Product Rave: Cosmetic Skin Solution C+E Serum Advanced Formula +

I'm always talking about Vitamin C because it's one of the major ingredients that really changed my skin.  I love trying new Vitamin C serums from time to time, but I don't want to pay too much.  For the longest time, I've been wanting to get my hands on Skinceuticals CE+Ferulic, but the price tag stopped me in my tracks.  Its retail price is $145.00, which I think is ridiculous!  I know how easy and inexpensive it is to whip up a Vitamin C serum, so I have no idea why L'Oreal (who owns Skinceuticals) has to charge so much. 

Cosmetic Skin Solutions To the Rescue:  Cosmetic Skin Solutions (CSS) boldly creates duplicate serums that out compete Skinceuticals at much lower costs.  I bought the C+E serum for only $39.95, that's $105.05 cheaper than Skinceuticals.  Don't let low price fool you; these products really work.

     First off, let me do a review of the company itself.  Their website is very organized and easy to navigate.  They have super fast, FREE shipping on all domestic orders, no matter how small.  I placed my order on 7/12/2011 and recieved my package 3 days later!  I ordered the serum and phyto gel (more on this later), both of which were sealed and carefully packaged.  Nothing was leaking or broken.  I didn't get any free samples, but that's okay.  They definately get a thumbs up for customer service!  There's a rumor going around that the owner of CSS is a chemist who use to work for L'Oreal and decided to branch off to make an affordable version.  Hmmm, I don't know how true that is, but thanks anyway!

The Serum Review: The first thing I look for is the color.  A yellow or brown ascorbic acid serum is useless. CSS serum is as clear as water and packaged in a dark amber bottle, like it's supposed to be.  This assures me the serum I have is fresh.  This 15% Vit. C serum has a very thin, water-like consistency and a mild bacon odor.  It's light, but I found it to be very moisturizing for my slightly oily skin.  Characteristic of all well formulated Vitamin C serums, it gives my skin an instant glow.  Over the 2.5 weeks I've been using it, I've noticed my skin continuing to improve.  So, this isn't just some snake oil in a bottle; it's the real deal.  It's concentrated and has the added bonus of Vit. E, hyaluronic and ferulic acids.  I did not experience any irritation.  According to the bottle it has a shelf life of 1 year.  I love this serum and I'd buy it again.

Here's what the company says:

"This super antioxidant combination formula of 15% stabilized Vitamin C, E, and ferulic delivers an unsurpassed amount of antioxidant protection against ultraviolet radiation, helping to improve texture, tone and firmness...Builds a defense against the environmental pollutants and prevents premature aging of skin.  With continued use, skin becomes brighter, firmer, even toned, environmentally protected, and healthier."  

Directions:  "Each morning after cleansing, apply 5 to 6 drops to a dry face, neck and decollete, or as directed by a skincare specialist.  For optimal results, follow with Cosmetic Skin Solutions Hydra B5 Gel Advanced Formula +"

Ingredients:  Water, L-Ascorbic Acid (Topical Vitamin C), Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Butylene Glycol, Laureth-23, Zinc Sulfate, Glycerol, Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Triethanolamine, ferulic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, D-Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid         

DIY Vitamin C Serum

Very affordable and easy to make, DIY Vit. C serum really improves your skin.  Due to ascorbic acid being unstable in an aqueous medium, it only lasts a week.  Make sure you use pure ascorbic acid powder and not the tablets/pills.  Enjoy!

My Love Affair With Vitamin C

Okay, so I've been using Vitamin C products for over a year now with great success.  Most of the time Vitamin C serums are marketed for anti-aging, but it has worked very well for my acne.  I've become very curious about Vitamin C's wound healing properties and decided to do more research.

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that helps heal wounds.  Vitamin C, in the form Ascorbic Acid, is a water soluble vitamin.  It's considered essential because humans can't manufacture it, so it must come from your diet.  It is needed for the production of collagen, the building block of healthy skin, hair, and nails.  Collagen is needed to repair wounds on the skin, like acne.  I notice my breakouts don't last as long when I use a Vitamin C serum. 

One of the greatest properties of Vitamin C is that it can be applied topically and is absorbed by the skin.  It doesn't just "sit" on the skin, but actually goes to work to make a real difference.  This is something few creams can claim.  It also fades hyperpigmentation and promotes a balanced, even skin tone.

My Experience

Acne:  I started using Vitamin C in the Summer of 2010.  Around this time, my skin had suffered a terrible breakout.  I had acne on top of acne, bumps forming under the skin, and dark spots galore.  This is the point where I got serious about my skin care. 

Terrible.  I had many clogged pores and bumps forming underneath.  I was breaking out every single day. 

I know it's just skin and there are wars going on in the world, but the condition of my skin made me feel little depressed.

I stopped reading magazine ads and started reading scientific journals.  I wanted to discover what really worked.  Every published study I read concerning skin health always mentioned Vitamin C.  That's when the light bulb went off.  I ran to Sephora and bought Ole Henkrisen Truth Serum.  I got home, washed my face, and applied the serum.  Within a week, my acne had reduced and my skin had a glow.

Even Skin Tone:  Fading hyperpigmentation and evening my skin tone was very challenging.  While acne lasts for a couple of weeks, hyperpigmentation can last months.  Add on top of that a generally uneven complexion, probably due to using irritating skin care and hormone flucuations, and you've got one person who thought her skin would never change.  I like using Vitamin C to fade hyperpigmentation because unlike hydroquinone, it only lightens where it needs to; the hyperpigmented areas.  It enhanced my overall complexion, giving the skin a glow.  Over time it balanced my skin tone, making it more even.  The change isn't over night, but it does work.  I used Vitamin C and glycolic acid to get to this point.  I've been using Vitamin C for a year.

Much Clearer, but still a few small spots left.

Almost there.  Still working on the texture and evening out my skin tone.  I love Vitamin C!

Vitamin C products I've Used In the Past Year:

1.  Ole Henkrisen Truth Serum.  The serum worked very well, but I wanted to try other brands.
2.  PCA Skin C-Quench.  A 15% ascorbic acid serum.  This product did absolutely nothing for my skin.  I believe it was oxidized because it was brown when I received it.
3.  Avalon Organics Vitality Facial Serum.  Love this!  It's more of a lotion than a serum, but it really gets the job done.  I've actually bought this 3 times already.  As a product junkie, that's incredible!  I rarely buy the same product over and over. It really has to be outstanding.  It's also very inexpensive for a serum, costing only $18 at Wal-Mart, $12-$15 online.  Very hard to find a negative review on this product.  Millions of folks can't be wrong.
4.  Cosmetic Skin Solutions CE-Ferulic.  This product is an affordable dupe for the outragously expensive Skinceuticals CE-Ferulic ($145.00!).  I've just added this product into my regimen (7/15/11) and I love it!  I love what the combination of Vitamin E, ferulic acid, and Vitamin C is doing for my skin.  It's very affordable, costing only $39.95.
5.  DIY Vitamin C Serum.  A very effective and affordable way to add a Vitamin C serum into your regimen.  It only lasts a week, but it works just as well as commercial brands.  I make and use this while I'm trying to decide which commercial serum to buy next ;)

I'll never be without Vitamin C.