If, like me, you’ve watched your fair share of American sitcoms, you’ll have noticed that all the actors – from Zooey Deschanel to Matt LeBlanc – have one thing in common: pearly white teeth.
It’s no secret that our neighbours across the pond (or at least those covered in the media) have superior teeth, but things are very different in 2025.
While hydrogen peroxide – one of the most popular ingredients in teeth whitening kits – is less regulated in the US, it’s still possible to have a brilliant smile in the UK.
In fact, I’ve been testing out Gleam’s at-home teeth whitening product (originally £39.99, now £24.99, Gleamteeth.co.uk), and there’s no doubt that it does make teeth brighter – more on that later.
It can be overwhelming to decide whether to try an LED whitening kit, see a dentist for help, or try a whitening toothpaste. But I’m here to help you out with a simple, affordable option.
Read on for my honest Gleam Whitening review, and where you can get it for a third off right now.
While Gleam promises “30-minute results,” it comes with enough strips for 14 treatments. I followed the instructions to apply one strip per bag to each lower and upper row of teeth, and continued using them daily until I saw noticeable results.
My treatment lasted about five days, and I continued with the strips for a further eight days. I also followed the brand’s LED whitening kit’s advice, including brushing before whitening and rinsing with water afterwards. Here’s how I used it.
Lucy Smith has over five years of experience working in the lifestyle, beauty and wellness sectors. She’s particularly well-versed in oral health and wrote The Independent’s guide to the best whitening kits.
When testing the Gleam Whitening Kit, she knew what worked (and what didn’t) on stubborn food and drink stains. See her review below.
Gleam’s 14-day treatment is currently over a third cheaper, offering an affordable alternative to professional (high-end) dental whitening, which can often cost over £1,000.
It’s simple to use and, like many whitening strips I’ve tried, the design is excellent. Instead of struggling to stick straight strips onto the curved surface of your lower teeth, Gleam’s bottom strip is arched with a handy tapered section that folds over the underside of your teeth.
The strips stick so well that I was able to go about my daily routine – whether it was tidying up my house or working from home – without worrying about them coming off.
In fact, I think they’re a little too sticky, as I felt a little uncomfortable when removing them. The process does leave a bit of a bumpy residue, but it’s odourless and disappears quickly after rinsing with water or mouthwash.
Overall, Gleam’s teeth whitening strips have made my teeth much brighter – even after many whitening tests before, the results are still noticeable. They penetrate deep into the gaps between teeth and after just five days the colour of the teeth is noticeably improved, with even more brightness after 13 days.
I found the whitening strips to be relatively comfortable and easy to use on a daily basis, and at £15 off they are great value for money compared to the competition. I say, get ready for summer and smile!
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