4 Vitamin C Serums to Keep on Your Radar as We’re Breaking Through Skincare Barriers
“Your skin is a reflection of your inner health. When we nurture our bodies from the inside, the glow on the outside follows.” - Dr. Mindy Pelz
The Big Picture:
Stuck in the hamster wheel of our flawed healthcare system, I became a regretful 2-time Accutane user, a former steroid-dependent eczema sufferer, and a sandpaper lips representative.
The doctors I went to, though well-intentioned, focused on treating symptoms with quick fixes instead of addressing the root causes.
Fed up with temporary solutions, it was time to take matters into my own hands.
Over the last decade, I’ve learned how many internal imbalances my skin was trying to communicate.
While my skin isn’t perfect, I can now pinpoint foods and a plethora of products that trigger flare-ups, helping me avoid them for healthier, more youthful skin. With clearer skin comes fewer distractions, freeing up energy to focus on breaking through next-level barriers and moving closer to the life we’re all striving toward.
I’ll circle back to the nutrition and products to avoid, but for now, let’s dive into what does work—
A Few Notes Before We Dive In:
Why I Choose Ulta: I do most of my skincare shopping at Ulta because I trust their authenticity more than sites like Amazon, and their rewards program is way better—according to chatGPT & a gal I ran into at Sephora who worked at both. I also prefer shopping in-store because it supports my crunchy, hippie side.
95% of My Products Are Yuka-approved: I prioritize clean skincare. Over 95% of my products have a Yuka score of 70% or higher, which is part of my sniff test to break through the barrier of falling victim to soul-sucking marketing.
Diet Matters: Just to reiterate and drive this point home… What you eat shows on your skin—issues like acne, eczema, and crusty lips often reflect internal imbalances. While I’m always fine-tuning my nutrition, the products below are effective in supporting my skin, earning my stamp of approval… for now.
Winter Skincare Routine
Morning (AM):
Cleanser:
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser
Available at Ulta (Refill option—more affordable and crunchy, hippie-friendly)
Tip: Leave it on for a few minutes to let it absorb and cleanse deeply. Use a separate microfiber cloth to pat dry (avoid using your shower or hand towel).
Vitamin C and E Serums:
(Still testing and comparing different brands… not sold on any one yet, but these are top of my sniff test.)
Price: ~$19.99 (Amazon)
Key Ingredients: (98% Natural, 72% Organic): 20% Vitamin C, Plant-Based Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E, Citrus Stem Cells, Centella (Cica), Organic Aloe, Korean Ginseng
Performance: This serum delivers a potent dose of Vitamin C (20%) in the form of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, providing brightening, anti-aging, and skin-smoothing effects. Ferulic acid enhances the efficacy of the Vitamin C, protecting against free radicals, while Vitamin E offers additional antioxidant protection and moisture retention. Hyaluronic acid locks in hydration, giving skin a plump and youthful appearance. The serum is further enriched with Centella Asiatica (Cica) and Korean Ginseng, which soothe the skin and promote healing, while organic Aloe and Citrus Stem Cells provide additional nourishment and brightening.
Best For: This serum is a great choice for those with dry, sensitive, or aging skin looking for a natural, multi-benefit formula. Its combination of highly stable Vitamin C, plant-based hydration, and soothing botanicals makes it a solid option for brightening and anti-aging without the potential irritation from harsher formulas. Perfect for those who want to address uneven skin tone, fine lines, and wrinkles, while benefiting from natural, organic ingredients that nourish the skin.
My Take: The serum has a very liquid consistency, feeling lightweight on the skin. I haven’t used it consistently enough to make it a staple, but I’m intrigued by the combination of Citrus Stem Cells, Centella (Cica), Organic Aloe, and Korean Ginseng.
My skin is so dang sensitive! So I’m curious to see how it reacts to the 7 botanical extracts. I’ll give it a spotlight for 2 weeks and report back!
Price: ~$33.99 (Ulta | Amazon)
Key Ingredients: Sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP), vitamin E, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid.
Performance: Mad Hippie’s Vitamin C Serum uses Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP), a gentle, stable form of Vitamin C that is perfect for sensitive skin, offering brightening and anti-aging benefits. Ferulic acid enhances the potency of Vitamin C, offering protection against free radicals and helping to prevent premature aging. The serum is also rich in Vitamin E (Tocotrienol), which delivers additional antioxidant protection while supporting moisture retention and skin barrier strength. Hyaluronic acid helps hydrate and plump the skin, leaving it looking smooth and youthful. Enriched with botanical extracts like Chamomile and Aloe, this formula soothes and calms the skin, making it suitable for those with sensitive or dry skin.
Best For: Ideal for sensitive or dry skin types seeking a gentler Vitamin C serum with hydrating, soothing, and anti-aging benefits. The inclusion of SAP makes it a great option for those new to Vitamin C or those with more delicate skin, while the additional antioxidants and humectants like Vitamin E and Hyaluronic Acid enhance its moisturizing and skin-protecting properties. This serum is perfect for anyone looking for a stable, less irritating Vitamin C formula to help with brightening, uneven skin tone, and fine lines.
My Take: I haven’t used this consistently yet, but after diving deep into these serums, I’m committing to using this one for the next two weeks to see if it helps clear the red spots around my nose. I’m curious to see how my skin reacts to the SAP Vitamin C, Chamomile, and Aloe. I’ll stick with this over the SeoulCeuticals for now because the simpler ingredient list, with fewer extracts, seems like it could be a better fit for my sensitive skin.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum (Premium Option)
Price: ~$169 +
Key Ingredients: 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, 0.5% ferulic acid
Performance: Known for exceptional brightening and anti-aging benefits, this serum offers a high concentration of L-ascorbic acid alongside Vitamin E and ferulic acid to provide maximum antioxidant protection, brightening, and anti-aging effects.
Best For: Luxury skincare enthusiasts seeking a clinically proven, luxurious Vitamin C serum with long-standing reputation for delivering visible results. This is perfect for those looking for a premium skincare investment focused on advanced anti-aging and brightness, or anyone who wants a tried-and-true formula from a reputable brand in the skincare industry.
My Take: I tried a sample of for two weeks, putting it on both in the AM and PM but broke out in red splotches around my nose.
My sensitive skin likely reacted to the high concentration of L-ascorbic acid or the alcohol-based formula, both of which can be irritating for sensitive skin. I’ve heard great things but my skin is too sensitive and not taking well to this formula… thankfully 💸.
Maybe I’ll circle back down the road and try using it once every few days to see if it works better.
Clinical Vit C + E + Ferulic Defend Serum (Inspired by SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic)
Price: ~$49 (Brandefy Skin)
Key Ingredients: 15% L-ascorbic acid, Tocopheryl Acetate (vitamin E), 0.5% ferulic acid (vitamins C and E)
Performance: A strong antioxidant-rich anti-aging trifecta of 15% pure vitamin C, 0.5% ferulic acid & vitamin E, that delivers advanced environmental protection that helps reduce the look of fine lines, wrinkles & discoloration.
Best For: Those who love the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum but don't want to pay the price.
My Take: A client put the website Brandefy Skin on my radar. The company removes the brand name from luxury-priced products while keeping the same high-quality ingredients.
That said, I’m much more inclined to give this serum a shot. To help my sensitive skin adjust, I’ll apply moisturizer before the serum dries and start with once-daily use instead of the twice-daily routine I followed with the SkinCeuticals sample.
Well… this deep dive into the 4 Vitamin C serums was certainly enlightening — and took longer than expected. I’ve learned a lot, but there are still more blanks to be filled in, so we’ll see what comes of it all!
Moisturizer:
Snail Rescue All-In-One Deep Moisture Cream
Available at Ulta ~ $16.99
Yuka Approved
Perfect for deep moisture without irritation.
SPF | I’m in the midst of changing my brand, but here’s where I’m headed:
Native Sunscreen SPF 30
Available for under $20 (Amazon)
Fragrance-free, Hawaii's stringent environmental standards, and PA+++ approved for high UVA protection.La Roche-Posay Anthelios Melt-In Milk Sunscreen SPF 100
Available for under $30 (Ulta | Amazon)
Broad Spectrum SPF + Antioxidants, Oil-Free, For Sun-Sensitive Skin, Oxybenzone-Free.Tri Lipid Replenish Treatment (SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore | retails $155)
Available for under $50 (Brandefy)
Active ingredients and purpose:1.5% Ceramides: Rich in lipid concentration, ceramides help replenish the skin barrier to minimize visible signs of aging.
4.0% Pomegranate Sterols: Derived from cold-pressed seeds, this rich emollient helps lock in moisture.
1.8% Fatty Acids: This essential molecule supports skin barrier function, providing long-lasting age-defying benefits.
Evening (PM):
Currently, retinol is too aggressive for my extra sensitive winter skin so I’m sticking to the same routine as in the morning, just without the SPF.
I still have a lot to learn about skincare and the messages my body sends from within.
Fortunately, I’ve got a solid handle on acne, eczema, and chapped lips. In short—avoid sugar as much as possible since it's a major inflamer (and it feeds cancer cells). For chapped lips, consuming too many carbs—leading to a glucose spike—nutritional deficiencies or dehydration can worsen dryness and irritation, sometimes
leaving them crusty. Tallow has worked wonders for immediate relief.
The next BIG issue I’m tackling is my hair shedding—it’s getting a lot of my time and attention right now.
I’ll circle back to that, along with what I’ve learned about gut health, which has been a game-changer for clearing my skin. Stay tuned!
For now, feel free to drop any questions or thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to use code ENERGY10 for 10% off a 1:1 Fitness Planning Session—I’d love to help you break through barriers and optimize your energy so you can do more of what you love!
Chat soon!
