My New Love: An Effective, Affordable Vitamin C Serum

I’d never thought I’d say this, but I’m parting ways with my beloved SkinCeuticals, CE Ferulic. I found a newer, more affordable, and just as effective vitamin C serum. My new lover: Timeless 20% Vitamin C.

For a while now I’ve heard about it but was reluctant to try it because, pfff.  No way is any vitamin C serum as good as my trusty Ferulic, I thought. I’ve tried a few others in the past. I’ve liked a few in the past…but not as much.

But…

The price. Yikes. At $166.00, CE Ferulic is a splurge. I’ve managed to get it on sale in the past, but still. Do I need to spend that much money on a vitamin C Serum? And do I need to spend that much money on a vitamin C Serum when my forehead is pleading for Botox?

NO.

So last month when I was running out of Ferulic (that’s my nickname for the SkinCeuticals), I couldn’t justify spending that that amount of money again to repurchase. I have a son in college for goodness sakes.

So I ordered Timeless.

My thoughts: Why have I been spending so much money when this was right here all along?

Here’s what I love about my new love…

It’s basically the same thing for a huge fraction of the cost. $25 for a 1 0z. bottle as opposed to $166. Um…no brainer.

Look, you don’t have to spend an arm, leg, and vagina to get good skincare — you just have to do your homework. If you can, and you want to, go for it. I still love the feel of SkinCeuticals a little better than this one. But…the feel? Who cares?

Here’s my logic: As we age, we need more — more products, more treatments, more care. So we have to think wisely since we’re supposed to be wiser…ahem. Anti-aging treatments are expensive. Botox, fillers, lasers, etc. —there’s no way around that. I’ve tried.

I tried to get a deal on Botox once and went to some quack because he was cheaper. I ended up with a strange wrinkle design on my forehead. Like we say in Spanish, “Lo barato sale caro.” Translation: Cheap things end up being expensive. Or something like that. You know what I mean.

There are some things we can skimp on and some things we can’t. Skincare we can. There are a gazillion products out there, a lot of them affordable and just as effective.

Save your money for Botox (and fillers and lasers) or a good facial. Because after a certain age, if you want your face to look younger, those things are necessary.

Vitamin C serum is part of my daily morning skincare. I believe (although there aren’t conclusive studies to substantiate this) that it helps my skin stay young, and so does my dermatologist. But it doesn’t have bankrupt me…or you.

Shop wisely, Chickie.