The gold standard for vitamin C serums is universally Skinceuticals CE Ferulic. Once I ran out of the pricey $185 bottle I wanted to reinvest, but my wallet didn’t. I’ve tried a number of alternatives since then, and the people at Osier were nice enough to send me a bottle to try out.
I’ve been using this for a month, but just before I wrote this article, I found out that Skinceuticals is now off-patent, so there may be a ton of new serums coming in the next few months. But for now, I’ll be talking about Osier’s Brighter Days.
Specifications
- Price: $54.
- Size: 1.7 fl oz.
- Active Ingredients: 3% Vitamin C, 10% Phyto-Squalene.
Pros
- Smooth and light consistency.
- Light, bright scent.
- Vegan, cruelty-free, "intentional."
- Affordable.
Cons
- Ineffective.
Osier is a Korean company, and I know Korean skincare is hugely popular right now. It’s vegan, cruelty-free and touts itself as “intentional” skincare. That’s nice, but what I’m looking for is results.
Osier Brighter Days Vitamin C Serum
Warning: Summer Skin
The purpose of the vitamin C serum is to brighten skin. By working on the “brown aging spots,” it’s supposed to make skin look more youthful. Full disclosure — it’s SUMMER. My skin gets darker. The after picture MAY look worse than the before in your eyes, but keep in mind, when I took the “before” pic, I was still teaching all day and not in the sun. Also, you should ALWAYS use sunscreen when using a vitamin C serum because it can make you burn. I do use sunscreen daily, but I have tanned a bit.
This is before. Pretty even skintone. The only makeup I have on is a little blush and some lip gloss. I have sunscreen on. Since this picture was taken, I’ve spent a month outside. I’ve been poolside with my kids, taking them on summer adventures, but I have been diligent about using my vitamin C and my sunblock (reapplying the sunscreen every two hours, as directed). Here is my after pic in the same spot, on my deck.
So. Yes, I’ve been in the sun. But when I tell you that when I used the Skinceuticals serum, the difference in my skin from a month’s use was night and day. This was just … nothing. I spent a month getting a little more tan, and the serum did nothing for my coloring. Age spots? Still there. General tone and appearance? Not improved.
The Serum Itself
The actual formulation was nice. It was relatively thin, an orange-ish color (pretty common among vitamin C serums), and went on smoothly. I enjoyed putting it on every morning – it had a nice, light, bright scent and it seeped right into the skin. I didn’t feel like I had anything on. I then would layer my moisturizer, and eventually my sunscreen. I used this as directed for 30 days. I didn’t break out or face any drawbacks when using it, aside from its efficacy.
Osier Brighter Days Vitamin C Serum
In My Expert Opinion
All in all, I wouldn’t recommend buying this product, as I feel it didn’t produce the desired effects. It was a nicely-formulated product that was pleasant to apply daily, but ultimately, it just didn’t do what a vitamin C serum is supposed to do: brighten dull, aging skin. I’m looking forward to seeing the off-patent Skinceuticals dupes that will be coming out now that the formulation isn’t gatekept. Until then, I’ll be searching!
