painting with the pen. Right off the bat, I liked the fact that the pen didn’t just spew gobs of gel on my teeth (hate when that happens), and the precision brush made it easy to apply a thin layer just on my teeth and steer clear of my gums (I’ve dealt with sensitivity when using other at-home whitening kits, and avoiding gums helps reduce that). The serum dried and formed that hydrogen peroxide film in under 20 seconds, so I didn’t have to stand around with my mouth hanging open like a stunned mullet. I repeated the process for my bottom row.

Then came the light show. Unlike other DIY kits I have seen, where the LED device just speeds up the whitening process, this device speeds up the process (see: 10 minutes a day) and enhances the results. I fit the device over my teeth—it reminded me of those mouthguards that footballers wear—and let it work its magic for 10 minutes, after which it automatically switched off. Then it was off to bed, with the dried serum on my teeth, and the next morning I brushed it off.   

After about eight days of daily use, I have noticeably whiter teeth. Not the six shades whiter, for me personally, that the brand said might happen, but the kind of white teeth that didn’t look too LA celebrity. Instead, I have the kind of teeth that look natural and believable, and I feel extra-confident when I slick on my fave Nars Dragon Girl lipstick. 

*10 minutes a day for 10 days. Use as directed. Individual results may vary.