This product is Avon’s response to the hype for vitamin C serums, which started a few years ago. In short, it’s not that exciting. 

This vitamin C serum includes the most potent form of vitamin C, namely ascorbic acid, at the concentration of 10%. It’s problematic to stabilise ascorbic acid and keep it from oxidising in a watery solution; hence, Avon have opted for limiting the amount of water in the formula. The serum has glycerine in its base, which is diluted by alcohol. It gives the product a texture of diluted glycerine – if you know how glycerine feels, then you know what I mean. This serum will not dry out your skin, glycerine mitigates the drying effect of alcohol, but you can smell it. Given the amount of alcohol used, it’s not surprising. As people are afraid of alcohol, Avon have added heaps and heaps of fragrance to conceal it. Nearly half of the ingredients list is technically different types of perfume. The serum smells like a candle with a floral scent, to put it nicely, but some people may compare it to a toilet spray. 

As the serum contains 10% ascorbic acid, I’d hoped for the results to be comparable with LRP serum, but I was greatly disappointed. I am not sure if it has something to do with the formula or the amount I was applying, but I could hardly notice any significant improvements. The serum sort of maintained the effects of the LRP serum that I had used before this one, but did not bring anything else, like luminous complexion and brightening of new hyperpigmentation spots. I admit that I was using it in tiny amounts, as the thick consistency did not work well with my skin type. Honestly, only people with dry skin will like this thick, glycerinish serum. Also, I have a massive problem with the scent of this product. The smell is overwhelming, and it lingers for a while. I am not a fan of overly fragranced skincare, so it was off-putting for me. The only aspect that I liked about the serum is its stability. The product started to oxidise about two months after opening, and the colour change was minimal.

Would I recommend this serum? No, the results are minimal; the concentration of vitamin C is not the highest; the price is not the best. Other serums with ascorbic acid on the market would do a more satisfactory job. Plus, the smell is overpowering, which is a big no-no to everyone with sensitive skin, not even allergic to fragrance, but simply sensitive, as there are heaps of it. Do not bother with this one. 

Ingredients:

ALCOHOL DENAT., GLYCERIN, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, ASCORBIC ACID, WATER, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, HYDROXYPROPYLCELLULOSE,  PARFUM, BHT, LIMONENE, LINALOOL, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, GERANIOL, CITRONELLOL, BENZYL SALICYLATE, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL. (This is the ingredients list on the box in which my serum came. On the Internet, you can find different versions, which makes me believe that the serum might have been reformulated.)