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Editor's Pick

I Stopped Buying Expensive Vitamin C Serums After Trying This $24 Bottle

After years of cycling through high-end vitamin C formulas that either irritated my skin or quietly expired on the shelf, I found a $24 drugstore serum that outperformed them all. Here's how that happened.

An essay by Jordan Reeves · 5 min read

Vitamin C & Brightening

Tone, glow, daytime defense
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Review: Six Weeks of Daily Use on Dull, Uneven Skin
Article

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Review: Six Weeks of Daily Use on Dull, Uneven Skin

CeraVe Vitamin C vs La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C: Which Serum Is Worth Buying?
Article

CeraVe Vitamin C vs La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C: Which Serum Is Worth Buying?

10 Reasons a Vitamin C Serum Can Transform Dull Skin (Plus the One I Actually Use)
Article

10 Reasons a Vitamin C Serum Can Transform Dull Skin (Plus the One I Actually Use)

I Stopped Buying Expensive Vitamin C Serums After Trying This $24 Bottle
Article

I Stopped Buying Expensive Vitamin C Serums After Trying This $24 Bottle

How to Fade Dark Spots with a Vitamin C Serum (Without Irritating Your Skin)
Article

How to Fade Dark Spots with a Vitamin C Serum (Without Irritating Your Skin)

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Honest Review: Is the Ceramide Formula Actually Different?
Article

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Honest Review: Is the Ceramide Formula Actually Different?

Retinol & Resurfacing

Smoothing texture, evening tone
RoC Retinol Correxion Night Cream Review: Three Months of Consistent Use
Article

RoC Retinol Correxion Night Cream Review: Three Months of Consistent Use

RoC Retinol Night Cream vs CeraVe Retinol Serum: Which Is Better for Anti-Aging?
Article

RoC Retinol Night Cream vs CeraVe Retinol Serum: Which Is Better for Anti-Aging?

10 Reasons Retinol Night Cream Works Better for Wrinkles Than Most Anti-Aging Products
Article

10 Reasons Retinol Night Cream Works Better for Wrinkles Than Most Anti-Aging Products

The Night Cream That Made Me Stop Dreading My Morning Mirror
Article

The Night Cream That Made Me Stop Dreading My Morning Mirror

How to Start Using Retinol Without Redness, Peeling, or Irritation
Article

How to Start Using Retinol Without Redness, Peeling, or Irritation

RoC Retinol Correxion Honest Review: What the Brand Doesn't Tell You About the Results Timeline
Article

RoC Retinol Correxion Honest Review: What the Brand Doesn't Tell You About the Results Timeline

Hyaluronic Acid & Hydration

Plump skin, layered the right way
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Review: Does the $10 Serum Actually Work?
Article

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Review: Does the $10 Serum Actually Work?

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid vs Neutrogena Hydro Boost: Which Hydrator Is Worth It?
Article

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid vs Neutrogena Hydro Boost: Which Hydrator Is Worth It?

10 Reasons a Hyaluronic Acid Serum Is the Easiest Way to Plump Dry Skin
Article

10 Reasons a Hyaluronic Acid Serum Is the Easiest Way to Plump Dry Skin

My Skin Looks Different Since I Started Using This $10 Serum Every Morning
Article

My Skin Looks Different Since I Started Using This $10 Serum Every Morning

How to Layer a Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Maximum Skin Hydration
Article

How to Layer a Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Maximum Skin Hydration

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum Honest Review: What the Price Does and Doesn't Tell You
Article

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum Honest Review: What the Price Does and Doesn't Tell You

Sunscreen & Daytime Defense

The one step that does the heavy lifting
EltaMD UV AOX Elements Tinted Sunscreen Review: Is It Worth the $46 Price Tag?
Article

EltaMD UV AOX Elements Tinted Sunscreen Review: Is It Worth the $46 Price Tag?

EltaMD UV AOX vs Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen: Which Premium SPF Is Worth It?
Article

EltaMD UV AOX vs Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen: Which Premium SPF Is Worth It?

10 Reasons a Mineral Sunscreen Is a Better Daily Choice Than Chemical SPF
Article

10 Reasons a Mineral Sunscreen Is a Better Daily Choice Than Chemical SPF

The Sunscreen I Finally Stopped Dreading Putting On Every Morning
Article

The Sunscreen I Finally Stopped Dreading Putting On Every Morning

How to Apply Facial Sunscreen Without White Cast or Pilling Under Makeup
Article

How to Apply Facial Sunscreen Without White Cast or Pilling Under Makeup

EltaMD UV AOX Sunscreen Honest Review: The Formula Details Behind the Dermatologist Endorsements
Article

EltaMD UV AOX Sunscreen Honest Review: The Formula Details Behind the Dermatologist Endorsements

Niacinamide & Pore Care

Calmer skin, smoother texture
Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% + Zinc 2% Review: Eight Weeks on Oily, Pore-Prone Skin
Article

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% + Zinc 2% Review: Eight Weeks on Oily, Pore-Prone Skin

Naturium Niacinamide 12% vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10%: Which Formula Is Better?
Article

Naturium Niacinamide 12% vs The Ordinary Niacinamide 10%: Which Formula Is Better?

10 Reasons a Niacinamide Serum Clears Skin Better Than Most Acne Treatments
Article

10 Reasons a Niacinamide Serum Clears Skin Better Than Most Acne Treatments

I Stopped Hiding My Pores After Adding This Serum to My Routine
Article

I Stopped Hiding My Pores After Adding This Serum to My Routine

How to Shrink Pores with a Niacinamide Serum (and What Actually Makes Them Look Smaller)
Article

How to Shrink Pores with a Niacinamide Serum (and What Actually Makes Them Look Smaller)

Naturium Niacinamide Serum Honest Review: Does the Higher Concentration Actually Make a Difference?
Article

Naturium Niacinamide Serum Honest Review: Does the Higher Concentration Actually Make a Difference?

All Reviews

Long-term, hands-on, honest
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Review: Six Weeks of Daily Use on Dull, Uneven Skin
Article

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Review: Six Weeks of Daily Use on Dull, Uneven Skin

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Honest Review: Is the Ceramide Formula Actually Different?
Article

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum Honest Review: Is the Ceramide Formula Actually Different?

RoC Retinol Correxion Night Cream Review: Three Months of Consistent Use
Article

RoC Retinol Correxion Night Cream Review: Three Months of Consistent Use

RoC Retinol Correxion Honest Review: What the Brand Doesn't Tell You About the Results Timeline
Article

RoC Retinol Correxion Honest Review: What the Brand Doesn't Tell You About the Results Timeline

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Review: Does the $10 Serum Actually Work?
Article

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Review: Does the $10 Serum Actually Work?

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum Honest Review: What the Price Does and Doesn't Tell You
Article

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum Honest Review: What the Price Does and Doesn't Tell You

EltaMD UV AOX Elements Tinted Sunscreen Review: Is It Worth the $46 Price Tag?
Article

EltaMD UV AOX Elements Tinted Sunscreen Review: Is It Worth the $46 Price Tag?

EltaMD UV AOX Sunscreen Honest Review: The Formula Details Behind the Dermatologist Endorsements
Article

EltaMD UV AOX Sunscreen Honest Review: The Formula Details Behind the Dermatologist Endorsements

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% + Zinc 2% Review: Eight Weeks on Oily, Pore-Prone Skin
Article

Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% + Zinc 2% Review: Eight Weeks on Oily, Pore-Prone Skin

Naturium Niacinamide Serum Honest Review: Does the Higher Concentration Actually Make a Difference?
Article

Naturium Niacinamide Serum Honest Review: Does the Higher Concentration Actually Make a Difference?

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