Tag: C

Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) Vitamin C Skin Conditioner

Product:  Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) Vitamin C Skin Conditioner.  Will this serum make you look younger and more radiant?

Overall Rating =  3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good

Cost: $28.50 for 1 oz. ($28.50 per fluid ounce)  Price Category:  Mid-range

Sold By:  Serious Skin Care; HSN

Container:  Classic Formula – Glass bottle with plastic pump; pump does twist off.  New Formula – Plastic bottle with plastic pump; pump does twist off.

Description:  Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) Vitamin C Skin Conditioner is a fragrance-free serum intended to address fine lines and wrinkles.  This serum is intended to be used immediately following cleansing, night and day, prior to the application of any other product.

This review is for the Classic formula of this serum.  The Classic formula is being replaced with “C Serum Vitamin C Ester Skin Conditioner”.  I like the Classic formula.  I have not tried the new formula because the new formula contains fragrance.  If you click on the links above next to “Sold By”, you will note that the Serious Skin Care link is for the Classic formula and the HSN link is for the new formula.  HSN no longer sells the Classic formula and I think Serious Skin Care (SSC) is discontinuing the Classic formula, so if you want to try this one, I don’t know how long it will be offered for sale.  If you don’t mind fragrance, perhaps you will like the new formula.  I won’t be trying it, but I’d be interested in hearing your feedback with either formula.

The company claims:  “Got mature skin? If you are over 40 and already see those fine lines and wrinkles, you may want to give Serious Skincare’s C-Serum Vitamin C Ester Skin Conditioner a try. This dynamic product is designed to help you recapture the look of your youth. Four Vitamin C Esters, an assortment of Vitamin C-containing botanicals, and the additional Rovisome C delivery system combine to help condition, smooth out and soften the visual appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your skin.”

Morning Review:  This Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) is yellow and has a light citrus scent from the botanical ingredients.  The scent does not bother me or make my nose run.  The consistency is heavier than most serums.  This one does not feel like water; it feels more like glycerin or a thick liquid.  This serum does not have the typical silicone derivatives, so it also does not have that slippery primer feel.  It glides on smoothly onto my skin and is absorbed quickly.  This serum feels very gentle and I don’t experience any irritation.  My skin doesn’t actually feel any different after I apply this, which I kind of like.  I don’t care for the feeling of heavy products on my skin.  My makeup goes on nicely on top of this serum without any sticky feeling.  As this product does not contain any sunscreen, please apply sunscreen before your makeup or use a makeup with a high SPF.

Morning Rating =  4 stars4 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin does not feel dry, tight, or itchy.  SSC C Serum (Classic) helps my makeup to wear well, my face stays soft and smooth, and I do not experience any sensitivity or irritation issues.  This serum helps to keep my skin feeling soft and hydrated.  I have not seen any evidence of elimination or improvement of fine lines or wrinkles.  But then, I haven’t found that to be true with any other product, either.  I’m still waiting to discover the product that turns back time.  When I do, I’ll be sure to share it!

Overall Review: Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) Vitamin C Skin Conditioner is an excellent serum for all skin types, especially those with fragrance allergies and/or other sensitivities. This is suitable for both women and men.  My male tester did not mind the fragrance and said he would use it.  He said it made his skin feel softer.  This is a good serum for oily skin and anyone who does not like the feeling of silicone on their skin.

I messaged the company about this product.  I hope Serious Skin Care does not discontinue this formula and I have not heard back from the company as to whether or not this product is being eliminated from their line.  I suspect it is because it has disappeared from the HSN line up and it is now appearing on the “Farewell Favorites” page on the SSC site.

Please note:  This serum contains ingredients that are air sensitive.  Keep the container tightly sealed when not in use.

Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) Vitamin C Skin Conditioner is suitable for the following skin types:

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Dry;
  • Sensitive;
  • Consistent;
  • Oily;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Evening Rating = 4 stars4 Stars;

Average from Other Testers = 3 stars3 Stars;

Value Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic) Vitamin C Skin Conditioner

Serious Skin Care C Serum (Classic)

Serious Skin Care C Serum Vitamin C Ester Skin Conditioner

Serious Skin Care C Serum (New)

Ingredients (Classic): Water, Butylene Glycol, Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis) Fruit Extract, Kiwi (Actinidia Chinensis) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Extract, Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia) Fruit Extract, Mandarin Orange (Citrus Nobilis) Fruit Extract, Mango (Mangifera Indica) Fruit Extract, Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) Fruit Extract, Passion Fruit (Passiflora Incarnata) Fruit Extract, Pineapple (Ananas Sativus) Fruit Extract, Rosehips (Rosa Canina) Fruit Extract, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Potassium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tetrahexaldecyl Ascorbate, Lecithin, Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, PPG-14 Palmeth-60 Hexyl Dicarbamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Carbomer, Tetrasodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Triethanolamine, Diazolidinyl Urea, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.

Ingredients (New Formula): Water, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Glycerin, Lecithin, Citrus Grandis Grapefruit) Fruit Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Citrus Noblis (Mandarin Orange) Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Passiflora Incarnata Fruit Extract, Anogeissus Leiocarpus Extract, Copper Tripeptide-1, Colloidal Platinum, Silica, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Potassium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hyaluronic Acid, Malpighia Glabra (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Zinc Aspartate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Maltodextrin, Alcohol, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Butylene Glycol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, PPG-14 Palmeth-60 Hexyl Dicarbamate, Sodium Citrate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, DMDM Hydantoin, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Fragrance.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.

 

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer

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Product:  Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer.  This used to be known as Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel.  (Photos of both products are shown below.)  This is a two-step fragrance-free exfoliating product.

Overall Rating: = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.

Cost: $48.50 for 4 oz. total (2 products, 2 oz. each) ($12.13 per ounce) Price Category: Mid-range

Sold By:  Serious Skin Care; HSN; Kohl’s (limited products)

Container:  Two tubes with screw-off caps

Description:  I first became familiar with this line of products while channel surfing in the middle of the night.  Jennifer Flavin-Stallone and Cecilia Lewis were on HSN and I stopped to listen as they touted the benefits of this line.  I ordered a kit with many different products, most I didn’t care for due to fragrances, but this one was interesting.

Here is the description from the Serious Skin Care website:

“Doesn’t your skin deserve a very special beauty treatment? “C” a wonderful difference in the way your skin looks and feels with C-Extreme Results from Serious Skincare. This at-home skin resurfacing kit is a 2-part beauty treatment that helps rapidly exfoliate your skin while delivering Vitamin C.”

“What It Does: Helps skin feel incredibly soft and silky. Helps improve the appearance of mature, over-40 skin.”

The funny thing about this line of products is that when I first tried them about a decade ago the packaging looked like someone was making this stuff in their garage.  The jars and bottles were the generic plastic kind you would buy if you were making your own cosmetics and the paper labels looked like they were printed with a home computer.  Since I don’t like fancy containers anyway, this was both amusing and appealing to me.  Also, their website is a no-fuss site without a lot of information.  Recently, they have gone to fancier, more expensive packaging and they are giving you less product as a result.  Such is progress, right?

Warning:  Please do not use this product, or any physically abrasive product, if you have Rosacea without consulting your dermatologist first.

Morning Review:  This is not intended to be a daily cleanser.  This is an exfoliating product designed to be used 2-3 times per week after cleansing.  Highly sensitive skin may want to begin with once per week.  Both products are fragrance free and the scent occurs from the ingredients. Step 1 has a light generic chemical scent and step 2 has a light citrus scent.  Neither scent is offensive to me nor makes my nose run.

This product reminds me of chemistry class.  Remember when you poured vinegar or a soft drink (acids) onto a pile of baking soda (an alkali) and watched it bubble?  Such is the effect of this two-step chemical activation product.  Step 1 is gritty feeling from the baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) which is the second ingredient.  You squeeze out the off-white paste from the tube and put that all over your face.  It takes about a teaspoon of product.  You then squirt out the clear lactic acid liquid from step 2 and rub it on top of step 1.  Squirt it into the palm of your hand or it will go all over the place.  Also, you’ll need about a teaspoon of the liquid.  (For some reason I always run out of the paste before the liquid even though I try to use equal amounts.)  This product used to come with step 1 in a jar and step 2 in a squirt bottle.  That packaging made a lot more sense than this current configuration.  It is difficult to get all of the paste out of the tube and the liquid runs out too fast.

As you might expect, when these two compounds combine, they bubble up on your face and this chemical reaction exfoliates your skin.  Some people report a gentle warming sensation, others do not.  I do feel the warming sensation when I use these two products together.  The current formula is not as dramatic as when I first used the product years ago.  After gently massaging the products, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.  As with any exfoliating product, avoid the eye area.  My skin feels baby soft after using this combo and my makeup goes on flawlessly.

Morning Rating = 4 Stars for the Product, 3 Stars for the Packaging = 3.5 Stars

Evening Review:  After several hours my skin stayed smooth and I did not have any allergic reactions.  I have used this many times without any negative side effects.

Overall Review:  I prefer chemical exfoliants to physical exfoliants, and this product is unusual as it is both a chemical and physical exfoliant.  Using this product 1-2 times per week should be fine for most people.  I would say that every other day would be too frequent.  Sensitive skin should begin with once per week.  This is not a good product to use in conjunction with a cleansing brush.  The combination would prove too severe.  As with any physical exfoliant, the key is to be gentle, and don’t rub vigorously, or you will irritate your skin.

Those of you who follow me know that I am a huge fan of exfoliating and discuss the topic frequently.  Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer is a very good exfoliant at a mid-range price.  It definitely removes dead skin and leaves my face feeling smoother.  The scent is not offensive.  The products do not dry out my skin and my sensitive skin tolerates it well.

This product is appropriate for use by men as well as women.

This exfoliant is suitable for the following skin types: (Not for those with Rosacea)

  • All ethnicities;
  • All ages;
  • All sexes;
  • Sensitive (but not Rosacea);
  • Oily;
  • Dry;
  • Consistent;
  • Combination.

RATINGS REPORT:

Morning Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars;

Evening Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars;

Average from Other Testers =4 stars 4 Stars;

Value Rating = 3 stars3 Stars;

Overall Rating = 3+ stars3.5 Stars – Very Good.  (Please review the About 365 Cosmetic Reviews page for the rating info.)

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Advanced Vitamin C Skin Resurfacer Current Packaging

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel

Serious Skin Care C Extreme Results Peel Former Packaging

Ingredients (Step 1) C-Resurface: PEG-6, Sodium Bicarbonate, Oleth-20, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Dimethicone, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl, Butylparaben, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Yellow 5, Yellow 6.

Ingredients (Step 2) C-Potion: Water, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Beta Carotene, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Propylparaben.

Important:  Please read our full Disclaimer before using this or any product.