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Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Review: Best Vitamin C Serum


On paper, it sounds like it would be tough to fall in love with Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum. It’s a $166 investment, smells like hot dogs, and it isn’t packaged in a millennial pink bottle. And yet, like all great tales of love, none of this seems significant because the ending (bright, glowing, luminous skin) is so compelling, you’ll completely forget about the rest.

Since its launch, C E Ferulic has become one of the most widely adored products on the market—and not just by pros. Sure, dermatologists have voted it the best overall vitamin C serum, and almost every editor I know owns a carefully guarded stash, but shoppers also love it. Look at Skinceuticals C E Ferulic reviews on any given website and five-star ratings abound. Glamour readers swear by its ability to bring dull, damaged skin back to life—so much so, it won a Beauty Award in our Readers’ Choice category. (Says Ali N. from Utah: “I am not exaggerating when I say that Skinceuticals C E Ferulic completely changed my skin. Monthly acne? Poof. Gone. Fine lines—what fine lines? People say my skin has never looked better.”)

To understand its mass appeal, you just have to look at the star ingredient: vitamin C. The antioxidant is one of the few ingredients experts unanimously recommend for its protective and brightening properties. When formulated to penetrate within the deeper layers of your skin, vitamin C combats free radicals from UV light and environmental aggressors. It also helps stimulate collagen and even skin tone—two clearly visible effects that accompany its invisible shielding properties.

Not all formulations do it equally well, though. Derms tend to prefer L-ascorbic acid (a pure form of vitamin C) because it’s more likely to reach the skin depth where it’s most effective. The problem is, it’s highly unstable and works best at a concentration between 10-20%, so brands need to formulate carefully to deliver something that actually works. That’s one area where Skinceuticals has definitely done its research. Aside from its 15% concentration of L-ascorbic acid, the brand has also conducted 16 clinical studies on the benefits of this formula alone.

While the hero of the formula is undoubtedly the L-ascorbic acid, the accompanying 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid are there to help it reach its full potential. According to dermatologist and cofounder of LM Medical Morgan Rabach, M.D., the vitamin E “stabilizes vitamin C for maximum skin protection, and ferulic acid helps lower the pH level, so your skin can use the vitamins easily.” The result is a stable, powerful serum that gets the job done.

Sarah Wu





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Summer Fridays CC Me Serum Review: The Best Gentle Vitamin C Serum


While for some Summer Fridays simply means leaving work early, for beauty lovers the term has taken on a totally new meaning since the brand behind Instagram’s favorite masks hit the scene in 2018. After reaching cult status with their first product, the Jet Lag Mask, co-founders Marianna Hewitt and Lauren Gores Ireland have since released two more masks, R+R and Overtime, both of which quickly gained the same crazy popularity. Despite all the buzz around the brand, they have yet to venture outside of masks. Until now.

The brand just revealed its first product not housed in its signature aluminum tube. That’s right, Summer Friday’s first non-mask product is here. And it’s a good one.

CC Me Serum is a brightening serum that targets dark spots for glowing, “filter-free” skin. In order to lighten dark spots like hyperpigmentation, acne scars, sun spots, and melasma, it relies on two forms of vitamin C. This ingredient also helps prevent signs of aging and fights pollution and dehydration. In addition, it has collagen to keep skin plump and bouncy, squalene for a surge of moisture, and a blend of fruit and flower extracts to soothe. Finally, coffee and green tea bring anti-inflammatory benefits to the table. While vitamin C serums have a reputation for being irritating, the brand claims this one is suitable for all skin types due to the addition of the soothing and hydrating ingredients.

According to the founders, the idea for the serum was completely crowdsourced—fans have been begging them for a brightening serum since the launch of Jet Lag. “We asked our community what their top skin care concerns were, and hyperpigmentation and dark spots kept coming to the top of the list, so we knew we wanted a product to help with this,” Hewitt and Gores Ireland told Allure. “They had been asking us for serums as well so we took a look at what our followers wanted and then formulated a product made from our communication with them.”

The serum has a light milky constancy, and a very delicate floral sent—it’s worth noting that it lacked the hot dog or penny scent associated with a lot of vitamin C serums. The airtight bottle feels secure, and I like knowing that no light can get inside, which can break down the active ingredients faster. As soon as I patted the serum on, my skin drank it right up, and I could feel my skin getting plump and bouncy from the squalene. There was no greasy residue, just a luminous base perfectly primed for makeup. I often find vitamin C drying on my sensitive skin, but so far this one has been a delight to use.



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Saint Jane Luxury CBD Beauty Serum Is Perfect for Sensitive Skin


A little over a year ago, I interviewed top dermatologists about the CBD trend, the cannabis-derived cure-all that was beginning to blow up. An avalanche of CBD-spiked products started hitting shelves, each claiming that the weed compound would solve every skin woe imaginable. While I believed in the ingredient’s potential, it didn’t take long before it all started to feel pretty gimmicky.

I was born with Netherton Syndrome, an autoimmune condition that manifests in recurring rashes, hypersensitivity, redness, dryness, and flaking. Over the years, I’ve tested many products and found what works best for me, but I’m always curious about new treatments that could potentially do an even more effective job of soothing my skin. Cannabidiol (the chemical term for CBD) has shown clinical promise in reducing inflammation, but I had yet to try one that made a noticeable difference. The CBD serums and creams I tested didn’t cause flare-ups or adverse effects, but they also didn’t do much of anything. I was resigned to the fact that CBD beauty was just well-marketed hype until I stumbled upon the Saint Jane Luxury CBD Beauty Serum.

A few weeks ago, I went home for the weekend. My skin was not in its best state with the weather being so hellishly hot, and hibernating in air conditioning sounded like heaven. Sadly, the combination of the humid outside air mixed with the moisture-wicking AC wreaked havoc on my already-irate complexion. I ended up avoiding mirrors just so I wouldn’t have to look at the angry red patches that were quickly developing. After a few days went by with little improvement from my usual routine, I decided to see if anything else could help my situation. (This is the part of the story when things start looking up.)

With its chic black and gold packaging, Saint Jane’s serum instantly stood out to me, but the true test was what lay inside. I was pleasantly surprised by how hydrating it felt when I squeezed a few droplets on my chronically dry hands. Much to my surprise, I was completely mind-boggled by the results. A mere few minutes after slathering the rich, silky serum onto my skin, I looked in the mirror to find that the redness taking over my face had dialed down dramatically. In the days that followed, I didn’t use any other products with it; I simply applied it in the morning right after washing my face with a gentle cleanser and again at night. I marveled at how I woke up to instantly glowier, calmer-looking skin. My face tends to look much redder than my neck when it’s irritated, but a single application changed that. The texture on my cheeks had somehow evened out overnight—I have my fair share of over-the-counter products that impart good results, but none had ever alleviated my symptoms so quickly.

Kaleigh Fasanella



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Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum Changed My Skin – Review


For most of my life, I’ve spent a large portion of my nights lying to myself about going to sleep early. Instead of actually going to bed on time, I find a million random things to do and end up waiting until I’m absolutely exhausted to pass out. This wasn’t the best news for my skin, since I’d gotten into the bad habit of going straight from what I was doing to bed—with no cleanser, exfoliator, or moisturizer in between.

It wasn’t until I worked in fashion that I started to wonder what my skin could look like if I paid more attention to it. I’d fantasize about using a rose face mask and painting my nails with natural polish while sitting in an exfoliating bubble bath. I became obsessed with trying everything I read about—sometimes irritating my skin, sometimes making it look so much better—but only recently have I begun to find the staples that work for both nighttime me and my all-the-time complexion.

One of those products is the Tata Harper Resurfacing Serum. I’d heard endlessly good things about the brand, and everyone who uses Tata Harper doesn’t just talk about it; they gush about it. It’s long been considered by industry pros as an entry point into natural beauty because its products are as effective as they are green.

While an $88 serum might seem expensive for someone with a highly noncommittal routine, let me assure you anyone who tries it won’t be wishy-washy about using it. Its slogan on the bottle, “Daily Dose of Glow,” does not lie. Thanks to its combination of nine different AHAs and BHAs (exfoliating acids that slough off dead skin), the formula goes to work to leave behind a softer, smoother look and feel.

After cleansing with Tatcha’s Cleansing Oil and exfoliating with Tatcha’s The Rice Polish (Tatcha is also a brand that’s converted me to caring about my skin), I put two pumps of Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Serum into my palm and massage into my face and neck. The first time I used it, I was completely struck by the scent. It smells incredible—like how spring feels, refreshing and crisp.

The experience of using the serum is also lovely. Unlike some serums, which can feel sticky or tacky, this one sinks in so fast you forget you even put it on.

It was only after a week that I started to really notice the difference. Using the serum consistently had my skin looking bright and glowy, no matter how late I had stayed up the night before. Although I quickly fell in love with the serum, I was sold on how much of a necessity it was when I went away on a weekend trip and forgot to pack the bottle. I didn’t think it would be a big deal (I had spent so many years not using a serum), but I could tell my skin missed it when I looked at my dull reflection in the mirror.

I still haven’t mastered the art of going to bed early, but I don’t go to sleep anymore without my quick (but mighty!) skin care routine. The step I look forward to the most is this serum. It’s become a bit like a five-second-long self-care routine. I massage it into my face and let the glow sink in while I inhale the floral scent. I can’t go to bed until I’ve used it.



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Herbivore Prism Glow Potion Is the Best Natural Exfoliating Serum


It seems a little shameful to share this in the age of clean beauty and wellness, but I’ve always been skeptical of natural products. I have pretty strong thoughts on brands using “clean” as their number one selling point that we can save for another time, but most of my reluctance toward the category comes from the fact that a lot of it just doesn’t work for me. I have finicky skin, so I’ve generally stuck to more clinical-grade skin care, and in the past have always thought of natural products as heavily scented, homemade, and something you would pick up from Whole Foods along with your quinoa.

One of the first brands to change this perception for me is the incredibly chic Herbivore Botanicals. The brand was founded in 2011, but really blew up on Instagram a few years ago. As soon as I saw the brand’s minimalist packaging and whimsical names cross my feed, I was sold. There’s nothing about the products that bring to mind crunchy granola, both the packaging and the formulas are super sophisticated, like something you would see in a chic Brooklynite’s bathroom, not a farmer’s market. And most importantly, they are effective. After dipping my toes in with the Blue Tansy mask, I’ve been steadily adding to my collection.

I’m not alone in my obsession. The brand’s had so many great launches in the past year, it was nearly impossible to narrow down which one should win a Glamour Beauty Award. But a decision had to be made, and once we tallied votes, there was a clear standout: the Prism Exfoliating Glow Potion.

Honestly, its win couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m not sure if it’s just me, but whenever the seasons change my skin tends to go a bit bonkers. My face gets flaky to the point that it looks like sandpaper if I put foundation on top, plus I’m treated to a huge, under the skin breakout. Fun!

But the Prism Glow Potion corrects all that. The power is in the formula: the hydrating serum contains fruit acids, include lactic and glycolic, to gently slough off dead skin cells, which helps with both dry patches and acne. The acids also help even skin tone—after a few weeks of use, I already saw a difference in my hyperpigmentation. This could also be attributed to the inclusion of Kakadu Plum extract, a popular natural ingredient that’s rich in vitamin C and nourishes skin. Aloe is the first ingredient on the label, which accounts for a lot of the soothing properties, as well as the serge of moisture and bouncy skin I get from applying the serum.

Another plus: the serum is lightweight but not sticky. I find it incredibly gentle and experienced no stinging, but if you’re not used to acids you may be a bit sensitive. When I use a new acid product I tend to experience purging (meaning that my skin breaks out while it gets accustomed to the new formula), but I haven’t had that happen with Prism. In fact, the opposite happened, it helped calm my acne after about a week of use. I’m not mad at the well-rested glow it gives me either.

Because my skin is so dry, I pair it with a pure hyaluronic acid serum for extra moisture, but if you have normal or oily skin it’s probably hydrating enough to use on its own.

I’m not saying my bathroom cabinet has transformed into Goop, but thanks to Herbivore it’s looking a little greener. And my skin’s more radiant than ever.



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A Bottle of This Hyaluronic Acid Serum Is Sold Every Minute


Reviews count for a lot when we’re shopping, real or fake—after all, why drop your hard-earned cash on something everyone hates? So seeing that the newest hyaluronic acid serum from L’Oréal Paris, which only just launched in January, already has thousands of rave reviews to back it up caught my attention. But what led to my subsequent double-take was the news that one bottle is sold every minute in the U.S.

Do you know what that means? In the past hour, during which I’ve made tea, rewritten this paragraph several times, repeatedly checked my phone, and meditated on all the snack foods in my fridge, 60 people bought this stuff. I had to try it, even if I didn’t quite get the hype at first. I mean, it’s a hyaluronic acid serum. And there are a lot of H.A. serums out there.

You’re probably familiar by now with hyaluronic acid. If not, you—and your skin—are in for a real treat, since hyaluronic acid is a skincare MVP if we ever saw one. The molecule, which occurs naturally in the human body, is a regular in serums, moisturizers, eye creams, lip balms, and beyond for a reason. Not only is it a humectant, meaning it pulls water from the environment into skin, but it can also hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.

That makes it a moisturizing powerhouse as well as a must-have in the winter, when the chilly air is dry and your full-blast heater is only making matters worse. Unless you can book a season-long vacation in the Bahamas, skin inevitably starts to feel and look dry, dull, or even flaky. That’s why hyaluronic acid is especially valuable this time of year. With it, skin texture suddenly becomes smoother, lines soften, and skin feels firmer and plumper. It’s a no-brainer that most moisturizing serums contain at least some hyaluronic acid for that reason.

So…why has this one won a popularity contest?

First, the bottle feels super-luxe for something you can pick up while stocking up on tampons, and the texture is even better. It’s slippery without feeling oily or heavy, and absorbs in seconds. And it left my skin feeling super-smooth, so much so that I swear my foundation looked better as a result. And while my cheeks tend to get dry in the winter and everything else seems to chap within minutes of being outside, that wasn’t the case with this—even though I first tried it on a day with a sub-zero windchill. My skin stayed freakishly smooth all day, after which I went home and promptly applied more.

Another bonus is that this combines different types of hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid has six different molecular weights, meaning it’s available in six sizes. This formula gives you two: H.A. with a low molecular weight, which is smaller and therefore can better penetrate deeper into your skin, where it basically stockpiles moisture, and an H.A. with a high molecular weight, which remains closer to the surface and delivers more visible benefits (e.g. softness, bounce, that sort of thing). So you’re reaping short-term and long-term perks.

So far, it’s kept my skin smooth and soft, and maybe I’m imagining things, but it seems to have also calmed the inflammation around a few rogue blemishes. My sole complaint is that I wish the bottle were bigger, because while I’ve been using it as the most moisturizing primer out there, I kind of want to slather it on everywhere. It’s a perfect serum for winter—and, if I were to guess, for spring, summer, and fall.



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