This post is sponsored by Smile Brilliant. All opinions are my own. This post also contains affiliate links. Read my disclosure here.

From middle school through high school, I had braces for three years and hated every minute of it. I was embarrassed to smile or laugh because I didn’t feel like myself with my braces. Once they came off though, I honestly couldn’t help looking in the mirror and smiling every chance I got. I loved the way my teeth looked and vowed to give them the utmost care to keep them as perfect as possible.

However, through the years, I’ve made coffee, tea, and wine my favorite beverages of choice, which hasn’t been so great for my teeth. I’ve unfortunately noticed more and more discoloration, which has resulted in me feeling some of those similar emotions to how I felt in high school. I’ve been more self-conscious of how my teeth look and have tried a number of whitening agents since college that I haven’t been too crazy about. Crest Whitestrips literally felt like they stripped my teeth and left them extremely sensitive. Going to get my teeth professionally whitened saw positive results, but it can get pretty pricey. So, when Smile Brilliant reached out and asked me if I was open to trying their product, I was intrigued. The first thing I did was read reviews (like I always do when trying a new product or service) and was so impressed by what I read. So many people out there love the product for its results, cost, and sheer convenience. It got me super excited and I couldn’t wait to get started with my at-home teeth whitening experience! Throughout my process, I learned four things that got me hooked on Smile Brilliant.

It’s Affordable

When most people think about at-home teeth whitening, they probably think dollar signs. Anything convenient in life is bound to cost more – but let me tell you, that doesn’t include Smile Brilliant! What’s so enticing about their whitening system is that you can get a dentist grade whitening service for under $200. That was a huge selling point for me. Sure, Crest Whitestrips are cost effective too, but who wants to suffer through sensitivity to get results? Wouldn’t you rather spend a bit more to get quality and painless results?

It’s Customizable

I could go on and on about the level of customization Smile Brilliant offers. I started with a questionnaire on my dental history and a short few days later, I had a Smile Brilliant package suited to my needs waiting for me when I got home from work. I followed the instructions to make my teeth molds (so that my trays fit exactly to my teeth) and I honestly couldn’t believe how easy it was. It took as little as 10 minutes. I then sent the molds back to Smile Brilliant in the stamped envelope they provided. I received my custom-fitted whitening trays a week later and was so pleasantly surprised when I put my trays in and how perfectly they fit on my teeth. Being as busy as I am, I loved and appreciated how quick and seamless the whole process was.

For those nervous about tooth sensitivity, have no fear! Smile Brilliant pulls out all the stops for this. They recommend rubbing coconut oil or Vaseline on your gums, which I didn’t do, but I could see that definitely helping for those with gum sensitivity. They also provide desensitizing gel to put into your trays right after whitening, which is so thoughtful and definitely helped me. You use the desensitizing gel for 15 minutes after you do your whitening gel, which isn’t required, but I’d definitely recommend doing it. 

It’s Convenient

The fact that I could complete the whole teeth whitening process from the comfort of my own home was the best. I didn’t have to take time out of my day to go get my teeth whitened and instead was able to do it while I watched TV or wrote blog posts after work. It’s perfect to do right before bed after you’ve eaten dinner. You have the option for how long you have the trays in too – you can do as little as 45 minutes, up to 3 hours! I typically did an hour to an hour and a half. It sounds like a long time, but you’re easily able to talk with the trays in and I even forgot sometimes that I had them in!

It Actually Works

The fact that Smile Brilliant’s teeth whitening system is affordable, customizable and convenient is awesome, but you’re probably wondering, well, does it actually work? I can tell you honestly that yes, it does. I was impressed with how quickly I saw results. I probably started noticing a difference in just under three sessions. You can see my results for yourself in the picture below (obviously #nofilter):

Pretty good, huh!? Assuming my coffee, tea and wine habits aren’t going to change any time soon, I love that I can always turn to my Smile Brilliant trays any time I feel like I need to brighten my smile! I’ve been using my kit intermittently the last three months and will continue to do so. 

If you’re looking for more information on Smile Brilliant, definitely check out their post on what you should know before purchasing a kit. If you’d like to purchase a kit, you can get 15% off with the code, thelipstickandink15! 

Kelly Nash

Kelly Nash is a Chicago-based writer, career coach, speaker and founder of Lipstick & Ink®. She also works full-time in technology as a Role Strategy and Employee Engagement Manager at Salesforce and has over 12 years of digital marketing experience. Kelly has been featured in Thrive Global, Chicago Tribune, International Association of Women, General Assembly, Salesforce, and SheFactor. She’s fueled by black coffee, sunshine, a good ink pen, and a bold lip.