Estee Lauder Vitamin C Serum Review – Jillian Cecilia

I had the opportunity to try the Estee Lauder Vitamin C serum and I couldn’t wait to see if this luxury serum was worth the price. Vitamin C serums are amazing for fading hyperpigmentation like acne scars and sun spots. I was excited to test this serum against my acne scars.

*I received this serum for free during my time working at Ulta Beauty last year.

Consistency

The Estee Lauder Vitamin C serum has a lightweight consistency that absorbs easily into the skin. The pump dispenses the perfect amount of serum. I like using one pump of serum in the morning to protect my skin from free radical damage. My skin is easily irritated by Vitamin C serums, but this one was so gentle yet effective! I also didn’t experience any issues with pilling when I used this serum. 

*Skincare tip: Vitamin C is an active ingredient and should not be used with any other actives. Through trial and error, I’ve learned not to use exfoliants on the same day I’m using vitamin C. I skip this serum for the day when I exfoliate once a week. Using vitamin C and exfoliants (like the Krave Kale-lalu-yAHA exfoliator I enjoy using) at the same time can compromise your skin barrier and cause irritation like acne or tightness.

Scent

This vitamin C serum has a mild luxury skincare smell. I would say it’s faintly floral and it doesn’t bother me or my skin. Unscented vitamin C serums commonly smell like hot dog water (ew!) so I always appreciate fragranced vitamin C products. I do not think this scent would bother anyone who is sensitive to fragrance because it doesn’t linger on the skin.

Highlighted Ingredients

Vitamin C– brightens the skin, fades hyperpigmentation, protects against pollution damage with rich antioxidants, and stimulates collagen production 

Ferment²– (Estee Lauder’s blend of molasses and yeast fermentations) reduces appearance of dark spots and uneven skin tone

Price

Ugh. I love this serum so much, but I truly hate how expensive it is. This serum retails for $78 for 1 ounce. I believe skin care should be affordable and accessible for all so this price point makes me truly uncomfortable. As a college student, there is no way I could rationalize spending this much money on a serum even though I love it.

Packaging

The packaging of this Estee Lauder serum is flawless. Vitamin C serums should be packaged in dark or opaque bottles due to the instability of vitamin C. If vitamin C is in a light or see through bottle, it is more likely to expire quickly. This vitamin C serum comes in an opaque airtight bottle which made it possible for me to use this serum for 8 months!

Results

I had amazing results using this expensive ass serum! I’ve dealt with acne for the past few years as someone in their early 20’s with college/pandemic stress. I noticed my acne scars look significantly lighter and many of them have faded completely while using the Estee Lauder vitamin C serum. I typically think luxury skincare is overrated, but this vitamin C serum truly blew me away. Since I can’t afford this in my college budget, I will be on the lookout for a more affordable vitamin C serum that gets the job done.

Do you use vitamin C in your skincare routine? What are your thoughts on luxury skincare?