I’m unapologetically oily and picked up the SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule because I love the original Centella for “emergency calm” but fancied something with a bit more radiance. I’ve been using it straight after cleansing—no toner, on purpose—to see what it can do on its own.

Short version : the brightening is real and rather tidy, but on very oily skin it lives in the “lovely… just a touch much” camp unless I’m strict with amount and dry-down time.

First impression. Recognisably SKIN1004—clean, minimal, no perfume theatrics—but the texture isn’t the same as the original Centella. This is thicker, with a slight stretch as you spread. You can see the little capsules melt as you pat; they give an immediate soft sheen that makes the face look more awake even before moisturiser. It isn’t oily, exactly, but there’s a micro-film as it settles—the skincare equivalent of a silk slip: smooth, flattering and—if you’re oily—something you absolutely notice.

Testing it as a single step, I apply to damp skin : half a pump in the morning, a full pump at night. Pressing, not rubbing. The finish is consistent—fresh, subtly glossy—and the tone effect is genuinely there. That sallow, tube-light cast through the centre of my face is less obvious, and the shadows round my mouth look lifted. It behaves under sunscreen and base so long as I give it a minute or two to absorb; if I rush, it can feel as though foundation is skating over a freshly polished floor. Wait 90 seconds and it’s fine.

Where it wins is brightening without chaos. Not bleaching, not fake flash-back glow, more “took a brisk walk, drank some water, slept like a decent human”. My forehead looks less grey, the nose/cheek junction more even, and base doesn’t cling to the slightly rougher patches by the nostrils. After a fortnight, overall evenness improved in a way that shows in awful bathroom lighting, which is the only test that matters.

Where it drags, very much a skin-type thing is absorption tempo. On an extremely oily complexion, especially after a warm bathroom, it takes its time. Not ages, but longer than I want on a weekday. More than half a pump in the morning and the surface feels a bit “present” for three or four minutes. Not fatal, but it’s taught me to use less and fan my face whilst I make a cuppa. In the evening I don’t mind; in the morning I do.

Treat it like the original Centella—layering with wild abandon because it feels nice—and the sheen stacks up, reading slip-and-slide by lunchtime. One slim coat is beautiful; two is borderline; three is an invitation for the T-zone to audition as a light reflector. Oily friends will understand. If you’re normal to combination, that extra cushion may read as healthy glow. On me, it’s, “Right, where’s the blotting paper then.”

Make-up compatibility is otherwise good. Mineral SPFs don’t curdle; silicone primers sit politely. The key is patience. The moment I stopped racing it—half pump, a proper press, 90 seconds to clear a couple of emails—my base went on smoother and stayed smoother. Powder grips well on top; it’s the rare dewy-leaning serum that doesn’t make bronzer patchy.

On the tone-brightening claim, I’d call it credible rather than dramatic. It visibly freshens overall tone and softens minor dullness; it won’t erase long-standing post-blemish marks or replace a pigment routine. I’m not cross about that—this isn’t hydroquinone in a frock. It’s a daily brightening hydrator with a little extra body and an elegant finish. Within that brief, it performs.

Seasonally, it shines when central heating leaves even oily skin oddly tight; the extra body feels protective then. In spring and autumn, it’s a simple one-step tidy-up after cleansing. High summer is when I’ll keep it to evenings or stick to half a pump. There’s nothing greasy about it, but sheen + my own oil can look more “glistening” than I prefer if I’m power-walking on a warm day.

Tweaks that keep it in the sweet spot

Apply on damp skin and use less than you think (half pump a.m.)

Press, don’t rub; then leave 60–120 seconds before SPF.

If you must layer, layer elsewhere—gel moisturiser only where you’re dry, skim the T-zone with what’s left on your fingertips.

On genuinely sweaty days, keep it for p.m.; it’s a lovely under-the-fan bedtime serum that doesn’t glue you to your pillow.

So, is it for oily skin? Yes! With editing. If you’re very oily, be purposeful with amount and timing. If you’re mildly oily or classic combination, you’ll likely adore the “alive” brightness and won’t mind the extra drop of slip. Versus the original Centella, it’s more viscous, a touch slower to disappear, and more cosmetically flattering in terms of instant radiance. The trade-off is that the heft is noticeable on a face that generates its own glow by 10 a.m.

Verdict : a well-mannered brightening ampoule that genuinely lifts the look of the skin—just not one to slosh on mindlessly at 7:15. I’ll keep it for evenings, winter mornings and “no-toner, one-step” days when I want to look presentable on minimal effort. If your skin runs drier, it’s likely a new favourite. If you’re extreme oil like me, keep the bottle—and keep the half-pump discipline.