The world of skincare can, undoubtedly, be an overwhelming one. “Use this, don’t use this!” There are so many “shoulds” and “don’ts” that honestly, it seems easier to ignore it all. While there are A LOT of skincare facts out there, I am here to share my first-hand experience of using a Vitamin C serum and why I will continue to use one on a daily basis!
Beautycounter Vitamin C Serum Review
In this article, I will be reviewing Beautycounter’s All Bright C Serum, as well as a few others I have tried. I am a huge fan of Vitamin C for my skin.
For two whole years, I actually used a Vitamin C product (without even knowing it!) and it totally transformed my skin. About four years ago, I purchased one of my first products from Beautycounter, the No.1 Brightening Facial Oil. After using it for a while, I noticed that the dark spots on my forehead had lightened and my skin was actually looking younger. I have always known that good skincare could prevent aging, but I was definitely not expecting to reverse the signs of aging and by accident, no less. What was the magic ingredient in this facial oil? You guessed it! Vitamin C. In full disclosure, I bought the facial oil for the smell (it has a lovely citrusy smell) and because it made my skin feel soft – I had no idea Vitamin C was actually in it.
Skip ahead to two years ago when Beautycounter released one of their hero products, the All Bright C Serum. As someone who has experienced first-hand the amazing benefits of a facial oil with Vitamin C in it, you can only imagine my enthusiasm for a product that made Vitamin C its shining star ingredient. While the No. 1 Brightening Oil will always be the Vitamin C OG to me, the All Bright C serum has a higher potency of Vitamin C (hello 10%!) and a few other skin-enhancing ingredients, which means the results can potentially be faster and even more impactful than my two-year journey with the No. 1 Brightening Oil.
Read on to deep dive into Vitamin C and why I use it every day!
What is Beautycounter’s All Bright C Serum?
If you are familiar with the company Beautycounter, you may know that they prioritize using safer ingredients in their products. As someone who obsessively checks ingredients to see what I’m putting in and on my body, I appreciate a company that does the hard work for me so that I don’t have to research every single thing in my moisturizer! When it comes to Vitamin C serums, there are some high performing ones out there, but there are also some that have harmful bleaching ingredients in them, like Hydroquinone – this ingredient can not only be harsh on your skin, but it can also be damaging to your liver over time.
This Vitamin C serum is a combination of two different types of stabilized Vitamin C (Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate), as well as two other skin-enhancing nutrients, camu camu and turmeric. I am OBSESSED with the smell that the turmeric gives the serum – I would actually wear the scent as a lotion. I love it that much! It’s earthy, warm, and has a slight note of citrus. The combination of all four ingredients provides your skin with some pretty amazing benefits: brightening, evening out skin tone, and fighting wrinkles. Can I get a hallelujah?!
As mentioned above, not all Vitamin C serums are created equal; the importance of having a stabilized version of Vitamin C (and checking for harmful ingredients) cannot be overemphasized. Vitamin C in its most raw form can go rancid really fast so it’s important to find a serum that uses versions of Vitamin C that will last and be absorbed properly into your skin. Here are some stabilized Vitamin C names you want to be on the lookout for are:
- Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
- Ascorbic Acid (L-Ascorbic Acid)
- Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
- Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate
- Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Beautycounter Vitamin C Serum Ingredients
Here are four ingredients that put the All Bright C Serum in a league of its own:
- 10% Stabilized Vitamin C Blend – 5% Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C) can actually turn back the clock for your skin! It’s a powerful antioxidant that brightens your complexion and helps fade dark sun spots. 5% Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate (Vitamin C) is anti-aging, provides extra moisture to your skin, and fights damage from the environment.
- Turmeric – if you have ever smelled this Vitamin C serum, you know that it has a very distinct smell from the turmeric! When applied to your face, turmeric is an amazing antioxidant that is anti-aging and can improve skin tone.
- Camu Camu Fruit Extract – one of the highest forms of Vitamin C you can get! When camu camu is used in skincare, it helps lighten sun spots and improves the overall complexion of your skin.
- Sweet Almond Oil + Orange Flower Oil – both of these natural oils nourish and condition the skin.
What does the Beautycounter C Serum do?
What doesn’t this Vitamin C Serum do? That is the question! After incorporating Vitamin C into my skincare routine, the first two results I saw were the lightening of dark spots on my forehead and the overall evening out of my skin. Here are some other amazing benefits of this Vitamin C serum:
- Brightens skin
- Reduces the appearance of dark spots
- Evens out skin tone
- Increases collagen production
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Protects your skin from the environment, which results in younger-looking skin
- Protects your skin from future dark spots
- Moisturizes the skin
- Makes you feel like a movie star (this result isn’t listed on the bottle, but I’m confident you will experience it!)
Here’s an extensive review of what Vitamin C does for your skin.
What is the best Vitamin C serum?
While I am definitely on team Beautycounter when it comes to a Vitamin C Serum, I have tried a few other great options!
100% Pure Vitamin C Serum
Cost: $58
I have personally used this and did see some improvement in the overall complexion of my skin in about 4 months.
Pros
- Includes other skincare ingredients – alpha lipoic acid (anti-aging) and green apple (improves your overall complexion).
- Includes a stabilized version of Vitamin C (Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate).
Cons
- Doesn’t list the percentage of Vitamin C in the serum.
- Could not find this product on EWG.
Eva Naturals
Cost: $14.99
While I have personally tried this product, the smell of it deterred me from using it long term, so I didn’t use it long enough to see any benefits.
Pros
- Includes other skin-nourishing ingredients: Niacinamide (helps improve overall complexion), Hyaluronic Acid (helps with moisture), and Salicylic Acid (fights acne).
- Really affordable.
- 20% Vitamin C content.
- Includes a stabilized version of Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate).
Cons
- Includes retinol (not pregnant or nursing friendly).
- The Vitamin C content might be too high for some, which can cause irritation.
- The overall smell and color made me think that this product might have expired when I received it.
- Could not find this product on EWG.
Honest Vitamin C Serum
Cost: $22.60
I have not personally tested this one, but I do like other Honest products (wink wink mascara).
Pros
- Includes hyaluronic acid, which locks in moisture.
- EWG verified.
- Really affordable.
- Contains a stabilized version of Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate).
Cons
- Doesn’t list the percentage of Vitamin C.
- Vitamin C is listed pretty far down on the ingredient list, which makes me think it doesn’t have a very high percentage of it in the product.
Mad Hippie
Cost: $27.19
I have not personally tested this product!
Pros
- Contains a stabilized version of Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate).
- Contains other great skincare ingredients: Vitamin E and hyaluronic acid.
- Vitamin C is listed as the second ingredient.
- Scored a 1 on EWG.
Cons
- A little vague about the exact percentage of Vitamin C in their product: “Our serum would be comparable to a 15-20% L-ascorbic acid serum.” This may only be a con if someone knows their skin doesn’t do well with “x” amount of Vitamin C.
All Bright C Serum vs. No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil
The main difference between the No.1 Brightening Facial Oil and Beautycounter’s All Bright C Serum comes down to the purpose of each of these products.
While the facial oil does have a small dose of Vitamin C, which helps to brighten the skin, the main purpose of it is to nourish and condition the skin using Avocado Oil and Black Currant Oil. The No. 1 Brightening Facial Oil is amazing if used at night as a moisturizer or by adding a few drops into your PM moisturizer for extra hydration.
While the facial oil moisturizes (especially during the winter!), the All Bright C Serum’s ingredients really maximize the benefits of Vitamin C. The All Bright C serum also includes turmeric and camu camu, which fight wrinkles and improve the overall complexion of your skin.
If you are looking for some extra hydration for your skin that will give you brightening benefits over a longer period of time, the No.1 Brightening Facial Oil is a good fit for you. If you are looking to see more rapid glowy results, I recommend the All Bright C Serum!
Other products from Beautycounter that I love that also have Vitamin C in them include Dew Skin and the Overnight Resurfacing Peel. I use Dew Skin for a daily SPF and the peel 2-3 times a week for the softest and smoothest skin!
All Bright C Serum FAQs
The application of the All Bright C Serum couldn’t be easier! Simply cleanse, tone (if you want less steps, skip this one), apply All Bright C Serum, then moisturize. I mix one pump of my regular serum with one pump of the All Bright C Serum in the morning, but you can absolutely use the All Bright C Serum as your main serum if you prefer that! The All Bright C Serum can be used in a variety of ways – here’s a breakdown of the different ways you can include it in your morning skincare routine:
Option 1: cleanse, tone, apply Vitamin C serum, moisturize.
Option 2: cleanse, tone, apply regular morning serum, then apply Vitamin C serum, moisturize.
Option 3: use Vitamin C serum 2-3 times a week in place of (or on top of) your everyday morning serum after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer.
Option 4: cleanse, combine your morning serum WITH your Vitamin C serum, then moisturize (this is what I personally do!)
If you have sensitive skin, be sure to do a patch test along your jaw. If you have no reaction, try using it once a week, then building up to 2-3 times a week. I have fairly sensitive skin and can use the All Bright C Serum every morning!
All Bright C Serum can be used in your AM or PM skincare routine, but because of the glowy and dewy effect it has on the skin, I recommend using it in the morning to take advantage of the beautiful finish it leaves on the skin. The antioxidants in this formula will also help protect your skin from environmental stressors, so if you use it in the morning, you’re giving your skin some extra protection throughout the day!
More Safer Skincare + Beauty Articles
- Vitamin C for Your Skin
- Best Clean Mascara
- Dew Skin Review
- How to Heal Dry Skin
- How to Choose the Right Mask for your Skin Type
- At-Home Facial Routine
