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ELLE Lab: 13 At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits That Actually Work
The best ways to DIY those pearly whites.
Teeth whitening kits can be a little hit and miss. You either find one that works a treat but leaves your teeth feeling super-sensitive, or fail to notice a difference at all — and that's before you've even considered the sometimes harmful ingredients found in a handful of unregulated buys, the consistency they often require and the sometimes eye-wateringly expensive price tags.
In our quest for whiter, brighter teeth, we were able to separate the wheat from the chaff — here's a quick guide to the at-home teeth whitening products that actually make a difference.
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Best teeth whitening kit for stain removal
Boots Expert Teeth Whitening Kit with Blue Light Activation
Read review
Do At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits Work?
The best option for whitening is via the dentist's chair. However, if that's not an option, cosmetic dentist Dr Nina Bal advises: 'Bear in mind that over the counter kits may not have a high enough percentage of the whitening gel to make a professional level result,' so don't expect miracles! She adds that you shouldn't ever try brushing with 'natural remedies' such as bicarbonate soda as it is too abrasive on the enamel.
Much like anything where you want to see a noticeable change, discipline and consistency are key. For the best results, carefully follow the brand's instructions, finish the entire course or amount of product provided, and use it as often as recommended.
The kits should also be used alongside a good dental hygiene routine. That means brushing twice a day and flossing, regular dentist appointments, and avoiding drinks such as coffee or red wine that can stain teeth (or at least drinking them through a reusable straw, if cutting them out isn't an option).
How We Test
In the ELLE Lab, asked 318 testers to try a range of top-notch whitening kits to see which ones really delivered results. We took pictures of their teeth using our VISIA complexion analyser before and after using each product and then used a whiteness scale to determine any differences in shade. Our panel also assessed the whitening products at home, noting how easy each one was to use, how long it took, its overall effectiveness, and whether there was any sensitivity issues.
The ELLE editors have also selected their favourite kits, so you're sure to find your perfect match.
Billion Dollar Smile Cosmetics USB LED Teeth Whitening Kit
Our winning kit can be powered by your laptop, or even your phone, so you can whiten your teeth any time or place – just be prepared for the looks.
Simple to get to grips with, our testers were pleased to see results after just four days. The handy LED light turns itself off after the 16-minute treatment time is up too, so you don’t accidentally overdo it and end up looking like Ross from Friends. Could whitening your teeth be any easier?
Key specifications
| Treatment time | 16 minutes |
|---|---|
| Treatment duration | 6 days |
| Format | LED light and mouth piece |
Spotlight Oral Care Teeth Whitening System
Designed by the pros, this kit claims to tackle the reddest of wine stains. Its hero ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, the OG for penetrating the top layer of your enamel.
Did it work? Testers were pleased to report it did, with the average person seeing a difference in their smile in just eight days. It didn’t spark any painful sensitivity and was commended for how mess-free it was to use compared to other kits.
Key specifications
| Treatment time | 1 hour |
|---|---|
| Treatment duration | 14 days |
| Format | Strips |
Moon Kendall Jenner Teeth Whitening Pen
If you want a smile that looks as expensive as Kendall Jenner’s, this will give you whiter teeth in a matter of clicks – literally. The brush applicator is a handbag must-have for brightening your pearly whites, while the vegan vanilla-mint flavour made the whole process more enjoyable.
Some found the 30-second wait time a bit too long to keep your mouth open for, but half saw more dazzling teeth by the end of the trial.
Key specifications
| Treatment time | 10-30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Treatment duration | Instant |
| Format | Pen |
Mr. Blanc Teeth Whitening Strips
A perfect travel companion, this kit individually wraps each set of strips, so you can save on mess while you’re out and about.
The peroxide-free formula didn’t cause sensitivity for the majority. Half noticed a visibly whiter smile too, with one raving about how 'comfortable, quick and easy to use' this portable kit was.
Key specifications
| Treatment time | 30 minutes |
|---|---|
| Treatment duration | 14 days |
| Format | Strips |
Boots Expert Teeth Whitening Kit with Blue Light Activation
This kit comes with the bold claim of leaving your teeth 10 shades whiter in just one week, so safe to say, we were intrigued. The majority of our testers found it helped eradicate stubborn stains, leaving most with a brighter, red carpet-worthy smile.
However, our panel found it a bit fiddly to use, and said it could have done with clearer instructions. But it didn’t cause any sensitivity, with one tester impressed with how comfortable the mouth tray was to wear.
Key specifications
| Treatment time | 15-20 minutes |
|---|---|
| Treatment duration | 7 days |
| Format | LED light and mouth piece |
ELLE Editors' Picks
Not found your favourite yet? Take a look at the kits the ELLE editors recommend...
Smile Time Teeth Whitening Pen - £18.99
Smile Time's portable teeth whitening pen is the answer to our coffee, wine and tea-stained teeth woes. No longer will you be caught red (wine) handed when someone whips out the camera mid-Pinot Noir, simply brush this gel formula on before any photo ops and wave goodbye to unwanted stains cropping up in your tagged photos.
Colgate Max White Ultimate Whitening Toothpaste - £11.99
Like the idea of getting whiter teeth but can't be bothered with the faff? Adding no extra time to your morning and night-time routines, this whitening toothpaste contains hydrogen peroxide (the ingredient used by dentists when whitening teeth) to gradually lift stains from your gnashers.
L.A. Pacific 4-in-1 Enzyme Whitening Toothpaste - £4.46
If anyone knows how to do a dazzling white smile, it's those LA folk. This formula is a world first thanks to its inclusion of a whitening enzyme which turns the sugars in your mouth into natural hydrogen peroxide. Clever.
Snow Teeth Whitening Kit All-In-One - £147
For those that want to experience the closest thing to dentist-level results at home, this comprehensive whitening kit does the trick. Simply apply the serum to your teeth with the brush, pop in the LED mouth guard and chill for 9 minutes while it works its whitening magic. No scary dentist chair required.
Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder - £9.45
Brushing your teeth with powder takes a bit of getting used to. But do persevere, as the results can be brilliant. Harnessing the natural whitening ingredient of charcoal, this gently removes stains over time. A great option for those with sensitive teeth or gums.
Wisdom Intense White Charcoal Whitening Strips - £17.99
In a hurry to get those gnashers pearly white? These strips claim to whiten in just a few days, with the charcoal helping to speed the process. They're quite strong, so not recommended for continuous use, but are fab for whitening your smile before a big event.
Curaprox Black Is White Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste - £19.84
Not only for detox face masks, Curaprox's whitening toothpaste also harnesses the purifying properties of charcoal to keep stains from settling. Even though the texture is slightly gritty, it's definitely not gag-worthy like some charcoal-infused products. Brush for two minutes, rinse your mouth out thoroughly, et voila.
BlanX White Shock Treatment + LED Bite - £10.67
A pea-sized amount of the BlanX treatment in place of your regular toothpaste is capable of blurring yellow stains into oblivion, all without subjecting your teeth to any abrasive ingredients which so often sensitise – ouch. Using the LED might seem like a bit of a faff when all you want to do is fall into bed at the end of the day, but you only need a minute each time; the key is consistency.
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
