'Are SkinCeuticals' spendy vitamin C serums as life-changing as TikTok says? We tried them for 30 days.'

Ever since I started working at Mamamia, there was one skincare product that my colleagues raved about over and over again: SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serums. 

No joke – in many of our monthly beauty roundups where we discuss the products we're loving, and in passing by conversations in the office, our beauty editor, co-hosts of You Beauty and co-workers would mention this cult range that works wonders.

There are three serums in the range – Silymarin CF, Phloretin CF and arguably the most talked about, C E Ferulic, with all of them including high-quality ingredients backed by science. There's something for all skin types. 

And although it's a more spendy skincare product at the price of $233, a 30ml bottle will last you three months – that's $2.55 per day. That's basically half the price of a coffee these days! 

For the past 30 days, myself and two other skincare junkies trialled the three products from SkinCeuticals Vitamin C range. Here are our honest thoughts.

Silymarin CF Vitamin C serum for oily skin.

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I have perpetually oily skin basically year round. 

It's the worst around my T-section with a prominent shine (which I like to call glow despite it obviously being oil) slick across my face by 3pm. And I'm really good at getting little black and whiteheads clusters around my nose and chin.

Cute, right?

SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF is designed to manage excess oil, refine skin texture and uses 0.5 per cent salicylic acid to decongest pores. It sounds like she was made for me.

The hero ingredient silymarin is an antioxidant derivative of milk thistle – it prevents oil oxidation (that can lead to breakouts), and it's non-comedogenic, so it doesn't clog pores or cause blackheads. 

It also includes 15 per cent L-ascorbic acid and 0.5 per cent ferulic acid to brighten the skin while it's doing everything else.

Before using it, my skin was its usual self: oily, congested across my nose area with a few whiteheads thrown in.

The first thing I noticed when using it was the texture – most serums I use are either quite sticky or oily. This was different.

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It's a thin oil that absorbs almost immediately into the skin so you can go in with your SPF soon after. I applied it every morning, squeezing four to five drops into my hand and patting it into the skin.

Over the course of the 30 days, I noticed my texture reduce significantly. And (the biggest win) I noticed was I didn't have to touch up my makeup as much come 3pm. 

Before and after. Image: Supplied.

This serum is perfect for anyone like myself who struggles with oil and adult breakouts, but still wants to reap the rewards of a brightening serum. 

I now completely understand the hype.

Phloretin CF Vitamin C serum for discolouration.

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With darker skin, I’m constantly battling with hyperpigmentation – on my forehead from sun exposure, on my cheeks from acne scarring and near the corners of my lips from dehydration. Quite the trifecta. 

That’s why I was thrilled to finally get my hands on the SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF serum and (fingers crossed) turn my skin concerns around. 

2022 has been a year of serum exploration for me. Specifically, Vitamin C serum. And when I was researching Phloretin CF, I was bombarded with nothing but green flags. 

First off, it has a reputation for rapidly increasing cell turnover and reducing the appearance of discolouration. 

It's a skin-loving cocktail of ingredients that includes 2 per cent phloretin, 10 per cent pure vitamin C and 0.5 per cent ferulic acid – known as the good stuff. 

When your skin is given ingredients like these that are packed with powerful antioxidants, it helps to neutralise free radicals and get your skin back to its healthy, glowing self. 

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My usual three-step routine of cleanser, serum, moisturiser made it easy to slip in Phloretin CF. Using the dropper, I’d pop some of the serum on and push the product into my skin, focusing on my cheeks first, then my forehead and chin area – the places I get the most hyperpigmentation. 

The serum felt super lightweight on my skin and when applied, it absorbed almost immediately, leaving behind a subtle cooling sensation. So, what happened after 30 days? 

Well, I saw a noticeable improvement in my skin’s discolouration, especially around my forehead and cheek area as can be seen here.

The changes were most noteworthy around the two and a half week mark.

Before and after. Image: Supplied.

Overall, Phloretin CF gave me the brighter and evened-out skin tone I’d been longing for all year. Talk about an end-of-year skin win!

And something important to note: this product isn’t an instant skin-changer. But if you’re consistent in using it, the results are more than worth the wait. 

C E Ferulic Vitamin C serum for signs of ageing.

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I am a mama who's a few years into my thirties, and I have started noticing a few undesirable changes in my skin. 

My skin can sometimes look a bit dull and tired due to stressors and late nights. And most of the time, my skin really feels dehydrated.

As a self-proclaimed skincare aficionado, I've learned all about the benefits of vitamin C and how it can transform the skin.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum is unlike any other product on the market. It's a highly potent formulation of pure 15 per cent vitamin C (aka L-ascorbic acid), 1 per cent vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) and 0.5 per cent ferulic acid.

This combination of ingredients is scientifically proven to slow down the signs of premature ageing by fighting free radicals (think the sun's UV rays and air pollution). 

It can reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles by increasing the quality of collagen in the skin, as well as evening out your complexion for a brighter and more even skin tone.  

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The first thing I noticed when I applied this C E Ferulic serum was how it absorbed quickly into my skin. It had a subtle scent that did not linger, and my skin did not feel sticky to the touch.

After a week of using this serum daily, I could absolutely see a difference in my complexion. My skin looked fresher, glowier, and brighter. 

After almost a month of religiously using the C E Ferulic serum in the morning, my skin is feeling firmer to the touch and looks healthier than it ever did before.

Before and after. Image: Supplied.

Am I impressed? I sure am!

SkinCeuticals is well-known for being the antioxidant authority. It is a brand that uses decades of research to create high-potency, clinical-grade skincare that is trusted by dermatologists worldwide.

I am so pleased with the results I have experienced so far on my 30-day skin trial, and I cannot wait to see how this serum will transform my skin further.

Shop SkinCeuticals Vitamin C serums, with concentrated formulations designed to help prevent and visibly correct the appearance of specific skin concerns.

Feature Image: Supplied.