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If you’ve been a BeautySparker, you would know that my love for vitamin C serum is unmatched. A 3-in-1 skincare ingredient, which boosts skin collagen, serves antioxidant benefits and brightens skin (which also addresses hyperpigmentation), why shouldn’t one love vitamin C? Of course everyone does, except vitamin C doesn’t go well with your skin.
Previously, I’ve been using Timeless vitamin C serum, the 20% version, and all have been going well. My skin loves it, as it glows my skin, giving it that dazzling healthy luminosity, until………..it started to burn. At first I thought I was over-exfoliating, I had to cut down my exfoliating skincare products from twice weekly, to once per week, but the situation kept happening.
I also had to cut the application of the Timeless 20% vitamin C serum from everyday to every-other-day, but STILL, my skin burned. The burning sensation was obviously felt and very discomforting, irrespective of how hydrating my skincare routine is.
Then, I had to take a break, and withdrew from all skincare products application and emphasized more on skin hydrating and moisture enriching ingredients to repair my skin barrier because it seems it has been compromised. After two (2) weeks of dwelling solely on skin moisturizing and hydrating ingredients, the itchiness stopped, my skin was calm and soothed.
When my skin has fully recovered from inflammation, to play safe, I gradually reintroduced application of my skincare topicals while excluding retinoids and AHAs and concentrated only on Timeless 20% vitamin C and my moisturizer, just to find the culprit behind the burning and itchy sensation I previously experienced.
After five (5) days of usage, the same scenario occurred again, my skin started to itch, and burn.
That was when I discovered that it was the 20% Timeless vitamin C serum that has been the culprit all these while. Literally, a 20% L-ascorbic acid-based vitamin C serum is way too much for my skin. Mehn, this hurts. Knowing that I had to discontinue the Timeless 20% vitamin C serum hurts even the more.
You know that feeling you get when you have no choice but to stop your most-effective skincare product, just because your skin started developing side effects from it, the feeling was terrible. But I had to discontinue it and move straight to a vitamin C derivative — Ascorbyl Glucoside, (The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Vitamin C Serum 12%) as vitamin C derivatives are known not to be acidic in nature (unlike L-ascorbic acid) which makes them suitable for sensitive skin (and other skin types too).
But here’s a catch. They’re less potent in comparison to L-ascorbic acid but have longer shelf-life as they’re stable to heat and air unlike L-ascorbic acid vitamin C which quickly oxidizes upon exposure to heat and air.
My experience with The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Vitamin C Serum 12% was awesome, it’s as if it picked up the good works from where Timeless 20% vitamin C serum left it. My skin glows everyday. You can read my full review here.
On a very good day, while I was surfing Instagram, I bumped into the Timeless skincare brand’s official announcement on their new product release and guess what, it was the Timeless 10% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum. Wow!! That was good news. Infact, that news made my day, knowing fully well that Timeless skincare brand made a 10% version of their vitamin C serum to suit people with sensitive skin. This goes a long way to tell that the Timeless skincare brand has their customers at heart. Kudos to them for the good work.
Ladies and gentlemen, I had to reverse back to using the Timeless vitamin C serum, this time the 10% version. And after three (3) weeks of everyday use, I’ve come to share my personal experience with this vitamin C serum. But before we proceed, let’s know what vitamin C is, just in case you’ve not been enlightened about it.
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant vitamin which helps improve skin appearance, potentially reducing pigmentation, dullness, neutralizing free radicals and environmental aggressors, and stimulating collagen production which helps reduce skin aging signs.
A daily application of vitamin C serum helps reverse sun damages, which helps your sunscreen work better, helps tackle minor hyperpigmentation and improve skin texture and complexion.
L-ascorbic acid also known as ascorbic acid is water-soluble and the purest and most potent of all form of vitamin C, the only downside is, it’s highly unstable (can easily breakdown upon exposure to air and heat) and can sensitize the skin due to its acidic-nature. Which may not be suitable for people with sensitive skin.
People with sensitive skin are advised to go for vitamin C derivatives which are mild to the skin or go for a lower concentration of L-ascorbic acid (recommended 10%).
Timeless 10% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum.
A 10% vitamin C serum from the Timeless skincare brand to counteract external free radicals, brighten skin tone, thereby addressing pigmentations, boost collagen production which in turn minimizes skin aging-signs.
Similar to the 20% version, it also contains 1% vitamin E, a powerful vitamin and antioxidant which neutralizes free radicals, replenishes skin lipids, help nourish and protect the skin from damages caused by free radicals, and 0.5% Ferulic acid which not only offer anti-aging benefits to the skin but also helps enhances the potentials and stability of other antioxidants for more efficacy and better results.
Packaging.
There’s nothing new in the packaging as it maintains the same packaging with the 20% version.
It comes in an air-tight pump and dark yellow-tinted container for easy dispensing. Not only will the product-packaging protect the liquid gold in the container from quick oxidation, but also makes it easier to use as the pump gives you total control of the amount you need to dispense for usage or application.
All you need to do is gently apply pressure on the pump to dispense the amount you need to apply.
Texture.
Similar to its 20% counterpart, texture is super light-weight and thin (just like water) feels hydrating on the skin, but feels slightly greasy when applied on the skin (unlike the 20% version) but it still absorbs quickly while leaving a little bit of a greasy feeling behind, which can be counteracted with a moisturizer.
Color.
The color is clear and colourless.
If it’s slightly yellow then it’s only 80% effective. The more yellow the less effective. Therefore to slow down oxidation, store in a refrigerator.
Acid pH Level.
- pH – 2.4
Scent.
Has a faint citrus smell.
Shelf-Life Duration.
According to Timeless skincare, their vitamin C serum remains stable and effective within 3 months after opening.
When not stored in the refrigerator it stays stable for 3 months, when stored in the refrigerator it stays stable for 5 months.
Size.
Timeless 10% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid serum comes in three (3) different container sizes. 15ml, 30ml, and 120ml (I bought the 30ml size).
Ingredients:
Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Alpha Tocopherol, Polysorbate 80, Panthenol, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Benzylalcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid.
My Honest Review On Timeless Vitamin C Serum 10%.
My skin breathed a sigh of relief after incorporating this low concentration of vitamin C serum into my skincare routine. I mean, the wonders of vitamin C serum continued on my skin with that healthy, dazzling glow but without the burning and itchy sensation.
Stepping lower to a 10% concentration was indeed a good move, and for the second time all thanks to the Timeless skincare brand for making a provision for this.
Although the serum’s texture was slightly greasy when applied on my skin. Which I never felt with the 20% vitamin C version. This oily feeling doesn’t linger for long, but the feeling was felt (but minimal), which I counteracted with my moisturizer. I think the vitamin E present in the formulation is the reason behind that. But the question is, “did they increase the amount of vitamin E in this new formulation“?, Because I never felt a greasy feeling when I used the 20% vitamin C serum.
But for the fact the serum sinks into the skin upon application, makes me ignore the slight greasy feeling after absorption. Because the main deal is for your skincare topicals to absorb right?. As for the slight greasy feeling, I counteracted that by applying my moisturizer and the feeling vanishes.
My skin now enjoys L-ascorbic acid vitamin C benefits without its side effects. And I’m forever going to stick with the 10% L-ascorbic acid vitamin C and if you have sensitive skin and love to use L-ascorbic acid vitamin C, I recommend you should take my exact approach too.
In Conclusion.
People with normal skin are very lucky, infact, they’re blessed, as their skin readily acclimates to skincare ingredients even at higher concentration. While people with sensitive skin (like me) are always very cautious of what we put on our skin as to avoid incurring inflammatory-irritation. Therefore, if you’re in the category of sensitive-skin gang, and love to try out Timeless vitamin C, do well to go for its 10% version and not the 20% version, your skin will thank you for it.
What I Like About Timeless 10% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum.
- It is fragrance-free.
- It is pocket-friendly.
- It is potent and effective.
- It contains low concentration of vitamin C (which is suitable for sensitive skin).
- It is non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores).
- It is lightweight and absorbs quickly.
- It contains no toxic ingredients or chemicals.
- It comes in an air-tight pump and dark yellow-tinted container to protect the vitamin C serum and also for easy dispensing.
What I Dislike About Timeless 10% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum.
- I experienced a slight greasy feeling upon product application, which isn’t much of a concern to me, because the serum is lightweight and absorbs well, just that it leaves a minimal oily feeling behind, which doesn’t stay for long, but I counteract the feeling by applying my moisturizer afterwards – which I advise you should do too.
- Can oxidize quickly even when stored. Do well to store in a refrigerator to prolong shelf-life. Note: It’s advised to use the serum within 3 months after opening, because the shelf-life is 3 months (without being stored in a refrigerator and 5 months when stored in a refrigerator).
Possible Questions & Answers.
Q: How did you apply the Timeless 10% Vitamin C serum?
A: I cleanse my face with a mild facial cleanser, I don’t towel-off completely, I leave my face moist, then I apply my hydrating facial toner (which is optional), after that, I move on to apply 2-3 pumps of Timeless Vitamin C serum, while I massage gently till fully absorbed, then I seal in moisture with my moisturizer.
Q: Did you experience irritation or breakouts while using the Timeless vitamin C serum?
A: While using Timeless vitamin C serum 10% I never had an ugly experience such as breakouts or irritation and I’m very happy for that. However as skin type differs, so shall result differs too, endeavor to perform a patch test prior to commencing product application to test for allergy.
Disclaimer: This is a personal experience with Timeless 10% Vitamin C Serum, you may have a whole different experience as skin type differs, so as result differs too.
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