Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Serum | Daily Glow & Firming Face Serum | Lightweight Waterless Formula Treats Uneven Tone & Spots | Anti-Aging Support for Smooth, Radiant Skin (1 oz)

This Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum is is a milky white color. It has an oily/heavy and slightly sticky texture that takes some time to absorb, but if you can tolerate the texture and potency, it's very effective. It does not contain added added fragrance.The key active ingredient is 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which is a more stable derivative of pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that offers the same anti-aging benefits. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and has brightening effects because it stimulates collagen production. There's also gluconolactone, an effective exfoliant, in the ingredients as well.It is packaged in an opaque tangerine orange bottle, which is good because Vitamin C deteriorates and becomes less effective with exposure to both light and air/oxygen. It's also dispensed with a pump dispenser, which is ideal, since reducing air exposure keeps the product fresh for longer.Allies of Skin is a prestige brand and its actives are potent, so use with care. Vitamin C is potential irritant for sensitive skin, so always patch test before using liberally on the face.It's made in the USA. The expiration date is years out and clearly marked on both the bottom of the bottle and the bottom of the outer box. The PAO is 12 months.The ingredients are:Propanediol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Benzimidazole Diamond Amidoethyl Urea Carbamoyl Propyl Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sunflower Seed Wax, Polyglyceryl-10 Tristearate, Ethoxydiglycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Water, Caprylyl Glycol, Bitter Orange Culture Extract, Glutathione, Acetyl Cysteine, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Ergothioneine, Tocopherol, Gluconolactone, Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Xanthan Gum, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate

This is my newest addition to my allies routine. I started trying their products about a month ago and love it! The Vitamin C is a nice texture for application and leaves you with a nice glow. Still in my first 30 days of use, but loving it so far!

Sticky I don’t like it Not ordering again

Excellent

Allies of Skin is a "smart" beauty line, "designed with a busy lifestyle in mind to be simple to use while maximizing the functions of smart formulations that support your skin’s health." All of their products are certified cruelty-free by PETA and focused on clinical active ingredients without unnecessary additives.They promote a 4-step system—cleanse, tone, correct, and moisturize—and all of their products are numbered as to what step they should be in your daily skincare routine. This serum is a "step 3" product, and I like that you can mix and match the Allies line to address whatever your primary skincare concern is.I'm not a stickler for a particular skincare brand though, so I absolutely mix and match, and don't always do toner, but wash, serum, moisturize + sunscreen are my usual morning routine, so the Allies idea makes sense to me. (Remember: If you do mix and match brands, make sure you're not overlapping active ingredients, which can cause a skin reaction.)Now that I'm in my mid-40s, I've found that the three ingredients that really seem to make a noticeable difference in my skin are: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and Niacinamide. Vitamin C definitely works to make skin brighter, reduce uneven pigmentation, and generally smooth skin's look and feel, but it can also irritate more sensitive skin, like mine, leading to some dry flakey patches or mild redness if overused.Allies' 35% Vitamin-C perfecting serum, though super expensive, has become a favorite of mine, but while it's super effective, it's too strong to use daily on my somewhat sensitive skin. So, trying this slightly less strong formulation had definite appealEven with the somewhat lower C concentration, I was careful with this one, using it sparingly and only 2-3 times per week. I put this on right after my shower and then put my regular daytime moisturizer, with sunscreen, on over it once I was dressed, giving the gel texture C-solution time to sink in. (This is definitely thicker than the higher concentration.) Don't forget the sunscreen, which you should be wearing every day anyway, because C does make your skin more photosensitive.In addition to the main ingredient of Vitamin C, which brightens and smoothes skins, this also contains Glutathione, which helps with hyperpigmentation and melasma, a trio of antioxidants, and citrus cell complex, which helps with firming. Also very much like that Allies does NOT use any form of silicone, sulfates, alcohol, essential oils, dyes, or added fragrances.This is a thin serum meant to be applied on bare skin and worn under moisturizer + sunscreen. I do slightly prefer a gel serum for easy application, but this goes on pretty well, and the dispenser is easy to use. It comes boxed, in a glass bottle, with a twist-top pump lid.This was still a bit too strong for me to use every day, but I did use it every other day without issue. Like all the Allies products I've tried, it's got high quality, effective ingredients, thoughtfully combined. It also absorbs well and I didn't notice any lingering stickiness, which is a serum pet peeve for me. Notably less expensive than the 35% perfecting serum, though if I use this more often, the cost might be a wash.

Works great to brighten the skin. Soaks in and doesn’t leave the skin greasy. Love it.

I've been using this for a few weeks now and it's causing breakouts. I have combination skin and it has made my T zone way oilier than normal. It's sticky, doesn't spread well, and not pleasent to use. Shame because I love many of Allies of Skin's other products, but this one isn't for me.

I am very happy with the product. My skin glows after I use it. Yes it is a bit sticky but I don't mind when I see the great results. The texture, slight smell from the Vitamin C has been no problem for me....whatever works!