While I’d known for many years about the efficacy of vitamin C for skin, as an antioxidant and for clarifying and firming up the skin, I’d never had much luck with it. It wasn’t until I used the Hylamide C25 Booster that I actually noticed results. Since then, I’ve been itching to try more, and maybe, better formulas.
I found one!
I first came across the Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C on Futurederm, which I’d suggest you read for a clinical breakdown (and favourable) review of this serum. The minute I clapped eyes on that post, I knew I had to have it.
Fortuitously, a bottle of the Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C popped onto my desk one day, much to my squeals of delight :) My first reaction when I saw the bottle was a disbelieving frown. If you notice from the box, it is a mere 16.3ml of product. It’s TINY!
Yet, this serum has visibly clarified my skin even further than what I saw with Hylamide C25 Booster, and even more significantly, it had lightened my pigmentation. That’s what sold me onto this product and convinced me I was on to a winner.
The Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C contains 20% stablized vitamin c – 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate. The former, my research turned up, is what inhibits melanin production, and that is what offers the lightening of my dark spots and the inhibition of new ones. This beats any whitening serum I’ve used to date, because it not only lightened my dark spots (although that was not my primary intention to use it), but best of all, it did not dry out my skin!
If you have hung around for a while, you’d notice that I do not feature whitening or brightening skincare products. I have pigmentation and dark spots, that are visible and I don’t do much about them. Having tried all sorts of these whitening skincare over the years, I have concluded that I am better off without them. Not only do they not do much in the long term for my skin, they dry out the skin something awful and ironically, the dehydration makes the dark spots darker. If you are using a whitening skincare range, don’t use it for the long term, and always use a hydrating serum because your skin will really go bonkers one day.
But skin lightening was not what I noticed first. It happened fairly gradually, and only after a few weeks of using this once a day, in the morning. The first thing I noticed was that my skin was more even and clearer, that my pores looked smaller and my skin was firmer, fuller and smoother.
The serum is a watery clear liquid that has a hint of yellow in the dropper. It is light in texture and absorbs quickly into the skin without any residue nor any oily feeling. After using this, when I went back to Hylamide C25 Booster, I noticed the oily feeling that many people had observed, but which I didn’t notice the first time around. The Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C doesn’t have this, feeling almost like water, with only the slightest of viscosity, and without any scent.
The directions call for 3 drops, so I was quite faithful to it, using 3 drops each time, after toner and before a hydrating serum and moisturiser. You can also mix it with your moisturiser but I prefer using it on its own directly on skin. I also only used it in the morning, because Vitamin C is supposed to be an antioxidant that also helps to protect against UV damage. I could also use it in the evening, but I didn’t because I use other serums in the evening routine. If I had, I might have seen results more quickly and visibly.
As for the skin lightening, how did notice this? By noticing that I was using less concealer and feeling much more comfortable using less, or sheerer foundations. My skin seemed to have a glow that I could not attribute to much else, because I’ve really been going through some really crappy times. There is a ways to go yet before my dark spots are gone. They might never be, but they are a touch lighter than what they used to be and I’m happy with this gradual fading as I don’t believe in products that promise drastic results.
The size of this serum however, as I have noted, is tiny. Yet, because I use just 3 drops each time and I only use it once a day, it’s been over a month, almost 1.5 months, and I’m only about halfway through the bottle. I won’t pretend that this is by any stretch of the imagination affordable, because it isn’t. But it works so well, I will keep this on a to-repurchase list. I do plan to try others – you know me – which is why I can’t say with great certainty that I WILL repurchase, but because it’s easy to get hold of this one locally, I can forsee keeping it in my routine in the future.
IN A NUTSHELL
The Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C is a vitamin C serum that contains 20% of stablized vitamin C. It is a light textured serum that absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any residue. With once a day use in the morning, I noticed that my skin was not only smoother and clearer, with a glow, but also that my dark spots were noticeably lightened, and I wasn’t getting any new dark spots. This had surprised me because I’d gotten so used to my pigmentation, that I didn’t think they’d get any lighter. Best of all, this isn’t drying at all. I do combine with a hydrating serum, but even when I don’t, it doesn’t dry my skin. I love it, even if I don’t love the price nor the little size.
PROS: Light texture absorbs easily into skin, Effective in lightening dark spots, With regular use skin is clearer with a glow and firmer and feels and looks smoother, Dropper picks up product easily and is easy to control
CONS: Pricey, Small sized bottle
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a vitamin C serum that really works to clarify skin, lighten dark spots, firm up skin and smoothen skin texture
PRICE: RM285 | US$69 for 16.3ml
WHERE TO BUY: KENS Apothecary stores or online at Sephora, Ulta, Strawberrynet
If you’re interested, here is the Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C ingredient list
I must say I was very impressed by this. I wasn’t expecting to be, but it’s always nice to be proven wrong :)
Does this serum interest you? Do you use a Vitamin C serum?
I’m in the market for other Vitamin C serums, naturally. Having seen how effective a good formula can be, both for my skin texture and for helping lighten my dark spots that have been there for years, I’m gratified that I have finally found something that can clarify my skin without drying it out like a husk. That makes me a happy camper :D
Paris B
Readers may want to take note that, when applied on skin, vitamin c can cause allergy to some. I experienced itchiness, stinging sensation and redness, about half a day after the application and the symptoms lasted for about 3 days. The allergy wasn’t as severe during the 2nd and 3rd tries, it may meant my skin is adjusting to it, but I only dared it before the weekend.
Wasn’t going for the lightening effect, though I have pigmentation too. Was just trying it out of curiosity.
Thank you for the warning and reminder Luanne! It didn’t strike me about the skin sensitivity, because I didn’t react to it. Makes me forget that some people might! Sorry to hear that you had reacted to Vitamin C, but it’s good to know that it’s slowly adjusting. I suppose like all effective ingredients, like retinol for instance, a period of adjustment for the skin is necessary before we go all mad scientist and whack everything on :D Is your skin more receptive to Vit C now?
Ah..but its so expensive :-(. I am loving the Hylamide C25 Booster which I started using at the end of May every morning and which still has maybe 30%-40% more to finish. Like you said, Vitamin C does help with skin clarity and it gives a nice glow to the face which I only noticed after comments by friends and colleagues. Would love to try this but its over my budget.
I feel you Victoria :( The price is quite a killer, I’d agree! That said, Hylamide is a great option, and I’m planning to try The Ordinary as well, which has a tiny little price tag! I’m just hoping it’s as effective, and then we can all save some money! ;) Happy to know however, that using Vitamin C has helped clarify your skin. It’s amazing isn’t it?! :D
Unfollowing as your posts are basically advertisements, therefore, can not be truthful, even if you state otherwise, because frankly, what else would you say.
Thank you for telling me my blog post is as good and as persuasive as an ad copy. It’s a compliment :) I can’t help it if a product works well for me. I am but one voice. You, and everyone are entitled and encouraged to seek out other views for a more informed opinion. Still, you are entitled to your views, and I thank you for taking your time to leave a comment :)
it’s because your photos are so good Paris! :D
It’s odd people would have that opinion (especially if they are subscribers) because not all your reviews are positive… people are so odd aren’t they?!
Indeed Sylvia – Well, I guess they’re entitled to their view (just as we’re entitled to ours ;) )
How did I miss this post? I just used up my Deciem Vitamin C and was going to repurchase. You convinced me with this, but it’s not available at Strawberrynet at the moment! Aah! I’m also curious how The Ordinary compares. Have you tried?
You can get it off http://www.kensapothecary.com.my! ;) I’m just almost done with this one, and while I have The Ordinary vitamin c on standby, I am planning to repurchase this one because it’s so good!
I am using Wishtrend’s Pure Vitamin C Serum 21.5. So far so good! I feel like it’s helping to reduce marks left from acne. I read that we are supposed to use Vitamin C as the first step because of its low pH levels and leave it for at least half an hour before applying the next step. Do you do that? I normally don’t have time in the morning so I don’t wait half an hour (more like 30 seconds).
Hi Jubs, no I don’t wait to be honest. I just apply this on (it absorbs quickly) and usually the next thing to go on is my moisturiser and then sunscreen. I don’t have time nor patience to wait either :P
Hi. I was trawling for a review on Vitamin C serum and found your post. Thanks for a great review. Would you mind sharing what moisturizer and toner you use together with this serum? Many thanks!
Hi do note that this particular product may be discontinued so you might have to look for other brands. That said, I use it with any moisturiser that I”m using that particular day, although I am careful not to mix retinol or glycolic acids with Vitamin C :)
I recently purchased a bottle and I’m loving it :)
By the way, is the serum supposed to smell a bit sourish when sniffed up close? I recently left it accidentally in my car’s trunk ( inside my luggage) where it might have been exposed to some heat. Being the paranoid girl I am I googled for signs that ur vit c serum has gone bad. some says ur serum is supposed to be odourless. I never sniffed it up close before so im not very sure. The colour has not changed though. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance!:)
Hi Lyana, I’m afraid it’s been a little long since I last used this one, so I can’t remember if there is a smell. Different types of Vitamin C serums have different scents – some smell metallic, some are scented. The one sure way to tell if it’s gone bad is if the colour changes, and deepens which it will over time and with exposure to air. So I think yours should be OK for now. Maybe you can keep it in the fridge to prolong its shelf life as some people do :)