I found a $27 vitamin C serum that’s as good as a $182 ‘gold standard’ buy – my tip ensures it’s as fresh as possible
A 51-YEAR-OLD woman has revealed the serum that she uses to reduce the appearance of sun damage without splurging on pricey potions.
She said the affordable serum is a staple in her morning skincare routine before applying any other products.
She shared her advice on Reddit’s 45 Plus Skincare forum in response to a user asking for tips to fade the sun damage on their face.
SUPER SERUM
The woman said a skincare specialist would recommend lasers and tretinoin, which are “great” but they can be expensive and the results may be temporary.
“Before that, I would get on a high-quality vitamin C in the morning,” she said, writing under the handle Telephonetag2123.
“Skinceuticals vitamin C and ferrulic is the gold standard but it’s super expensive.
“I find the Timeless brand vitamin C with ferrulic to be just as good.
“I buy it directly from their website to ensure it’s as fresh as possible.
“I put the vitamin C on in the morning after I splash my face with water, and afterward put on moisturizer and sunblock.”
Skinceuticals Vitamin C Serum costs an eye-watering $182 on the brand’s website.
Meanwhile, Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid serum costs just $26.95.
The Redditor said there is a selection of other over-the-counter beauty products that target sun damage.
She uses Azelaic acid from Glytone or The Ordinary nightly after cleansing and swears by wearing sunscreen daily to prevent further damage.
“I’m 51f [female], Danish heritage so I’m fair and very sun damaged, and I like Elta MD tinted UV physical SPF41,” she said.
“I also have embraced sun hats. A little cream bronzer makes the cast of mineral sunscreen pretty minimal.”
COSMETIC CONVERTS
Many people upvoted the post to show that they were grateful for her skincare advice.
Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid has a whopping 4.9-star rating out of a possible 5 on the brand’s website.
Buy it now
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20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid, $26.95, Timeless
C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, $182, Skinceuticals
Thousands of people with different skin types have praised the product in honest reviews.
“Discovered this stuff in 2019 when I decided there was no way I was going to spend $170 plus for a vitamin C serum and no way was I going to just age without any products lol,” one person said.
“Found this and has the exact ingredients as the expensive brand I used AND it didn’t smell nearly as bad as the expensive serum!
“I’m 45 now and it is the most important part of my skincare routine besides moisturizer!!! The best!”
“There’s nothing quite like vitamin C that gets the skin glowing,” another shopper said.
“It’s by far one of my most transformative actives and I inevitably get comments on my skin whenever I’m using it.
“Timeless really is the best there is and for a very reasonable price too!”
Should you apply vitamin C to your skin?
Topical Vitamin C has several benefits for skin including hydrating, reducing redness, and hyperpigmentation.
According to Healthline, it may also help to promote collagen production and reduce the appearance of sun damage.
Research shows that it is safe for most skin types but may cause irritation in concentrations above 20%.
Experts recommend doing a patch test on a small skin area and waiting 24 hours to see if there are side effects before applying it to your face.
Discontinue topical use of vitamin C if you experience rashes, redness, or hives.