Vitamin C serum - good but not excessively priced

[MattCauthon]

I love a bit of a vitamin C and have been using it for years. But the ones I like keeping getting cancelled. I need a new option, but while I'm willing to pay a bit, I can't afford the £70+ I see from a lot of brands.

Ones I've used:
1 The inkey list - this was my intro. Fine, good, but not as punchy. Great into
2 Body shop - in their SPF. I loved it. They stopped making it. I am toying with trying their serum?
3 Murad - brilliant product but a) expensive b) smells awful
4 The Ordinary - the 30% in silicon was one I LOVED. But I know it wasn't considered good so they stopped making it
5 The Ordinary - the 23% one. I don't know if they still make it, but it was okay, not amazing so I'm keen to move on. I am currently using, as a temporary measure, the Ordinary vitamin C powder mixed with a serum but I want a "proper" serum.

I have used various Simple products with vitamin C and I like them as a little boost during the day - eg the moisterising vitamin C with SPF is one I keep in my car in the summer. But I don't like the Serum itself.

Ideas?

I like MediK8 but their vitamin C is crazy expensive. I was gifted various Trinny minis and I've been liking them so I'm tempted by her Vitamin C - but it's also very expensive.

@MattCauthon I really would give it a go if you like medik8, I’ve been using it consistently for a few years now because it’s so lovely. I really rate the crystal retinal as well but I have switched to a Skinrocks one because it was a bit cheaper and they do refills, I like it even more than the crystal retinal luckily

I think I need the advanced one and it's not showing up anywhere at anything less than £69!!!!

I don't really mind paying as i do find the high end stuff lasts well. But... this is a LOT.

Maybe try the original one and see how you go? I agree that’s a lot of money. I wonder if you might find a tester of the original c-tetra on Vinted or something? Or maybe if you went into a shop they might give you a little tester?

Cera-ve do a really nice one - it definitely makes a difference and it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin

I also rate the Lumene, it is often included in Boots £10 Tuesday offer

I think I'm way past 7%

I'm going to just keep looking at it and make a decision. Maybe I should get DH to buy it as a Christmas gift. But you're right, a sample or test would be good. I think Space NK and/or Sephora sell it. We have a SpaceNK in our nearest big town and DD and I will probably do at least one pre-Christmas big shop at Westfield so could stop in at Sephora if SpaceNK doesn't to get a sample?

Oh yeah, I think skincare is a lovely gift to receive. A bottle lasts me around 4-5 months as well because a little goes such a long way…I feel like I should be on commission for this 🤣 good luck!

So... I checked out the MediK8 one at SpaceNK last week. I liked it. But I didn't love it. The woman showed me the Sunday Riley one and actually, it was lovely. I tried a few others but they were all too greasy.

But I've realised my skin is currently freaking glowing - it's in a really good pace right now (since I reintroduced the powder vitamin C) so I think that to change anything at this point would just be a bit stupid! So I'm sticking with the Ordinary and have got a new tube of the Medik8 Crystal 6 (both purchased at good discounts via the CultBeauty Black Friday sale with the added SALICB code).

I also managed to pick up another bottle of the old Clarins Double Serum at £32 at a Clarins outlet store, so even though I still have half a bottle, I'm now sorted for that until the end of next year!

@MattCauthon oh nice one! If it’s working then don’t change it! :)

The Boots only Vit C serum is good, cheap and recommended to me by a skin specialist

I never see any glow or smoothness from vitamin C but use it to fade pigmentation and hopefully as a protective atioxidant. It works over a longer period of time.

I don't think the instant glow you get on application has anything to do with the vitamin c content- it can't change your skin instantly on application, any hydrating serum gives that glow from the plumping up of skin cells from ingredients llke water, hyaluronic acid and moisturing oily ingredients like squalene or natural oils.

My favourite is the Mdik 8 C Tetra Luxe or their new C Tetra Advanced. Biossance Vitamn C and rose oil is really nice too and Sunday Riley C.E.O. All a pit pricey though. Haven't tried it yet but the Naturium one gets really good reviews and is better value and Paulas Choice has one too which is very potent. If you like capsules then the Elizabeth Arden ones are really good and much nicer than the Beauty Pie ones which don't contain enough product for my liking.

Currently 30% off at cult beauty and 25% off at space nk

I love the beauty pie one too.

https://www.beautypie.com/products/superdose-vit-c-action-power-brightener?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_id=21246539473&utm_campaign=G_UK_PLA_Brand_All_Products&utm_campaign_id=21246539473&utm_adset_id=164604050791&utm_ad_id=699552539983&utm_placement=g&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21246539473&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9LWmhKqVkQMV_pVQBh2qEwgqEAQYASABEgKAcfD_BwE

I love the beauty pie one too. It's in an orange bottle. Around £23 for members.

Hey Everyone,
A great vitamin c serum is Trendy Blends Vitamin C Serum

The garnier one is nice and usually on offer in Superdrug.

Does anyone find they get milia after using vitamin C?

Yes! as I said up thread, I stopped putting it on my temples because it was causing spots (and no spots since so pretty conclusive it was the Vit C that was the cause). I was only putting it on the dark spots and now have a couple of milia appear. Stopped using it now.

Any advice on hyperpigmentation magic cures that are not Vitamin C serums? (I did think it helped fade one)

I know that you said it’s spendy, and it is, but I use the Medik8 c-tetra luxe and I find that the little dropper means that I have a lot of control over the amount used so it lasts me 8-9 months using it once a day. So price per use is more reasonable that it first sounds.

Okay, I'm back!

Even though I think it's good for my skin, I just still don't love the powder!

And I thought this thread would be amused by the fact that I have now been into both Space NK and Sephora and in both cases, I have said that I loved Murad but hate the smell, loved old Ordinary but can't buy any more and what do you recommend.... and they keep trying to push the Medik8 one on me even when I tell them it's too greasy. I had some on my hand and the woman kept pushing it and I showed her my hand and said it's STILL greasy and she said, "No, that's just hydration."

I have narrowed it down though that if I AM willing to spend, I'm going with the Paula's choice one, but I'm going to try the Geek and Gorgeous recommended on here first.