Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

Extra LSR: The Only Two Serums You Need.

Beauty, Extra LSR, Shopping, 60 Comments

by Ashley

Ashley Style Blogger + Creative Director

With a million serums to choose from, I’m sharing the two ingredients that really work.

This post contains affiliate links. 

Doesn’t it seem like a new serum launches every 5 minutes? And claims to be the end-all-be-all serum for your skin, of course. It can be really confusing, especially as you first start wading into more intensive skincare in your 30s.

Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

My recommendation? Start with a serum where the results are guaranteed. And what guarantees results? Time-tested ingredients. As nice as the latest serum technology with the hottest new ingredient is, it’s best to lay a solid foundation of proven results before you go dipping your skincare toe into newer serums.

Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

So here we go, folks! Two serum ingredients you need in your routine. Below you’ll find the products I really love– these are the products I recommend to friends and family when they ask me what to add to their skincare regimen.

I’ve sourced several serums for each: a clinical-strength option and a more drugstore-type, affordable option. Clinical-strength products tend to be more expensive, but they’re stronger and so you typically see results faster than you do with drugstore products.

Vitamin C.

Vitamin C isn’t just a classic mimosa ingredient, it’s one of the best things you can add to your skin. It brightens and evens the complexion, giving you a glow. And that even skin tone? Even skin = youthful skin. It helps fade brown spots (which = sun damage that show up on the skin’s surface as we get older) and boosts overall radiance and bounce.

Vitamin C also protects from free radicals– bonus! Free radicals are microscopic particles in the air that disrupt + damage your skin. They can speed up the signs of aging and are, in general, bad news.

Use in the a.m. right after you wash and tone.

Clinical product to try: Vivier CE Peptides ($177 but you can get it for $110 here)

Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

Shop this serum:

I’m on my third bottle of this stuff; it’s amazing! Yes, the price tag is steep. But this is the serum the pros at my medspa recommend– you know a product is legit when people in the skin business are telling you it works. This serum contains a stable form of pharmaceutical-grade vitamin C. The more stable the vitamin C in a serum, the better it penetrates the skin delivers results.

Since I’ve started using this (in 2019), I’ve noticed my skin is more even and has more of a glow. (BBL certainly helped this big time but having a serum with vitamin C means maximizing on those results and keeping skin even.)

Drugstore product to try: VichyLiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector ($28.50)

Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

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Before I switched to the Vivier, this was my go-to vitamin C serum. It contains 15% pure vitamin C (which is a really high concentration!) and is under $30. A great find! If you’re just wading into serums, this is a great one to try first.

Retinol.

Retinol is a form of vitamin A that speeds up cell turnover. Faster cell turnover means more collagen, which plumps up the skin and fights fine lines and wrinkles. Collagen is one of those skin buzzwords– basically, the more, the better. We stop producing as much collagen as we age (ie, slower cell turnover) so anything that boosts collagen is a very good thing.

Use this as part of your nighttime routine because sunlight breaks down vitamin A and makes it less effective. (No use in applying something that doesn’t work– protect that product investment.) Start out using once or twice a week since retinol can cause irritation at first until your skin gets used to it.

Clinical product to try: PCA Skin Retinol Renewal ($100) and Avene RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream ($70)

Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

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I went through 2 tubes of the Avene product and really liked it– I never noticed any redness, peeling or sensitivity with this formula– which is very impressive since the type of vitamin A it uses is second in strength only to prescription-only retinoic acid. I would definitely purchase again–as far as clinical-grade retinol goes, this stuff is super affordable.

The PCA Retinol Renewal is a killer option for blasting wrinkles and texture– but be prepared to drop a C-note on it. It’s legit, however– you’ll see results faster with this serum than a drugstore product. It contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, which help soothe and hydrate skin. I’ll purchase this again when I run out of The Ordinary serum I’m currently using.

Drugstore product to try: The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane ($9.80)

Extra LSR: The Only Serums You Need.

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The Ordinary is a groundbreaking skincare brand that offers super effective, scientifically-backed products that are super cheap. Not just affordable– cheap. Under$10 cheap! Seems fake, but this brand works and is a cult fave. This serum has a 5% concentration of The Ordinary’s Granactive Retinoid, an advanced retinoid active complex. It has all the benefits of traditional retinol without the risk of irritation. I’m almost done with this bottle after having used it for several months– it’s a winner! Great starter retinol serum if you want results and don’t want to drop a bunch of dough.

What are your must-have serums? Does it include these ingredients? Skincare is a bit of a passion for me, especially in quarantine, I’ve really upped my skincare game.

Linking up with Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, The Fashion Canvas, I Do DeClaire, Style Splash, Straight A Style, Living on Cloud Nine, Effortlessly Sophisticated, Curly Crafty Mom + Doused in Pink, Mummabstylish, Elegance & Mommyhood, Nancy’s Fashion Style, Confessions of a Montreal Styling Diva, Lizzie in Lace, Shelbee on the Edge, My Random Musings, Glass of Glam, and Away from the Blue.

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60 Comments

    1. I know, it can be so confusing because it seems like every other day there’s a new serum with a new ingredient and it’s so tough to know if it’s going to work!

  4. Yes there are a lot of serums to choose from for sure. Vichy is a great brand I need to check out that serum as an affordable option. And I sooooooo want to try something from The Ordinary I tried to last spring but they were sold out everywhere I will have to try again. Thanks for the review!

    Allie of
    http://www.allienyc.com

    Reply

  8. These sound like great products! I’ve been using Skin Ceuticals C E Feurilic serum and absolutely love it. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on one skin care item but I definitely think the investment is worth it. Thank you for sharing these!

    http://dianamariaandco.com

    Reply

    1. Once you see the amazing (and faster!) results of clinical-grade products like Skinceuticals, PCA Skin, and Vivier, it totally justifies the bigger spend!

  9. I’m a fan of retinol alternative serums and the Ordinary is a good one! I also love Tula’s wrinkle treatment drops and Skinceuticals C E Ferulic for vitamin c. Thanks for sharing your favorites!

    Jill – Doused in Pink

    Reply

    1. Yes! The granactive retinoid means less irritation but still high-efficacy. I need to look into Tula’s wrinkle drops! And the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic is a cult fave- I need to try it soon! Maybe when I run out of the Vivier.

  11. I love Vitamin C serum and retinol! In the winter I like to add in hyaluronic acid, too. My skin tends to be so dry and it really helps! But I would pick vitamin C and retinol as the top 2 as well!

    Reply

    1. Yes! Hyaluronic acid is important- my moisturizer has it, because the winter is sooo drying for me, too. I also have a body serum that has HA in it- game-changer!

  14. It’s great these work for you! 🙂 I just use a hydrating serum at the moment – twice a day in winter when it’s needed, I really need to try some of the other alternatives! 🙂

    Hope that your week is going well 🙂

    Away From Blue

    Reply

  24. WHOA! This is great information! I’ve been dabbling in “things to make me look not so meh” but I’m so not a producty person, all these items, terms, outside are totally unfamiliar to me and there are so MANY things! It’s like when you read those articles “dress for your body type” and if you’re apple, wear this, if you have fat legs, wear THAT, if you have big boobs, wear THIS, if you have a big butt, wear THAT – and I’m like I HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS! WHICH THING AM I SUPPOSED TO WEAR! Ha ha. Not that I really put much into those articles, but you get my point. I want ALL the skin helping things!

    So thank you for narrowing it down to just a few crucial items…and included affordable versions of each. Cuz I won’t spend $$$ on things that I don’t even know will work for me!

    Thanks!

    Bettye
    https://fashionschlub.com

    Reply

  35. Tried and tested ingredients is right! And also you have to listen to your skin. If something worked for you in the past it’s probably got an ingredient that your skin needs/loves!

    Reply
  42. Pingback: Extra LSR: Currently... Vaccinated. | Le Stylo Rouge

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