Best VIT C serum recommendations please

[Tulips365]

Hi,

Just that really. I always hear how amazing it is, but the ones I've tried have been a bit meh and always oxidise!

Thanks.

Vitamin C is unstable and pretty much all of it oxidises if you're not careful- it's why it's recommended to keep it in the fridge which gives it a bit more shelflife and why the good ones come in small quantities and dark if not opaque bottles.
The "gold standard" is Skinceuticals vit C + ferrulic but I'm not paying that. Apparently the Geek and Gorgeous one is a dupe.
I've tried:
The Ordinary - foul and disgusting, threw it away
La Roche Posay - slimy and oxidised very quickly
Vichy Liftactiv- love this one, watery consistency but tiny bottle for the ££
Garden of Wisdom - strange oily consistency, didn't finish it
Timeless- this was nice, but difficult to get hold of in UK/EU.
Am currently using the N7 one and it's as good as any of the others I've tried. Will probably try the Geek and Gorgeous when I've finished it, but otherwise would repurchase.

You also need to look at % of actives. About 15% of l-ascorbic is good. I've seen up to 23%. Rule of thumb is if it doesn't tell you on the pot what the % is of what vitamin C it's probably not going to be enough to make a difference.

Your skin can only absorb up to 20%, products with anything over that is usually a derivative (which have different ideal percentages) or it's in a formula that doesn't directly deliver it in a water based formula so a lot gets lost in application. Anything under 10% L-AA is probably wasting your time.

Geek and Gorgeous C-glow is my preferred one, I like it better than Skinceuticals. Buy the mini bottles with it and keep the larger bottle in the fridge and if you're in the UK make sure you're ordering from the UK site otherwise shipping will cost more than the product.

I like the revolution one

I use the Murad Vitamin C serum and I buy it in travel size rather than full size. Less insane upfront cost and I feel like the big one lasts so long I'm not convinced it stays active.

I've also used the Inkey List one - I find it less immediately good but it definitely does seem to have an effect over a longer time.

And in summer I love the Body Shop's vitamin C SPF. I haven't bothered with the rest of the range, but suspect it might be nice.

Currently using Medik8 version which goes on very well but too soon to say how well it is working. It’s not as pricey as skincueticals so hoping it will work

I love Anew Vit C Radiance Maximising Serum from Avon. It is so good. It has noticeably improved my skin and the price is pretty good as well.

I really rate Avon actually. I also use their tinted moisturising cream with spf and I also have the Serum Foundation SPF30.

Thanks very much for all the suggestions.

Medik8 terra luxe

Timeless.

I’m another one that is really impressed with Geek & Gorgeous. I switched to this when you could no longer get Timeless reliably in the UK and actually prefer it.

My favourites that I've tried:

1. Skinceuticals - yes it is ££££ but it is bloody good. I stopped using it for a couple of years due to ££ and then panic bought when I couldn't get hold of either the Timeless or GOW ones I'd been using and my skin was noticably better - just glowier and brighter.
2. Timeless - haven't been able to get hold of this for a year or so now. Shame, as it was good.
3. Garden of Wisdom - fine, and I was pretty happy with it until I went back to Skinceuticals and noticed the difference!

I'm up for a cheaper dupe though, so shall be trying the Geek and Gorgeous next!

Have used lots of different C serums: DCL C-Scape (expensive, heavy duty, effective as a night treatment, hard to find), Garden of Wisdom (fine but not amazing), the Ordinary (annoying, messy, and did very little), Rohto Melano CC (odd to put on), and Skinceuticals (my fave but shockingly expensive).

Switched to Medik8 Super C Ferulic last year and it is - for me at least - the best I've used. It's not cheap (RRP around £60) but it's considerably less than the Skinceuticals and it's easier to find it on offer. Plus I don't feel like I have to be sparing using it, and to me it feels less oily and easier to apply as part of my routine.