Need Vit C serum / retinol recommendations

[sephoranme]

I just turned 40 and have okay skin. I get occasional hormonal acnearound chin. I have combo skin and medium size pores. I have black headsaround nose and small white heads on chin. I use DE pekee & juju bar. In the AM I moisturize with belif aqua bomb & night. In the PM after makeup, I use Clinique take off the balm & then FAB face wash with salicylic acid. Every other night I use exfoliating wipey’s by Go To. Iwent to get a hydra facial and the esthetician said I should incorporate a VIT C serum in the AM & to start using a retinol at night. She recommended the ones at her spa. They weren’t crazy expensive butthought I’d shop around first. Any recommendations for a first time userthat wants to see results? I went into Sephora and was looking at Sunday Riley Vit C serum but the rep pushed the FAB line -the Lab Resurfacing. And i went in another time and the rep told me no to FAB -it’s forteenagers and to use the Biossance retinol. I’m lost. Please help! Price isn’t an issue if the products have good payoff.

[sabrinazerpa]

Obagi vitamin C

[faeriegirl]

@sephoranme For retinol I really like

DRUNK ELEPHANT - A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream.

and for vitamin c I like 

DRUNK ELEPHANT - C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum

and VOLITION BEAUTY - Strawberry-C Brightening Serum

[LetyMZ]

Hello. I'm also looking for a good vitamin c product too. I do follow Michelle Phan who has amazing skin and is one of the OG youtubers. She is huge into skincare and she mentioned that the best vitamin c comes in a powder form which she mixes with her essence. FYI: I have tried oils with vitamin c (korres wild rose oil) and serums (drunk elephant's c-firma, sunday riley's-vitamin c, dr. dennis gross-c+ collagen, and peter thomas roth-potent c.  I don't think I've seen a huge difference with the oils or serums so I want to try it in powder form. There are mini sizes for the products I mentioned above but I want to try the new clinque powder cleansers with vitamin c powder in it. It's pretty cheap and it has great reviews. Good luck! 

<https://www.sephora.com/product/fresh-pressed-daily-booster-with-pure-vitamin-c-10-P416824?icid2=pro...> 

[greeneyedgirl107]

@sephoranme If you are new to retinol, it would be best to start with a low dose.  I like FIRST AID BEAUTY - FAB Skin Lab Retinol Serum 0.25% Pure Concentrate

You can then bump it up once you've developed a tolerance with the OBAGI CLINICAL - Retinol 0.5 Retexturizing Cream

or the DRUNK ELEPHANT - A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream

There are less expensive options out there (check beautypedia) but I like these b/c the companies are upfront about the concentration of retinol.

As for Vitamin C, DRUNK ELEPHANT - C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum

is popular on BIC.  There are less expensive options by  The INKEY List Vitamin C Brightening Cream 1 oz/ 30 mL

and  The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% 1 oz/ 30 mL

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone 1 oz/ 30 mL

The one thing I'm not crazy about with the less expensive versions is that they don't come in airtight packaging.

Best of luck!  🙂