CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Ingredients
WATER/EAU/AQUA, TETRAHEXYLDECYL ASCORBATE, SQUALANE, POLYGLYCERYL-6 DISTEARATE, PEG-8 BEESWAX, PPG-12/SMDI COPOLYMER, GLYCINE SOJA (SOYBEAN) STEROLS, SODIUM PHYTATE, TOCOPHEROL, ACETAMIDOETHOXYETHANOL, HYDROXYETHYL ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, SODIUM ACRYLATE/SODIUM ACRYLOYLDIMETHYL TAURATE COPOLYMER, JOJOBA ESTERS, GLYCOLIC ACID, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CETYL ALCOHOL, POLYGLYCERYL-3 BEESWAX, CHLORPHENESIN, GLYCERIN, POLYSORBATE 60, SORBITAN ISOSTEARATE, SACCHARIDE ISOMERATE, CITRUS AURANTIUM DULCIS (ORANGE) PEEL OIL, CITRUS TANGERINA (TANGERINE) PEEL OIL, LINALOOL, LIMONENE, PHENOXYETHANOL.
This is a fluid, easy-to-spread vitamin C serum that doesn’t waste any time showing results. It contains 15% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable, oil-soluble form of vitamin C, and on my skin, the brightening effect is pretty much immediate. Granted, my skin responds quickly and well to vitamin C, but even so, this feels effective right away.
It stays a little tacky after application—not unpleasant, but definitely present. If you layer other products on top, it settles down, but the finish is something to be aware of if you prefer your serums to disappear completely.
As for comfort, it’s generally good. I can use this daily, though I do get some tingling around my eyes when that area is sensitized due to mechanical action ( caused by removing eye makeup. I know this is because of the 15% vitamin C, not necessarily the fragrant ingredients at the end of the list, but still, their presence annoys me: orange peel oil, tangerine peel oil, linalool and limonene. Yes, they’re tucked away at the bottom of the list, but they’re noticeable (I can smell them clearly). They add nothing useful - at least, nothing that isn't purely aesthethic or sensorial - and at worst, they’re just another thing that could aggravate skin irritation on a serum that already contains vitamin C and glycolic acid.
Beyond that, the formula is otherwise quite well-rounded. There’s squalane and glycerin for lightweight hydration and skin-softening, plus jojoba esters for extra emollience. Saccharide isomerate offers longer-lasting hydration benefits, helping to bind water to the skin. A few extra skin-soothing and antioxidant ingredients are tucked in too, like tocopherol (vitamin E) and soy sterols, which help support barrier function and enhance stability.
In the end, this is a fast-acting, brightening serum that does what it promises. It delivers visible radiance and is well-formulated overall—except for the unnecessary fragrant oils, which feel like a poorly thought-out addition in an otherwise serious formula. If you tolerate fragrance and want immediate glow, this will likely impress. But for those of us who prefer our actives without distractions (or potential irritants), it’s hard not to wish they had left the perfumery out of it.