SKINCEUTICALS C E FERULIC ACID
I used SkinCeuticals previously for about a month and I have to say that it does what it says at its best. The brown-colored vial is about 2 inches long and contains 1 ounce of serum. The squeezy is easy to use and the serum itself is colorless when fresh.
PROS:
- Clinical grade ingredients with the following concentration: 15% vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid), 1% Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) and 0.5% Ferulic acid. These concentrations are high as compared to many other brands that use these ingredients.
- It helps in reducing skin blemishes due to pollution and UV rays.
- It makes skin glow.
CONS:
- It uses L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA) which is comparatively more unstable than other derivatives of Vitamin C, like Ethyl Ascorbate.
- The vitamin C it uses also has a tendency to oxidize quickly (as soon as in a month) after which it does not act much of an antioxidant.
- It has a slightly sticky texture because of which it can’t be used under makeup.
- Too costly for the ingredients it uses.
Vitamin C in raw form is extremely unstable, does not penetrate our skin and is prone to oxidizing when applied topically. So it is not that useful as an antioxidant. This is why scientists and researchers have developed different derivatives of Vitamin C that are more stable than the raw form. LAA is the most popular form of vitamin C used in most of the pricier skincare products like SkinCeuticals however, it isn’t the most stable form. LAA is prone to the process of oxidation as well, only slower than pure Vitamin C.
Which is why the color of the serum turned light amber after a while. It also takes a lot of time to properly absorb in the skin and the sticky feeling lasts for long. I read in a study that the most stable and effective form of Vitamin C is 3-O-Ethyl-L-Ascorbic acid (Ethyl ascorbate). It is a patented derivative, purest form of Vitamin C. Now, if I was getting this in the product at the price which it currently sells, I would have happily bought another bottle. While reading about 3-O-Ethyl-L-Ascorbic acid, I came across an anti-aging skincare brand, Bee Elite Essentials that contains this form of Vitamin C in its products.
I checked their site and ordered the Ageless Bee Venom face serum after thoroughly checking the ingredients listed on the website (it did contain 3-O-Ethyl-L-Ascorbic acid in almost all its products). I’ve been using it for the past week. I feel no stickiness and or stuffiness when I apply it. The texture is smooth and it absorbs very easily. My skin feels a lot smoother than before. It costs $37 less for the same 1 ounce. I think I have found my serum.
SKINCEUTICALS SERUMS
SkinCeuticals offers a range of face serums for different skin aging problems. Discoloration Defense for pigmentation, C + AHA for protection, and Blemish and Age Defense for acne.
PROS:
- Medical grade ingredients.
- In higher concentrations of certain ingredients for better results.
- Does what it says.
CONS:
- Costs way higher for the ingredients it uses.
- It targets singular problems instead of giving wholesome anti-aging skincare.
- Need to use several different serums to address different problems.
- Products oxidize with time.
The three face serums mentioned above cost about $226 together if I need to address all the three problems of my face which is way too costly. However, it does contain ingredients with clinical strength like vitamin C, glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and Niacinamide. That was the reason I first wanted to try out these serums.
After using it for a week I started to see orange tint in Discoloration Defense and C + AHA. The color then gradually darkened to the point that it also stained my clothes. I believe it is because of oxidation that Vitamin C turns orange and then dark brown as it is very unstable and has a tendency to oxidize. Another thing that I noticed is that the rubber squeezy at the top of the Blemish and Age Defense bottle became sticky and started to fall apart.
All-in-all the experience was too messy to actually notice any difference in the skin texture. I had to look for another face serum that can give my better user experience and all benefits in one instead of three different products. My friend suggested Bee Elite Essentials Ageless Bee Venom Face Serum. She said that it targets all the signs of skin aging and strengthens skin collagen. That, for me, was a plus.
The face serum is only for $129 and seeps in my skin easily. So far, I feel that it is working on my skin steadily. It has cleared up the redness on my skin. My skin looks a lot cleaner than before because of reduced acne and redness. I’m definitely going to order again.
SKINCEUTICALS TRIPLE LIPID RESTORE 2:4:2
The Skinceuticals skin cream uses a patented triple lipid formula for anti-aging. The idea is to provide intense moisturization so as to increase skin elasticity. The face cream costs $128 for 1.6 fl oz.
PROS:
- Provides immense hydration
- Soft to touch
- Contains clinical-grade ingredients
CONS:
- Very thick and greasy
- Too costly
- Targets only one dimension of skin aging
The Triple lipid restore is a face cream for increasing skin elasticity with intense moisturization. However, because of this, it is a very thick cream with a matte finish. When I used it for the first time, I was happy about the matte finish but that changed after a couple of hours. The cream made my face shiny and greasy.
Apart from that, it also targets singularly on dryness. Of course, dry skin is more prone to aging as compared to other skin types but many other factors also play a part in it like UV rays, free radicals, and inflammation. Damage caused due to these factors may not be reduced with this cream. This is what we can call an extremely expensive moisturizer. I needed a multi-dimensional skin cream that targets the signs of aging all-round.
That’s how I switched to Bee Elite Essentials Ageless Bee Venom Face Cream. It contains Bee Venom that boosts skin collagen and improves blood circulation to detoxify and strengthen my skin structure, Manuka Honey to repair, restore and protect skin from inflammation, Next-generation Vitamin C (more stable and easily penetrable than L-ascorbic acid) to protect skin from UV rays, shea butter to combat dryness and green tea to neutralize free radicals.
At almost the same price it gives me multiple benefits that include moisturizing, protection, hydration and anti-aging. I absolutely love how it makes my skin feel softer and smoother with every use and I’m planning on reordering it soon.
SKINCEUTICALS FACE CLEANSERS
SkinCeuticals offers a large range of face cleansers, all targeting different skin issues. LHA cleansing gel for acne, soothing cleanser for sensitive skin, gentle cleanser for renewal cleanser for skin brightening, replenishing cleanser for deep cleansing and so on.
However, all these cleansers specifically target singular problems instead of giving multiple benefits. If I want all the benefits then I have to buy all of them which is very costly (somewhere around $219). I had used its soothing cleanser once, however, it was extremely drying. So I decided to go for a cleanser that can give all these benefits in one.
My cousin told me about Bee Elite Essentials and the Ageless White Willow Bark Face Cleanser they offer. The best part was that it contained nature-inspired ingredients like Manuka Honey UMF 24+, Hibiscus and Rosehip seed oil. It costs only $69 for 8.45 fl oz. It has a smooth texture and it keeps my face soft, clean and bright. The Manuka honey in it helps to fight inflammation and protect my face from germs and acne-causing bacteria. It also made my skin glow like never before. I don’t even feel like putting on makeup now that my skin looks healthier than before.
FAQs
Which SkinCeuticals product is the best?
SkinCeuticals make products targeting any singular skin problem and so there isn’t any best SkinCeuticals product.
Can you buy a SkinCeuticals product in stores?
SkinCeuticals products are only sold by authorized partners which include dermatologists, estheticians, etc.
Is SkinCeuticals medical grade?
Yes, SkinCeuticals uses medical-grade ingredients to create its skincare products.
Are SkinCeuticals products natural?
There is no statement or proof that SkinCeuticals products are natural.
FINAL NOTES
SkinCeuticals is a medical-grade skincare brand that targets aging signs one at a time which is why it may not give faster anti-aging results. It also uses the most basic and unstable form of Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) in most of its products. As compared to the ingredients it uses, the brand also sells its products at a quite higher cost. Part of it might be because of its exclusivity and availability from only its partners and skincare professionals.
As compared to it, Bee Elite Essentials brings scientific proof of every ingredient that they have used in the formulation. The brand believes in a holistic approach for anti-aging which includes Topical skincare, nutritional care, and healthy lifestyle habits. And judging by the overall benefits, I believe it is worth the price.
The brand makes sure that its consumers also get the benefits of all three aspects of anti-aging. The brand is offering a complete package with Ageless Ultimate Bundle that includes Ageless series topical skincare products along with a month-long supply of Ageless Rejuvenating Nutritional supplements and Jade or Rose Quartz Roller and Gua Sha Tool to encourage and aid face massaging practice. The brand strives to educate the t customers when it comes to anti-aging and makes sure they are well informed. They are also providing their online E-course subscription worth $979, 3 e-books on a healthy lifestyle, face yoga, and face massage worth $99 each, private YouTube channel and members-only Facebook group along with the bundle worth over $1500, all for free with the bundle.
All of this, Bee Elite Essentials offers in only $299 with an 85% discount for a whole month’s supply. The best thing about Ageless series products is that they suit all skin types. It contains highly effective ingredients like Bee Venom from Georgia, UMF 24+ Manuka Honey, Hyaluronic Acid, Next-generation Peptides, and Hydrolyzed collagen to give us effective and fast anti-aging results naturally.
It is time to switch to a healthier, more worthy anti-aging skincare routine.