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Looking for an honest Beautycounter Vitamin C Serum review? Here are my thoughts, before and after photos, and tips!
If you’ve been looking for a safe vitamin c serum, chances are you’ve come across Beautycounter’s Vitamin C Serum. Before testing it out myself, I had tried quite a few other vitamin C serums because I saw so many skin care experts talking about the benefits. I didn’t really get serious about skin care until my 30s (I know, I regret this), so it took me awhile to jump on the vitamin C train. And let me tell you, vitamin C has now become my most favorite active skin care ingredient!
Buying skin care online can be tricky, especially if you have sensitive skin. So, to help you figure out if this serum is a good fit for you, I’ve included my honest Beautycounter vitamin C serum review below, along with before and after photos!
PS: If you have any questions or want to stay in the know with new clean beauty products and tips, join my clean beauty community!
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Why Use Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a well-researched skin care superstar that is the favorite of many experts. When it comes to skin care, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals. This helps protect the skin from damage, which in turn helps prevent fine lines and wrinkles.
When applied topically, research shows vitamin C can:
- Improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Diminish redness
- Help protect the skin from long-term damage caused by the sun’s radiation
- Reduce the appearance of dark spots
- Even skin tone
Most of these benefits occur after 90 days of use, so take note when testing it out to see how it impacts your skin.
Before and After
Prior to using Beautycounter’s vitamin C serum, my skin wasn’t doing too hot. My complexion was dull and tired, and I was noticing serious fine lines around my eyes and smile at the age of 33. I really wanted something that would even skin tone, and make my skin look brighter and more youthful.
After three months of using the C serum 5 times a week in the AM only, I noticed a significant difference in the overall look and feel of my skin. My smile lines were much less noticeable, and I had color and brightness back in my complexion. Now I am still using it on a daily basis and have been for about three years. Whenever I get discoloration or redness from breakouts, it evens my skin tone within a week.
Before
Dull complexion, deep lines in forehead, and smile lines
After
Brighter complexion, even skin tone, and less fine lines and wrinkles
All Bright C Serum Ingredients
What sets the All Bright C Serum apart from the rest is that it’s an ultra-stable 10% blend of two forms of vitamin C. This makes it great for all skin types—including people with sensitive skin like myself. It has an instant glowing effect, which I absolutely love. It’s also packed with additional antioxidants, which helps to protect against the damaging effects of environmental stressors. This damage is actually one of the reason our skin ages! Here are the key ingredients:
- 5% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate: A form of vitamin C that reduces the appearance of dark spots and boosts brightness.
- 5% Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate: Another form of vitamin C that provides antioxidant benefits known to protect skin from damaging environmental stressors. It also helps improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Turmeric Root: An antioxidant superstar that helps even skin tone and improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Camu Camu Fruit Extract: A strong antioxidant that helps reduce the appearance of dark spots while brightening to visually improve signs of skin fatigue.
And the best part? It’s made with only safe, clean ingredients. This formula does not include retinol, fragrance, or ethoxylated ingredients (including PEGs), which may be linked to harmful effects on human health. It also doesn’t contain any known endocrine disruptors or carcinogens. Each batch is tested multiple times for a suite of heavy metals.
Benefits
As you’d expect, Beautycounter’s vitamin C serum has been clinically proven to improve brightness and evening skin tone. Because it’s packed with a combination of vitamin C and antioxidants, the benefits include:
- Brightening: After 8 weeks, 100% of people in clinical trials said their skin looked brighter.
- Improves fine lines and dark spots: Both forms of vitamin C work together to reduce dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles. A one-two punch!
- Quick-absorbing: The quick-absorbing formula allows for easy layering and an instant boost of radiance
- Improves radiance: It leaves skin glowing and promotes an even skin tone
What Percentage of Vitamin C is Best?
Studies show that a potency of 10-20% vitamin C provides the most benefits for skin. But, more is not necessarily better. Higher concentrations can lead to irritation, redness, and even dryness.
Vitamin C is also very unstable—meaning it can lose its effectiveness quickly—especially in its purest form, L-ascorbic acid. Some companies have found new, more stable forms of ascorbate, which is true of Beautycounter’s All Bright C Serum. Vitamin C breaks down when it’s exposed to light or air, so dark glass bottles help maintain its stability and efficacy. As a general rule, you always want to layer your vitamin C serum underneath a moisturizer to protect the stability.
Beautycounter Vitamin C Serum Review
After trying many difference vitamin C serums and not seeing results, I was skeptical to try another one. I also have dry, sensitive skin, which is hard when trying new treatments.
But, I was pleasantly surprised with this serum. Initially, I tried it for about a week, and stopped using it because I thought it was causing a reaction. Spoiler alert: I was just starting my period. A few months later, l gave it another shot. It made a huge difference in my complexion almost immediately.
It instantly brightens my skin, and has reduced the fine lines around my eyes. Best of all, it drastically reduces redness and dark spots. Before, when I’d popped a pimple, that redness would be there for weeks. Now, it’s gone within days. It’s also lightweight, not sticky, and my skin doesn’t react negatively to it!
What I Love:
- Instantly brightening—my skin glows!
- Changed my complexion significantly after 3 months
- Reduces fine lines around my eyes
- Helps reduce redness and uneven skin tone from breakouts within days of use
- Lightweight and easy to wear
- Layers well with a moisturizer
- Not sticky or greasy
- Recyclable glass bottle
- First time buyer promotion codes available (plus they do a few sitewide sales a year! Sign up here to be the first to know about sales and get the current coupon code emailed to you)
Cons:
- While the golden tint is gorgeous on skin, make sure to wash your hands right after applying (don’t wipe them on a white towel)
- Higher price point
- Glass bottle is great for sustainability, but is a bit bulky when traveling
- Best if used in AM, which is harder for some people’s schedule
How it Stacks up Against Competitors
Right now, the Beautycounter’s vitamin C serum is $90 for 30 ml, which will last you about three months with daily use. The most popular vitamin C serum on the market is currently $182 for 30 ml. So, for the potency, it’s what I’d consider to be market standard.
When it comes to ingredients, most conventional vitamin C serums contain known harmful ingredients, including PEGs and parfum/fragrance. Another common issue is that many don’t contain a minimum of a 10% concentration. A few that I used in the past weren’t as concentrated as I expected, which is why I didn’t see results.
Bottom line: Beautycounter’s C serum is incredibly potent, stable, and contains clean ingredients. It’s more effective than most on the market, which has kept me a regular user!
Vitamin C Serum vs Brightening Facial Oil
The main difference between Beautycounter’s All Bright C Serum and Brightening Facial Oil is the concentration of vitamin C. The C Serum is a treatment with an ultra-potent 10% blend, whereas the Brightening Oil adds moisture to the skin and has a 1% vitamin C concentration.
You apply the C Serum in the AM only and always follow up with a moisturizer. For the Brightening Facial Oil, you can apply it overtop of your moisturizer, or even add a drop to your moisturizer to boost hydration. It’s great to add to your routine in the winter if you have drier skin.
Vitamin C Serum FAQs
Can all skin types use a vitamin C serum?
Yes! Ultra stable forms of vitamin C are suitable for all skin types, including dry, normal, and oily skin. If you have sensitive skin, make sure to spot test it first.
When should I apply the C serum?
It’s best to apply a vitamin C serum in the AM since it can reduce the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays. Because serums are classified as skin care treatments, make sure it apply it after cleansing and toning. Always follow up with a lightweight day moisturizer and mineral SPF to protect your skin and improve the serum’s stability.
Can I use the C serum at night?
While it’s best to use it in the morning, you can apply the serum at night since it has anti-aging effects. You can apply it in place of your serum, or overtop of the serum you use in the evening. Instead of using it at night, I recommend using something different that’s complimentary and more effective, like the Overnight Resurfacing Peel.
Does a vitamin C serum cause acne?
Vitamin C doesn’t cause acne, but can cause irritation and redness for some people, especially in higher concentrations. If you have sensitive skin, always spot test first.
Does Beautycounter have a discount code?
Yes! Beautycounter has a coupon code for first-time buyers. Just use this link, then use the code CLEANFORALL20. (Note: this code sometimes changes. Please sign up to receive the code here if you want the updated one.)
Where to Buy
Beautycounter sells products directly on their website and in a few store locations. The easiest way to buy is to purchase the All Bright C Serum is on their website. Beautycounter has a 60-day money back guarantee on all purchases with free return shipping! So, if you don’t love what you got or it’s not a match, you can send it back.
Want more tips? Join my clean beauty community where I send information out about sales, new products, and do my own special giveaways! You can always get in touch with me there if you have questions about what would be right for your skin.
Final Thoughts: Is it Worth it?
If I could use one product for the rest of my life, it would be this one. Beautycounter’s Vitamin C Serum is the one treatment I use now on a daily basis. It has completely changed my complexion, and works really well underneath makeup. I recommend it for just about anyone as it can provide a wide variety of benefits for all skin types.
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