This product was sent to me for free. Post contains affiliate links.
I have very fair, freckle-prone combination skin. And while I like my freckles, I do not want them to start merging into age spots. I’ve been on the hunt for a good vitamin C serum for some time. I’ve had a fair share of misses - Purito (turns out I’m allergic), Cosrx Triple C (oxidized way too quickly and sort of stung my face), and some non-kbeauty brands that didn’t seem to do anything at all.
Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum was sent to me as PR in a By Sophie beauty box (watch the unboxing here). It promises a brighter, moisturized and glowing complexion. It is sold on* YesStyle (reward code KBHOBBIT for a discount), Stylevana, Amazon, and eBay.
I recently got a second bottle of the serum (in June 2021) and I'm absolutely thrilled to have it again.
This serum is cruelty free and made without parabens, artificial fragrances, and gluten. Skin&Lab chose a stable form of vitamin C - 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbate - for their formulation. Binding an ethyl group to a third carbon position, the vitamin C is stabilized and we can avoid the usual woes associated with this wonderful ingredient - instability/quick oxidation. I am not a chemist, in fact I remember high school honors chem with a shudder, but I read up on the ingredient.
In addition to vitamin C, Skin&Lab Vitamin C serum contains a blend of 15 other vitamins, hyaluronic acid (plumping), panthenol (healthy skin barrier), collagen (anti-aging), and matrixyl 300 (tightening). There are also tiny capsules of vitamin E for increased moisture and antioxidant effect.
How to use:
Apply a few drops to the face and neck after cleansing
Can be used in the morning or evening (or both)
My impressions
Right away, I noticed that this formula is a lot more pleasant to use than other vitamin C serums I have tried. It’s slightly thicker, reminiscent of a very thin gel, and glides on the skin effortlessly. There is no stinging or burning. Perhaps, that means the results take a bit longer to see, but that’s ok with me - battling hyperpigmentation is not a quick task.
I used the serum every day from the middle of October until early December when it ran out. It lasted me a little over 6 weeks, and I was pretty generous with the applied amount (it just felt so nice).
I had no irritation or other issues. One bottle of the serum did seemingly improve my complexion - I can barely see my freckles, and in general my skin looks brighter and more glowy. My most stubborn pigmentation spot (which happens to be on my nose of all places) has faded as well, but isn’t gone completely. These types of things can take years to resolve, so I’m not surprised.
A very important point to me - Skin&Lab Vitamin C serum is not fussy when it comes to storage. It lived happily in my bathroom (inside its cardboard box for extra protection from the light), and didn’t oxidize even a tiny bit. That’s my big gripe with other vitamin C products - how quickly they turn dark.
Overall, I’m very happy with this. It’s probably not the most intense or fast acting vitamin C serum on the market, but it does a good job and is very easy to store and use.
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#crueltyfree #parabenfree #Skin&Lab #serum #combinationskin #hyperpigmentation #allskintypes #vitaminC #vitaminE
Skin&Lab Vitamin C Brightening Serum ingredients: Water, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid(15000Ppm), Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Benzyl Glycol, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ascorbic Acid(106.05Ppb), Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Bioflavonoids, Glutathione, Linoleic Acid, Menadione, Retinol, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum