I've Tried Countless Vitamin C Serums, but Neostratas Is My Favorite

May 2024 · 3 minute read

I will not name names, but there was one vitamin C serum I used to apply every single day for years because it was said to be the best. And sure, it worked, but there was only one problem: I wasn’t a fan of the formula. It was sticky, and honestly, it smelled like hotdogs. (To make matters worse, I’m a vegetarian.)

I told this to dermatologist Nicole Hawkins, and she has one recommendation: Neostrata’s 15% Vitamin C and PHA Serum. “It doesn’t have a weird smell, and it works nicely,” she told me. How does it compare to other formulas? Well, it checks all the boxes of the best-selling one I was previously using — it improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightens skin, promotes a more even complexion, and fades the appearance of dark spots. Plus, it’s formulated with two superstar ingredients.

Amazon

Unlike other popular vitamin C products, Neostrata’s serum boasts polyhydroxy acid (PHA), a sensitive skin-friendly exfoliant that helps buff away dead skin cells, and green tea extract, an antioxidant that helps vitamin C protect your skin. “Sunlight breaks down vitamin C, but green tea extract stabilizes it, which then also stabilizes your sunscreen,” Hawkins says. And that’s what makes it a particularly perfect serum for me.

The reason I’ve used vitamin C serum for years is less about the visible improvements to my skin and more about the preventative benefits. Sure, my skin is brighter after using vitamin C for a while, but the reason I apply it day after day is to better shield my skin from the sun and cigarette smoke, which is never not in my face living in Paris. Vitamin C protects against free radicals caused by such environmental stressors, which damage skin cells.  

But there are aesthetic perks to it, too. Neostrata’s serum has helped brighten my skin without causing irritation like other formulas have. That’s because it has a vitamin C concentration of 15 percent, which means it’s effective, but gentle enough for sensitive skin types like mine. A concentration higher than 20 percent isn’t any more effective, and can be irritating, causing redness and in some cases, acne — both of which I’ve experienced with other brand’s serums.

Amazon reviewers also note Neostrata’s skin-brightening benefits. “I’ve tried several vitamin C products but this is the best so far,” wrote one shopper. “I am on my second bottle already.” Another customer even said that the serum transformed their under-eyes to the point where they “feel comfortable not wearing makeup/concealer.” "This has literally been a godsend,” they wrote.

Now excuse me while I run to try the serum on my own under-eye circles. Snag a bottle of Neostrata’s 15% Vitamin C and PHA Serum for yourself at Amazon.

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