Mario Badescu vitamin C serum review

   I picked this serum up at Ulta and have been using it for the last three weeks, so I wanted to do a review (I know, three weeks is not that long, but I did have and use up the bottle before).
   This serum has 7.5% Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Hyaluronic acid and Coillagen, so it brightens, helps skin retain moisture and prevents aging by enhancing firmness and elasticity. The directions say to use 3-4 drops on clean skin every other night underneath a moisturizer or on its own.
   It comes in a 1oz glass bottle with a dropper and costs $45, which is pretty expensive, but it lasts a long time. I like the simple practical packaging without bells and whistles, because what's inside is what matters, and I don't want to pay extra $50 for fancy bottle or box. I picked it up during Ulta's promo time, when it was 25% off, so I got a good deal on it. And Mario Badescu products are sometimes available on Hautelook on a good discount, so look around.
   The ingredient list is not very long, it doesn't contain any extra unnecessary fluff, just good ingredients like ascorbic acid, cucumber extract, ginseng extract, aloe vera gel, collagen, kojic acid, hyaluronic acid and lavender oil. Because it does contain oil,. the serum feels more like oil, but it soaks in quickly, and doesn't feel greasy or leave any kind of residue on the skin. I use it every other night after cleanser and toner, and usually without additional moisturizer, unless I need a little moisture boost, and then I add two drops of 100% pure rose hips oil into this serum and apply together. That works really well (I will do my updated spring skincare routine soon). I wake up in the morning with brighter more hydrated and plump skin, that feels very good. I can, definitely, see results when I use this serum. The dark spots that I have are fading and my overall complexion is becoming smoother and more even ( but I do have another secret for that, and I will share it during my skincare routine). Even though it contains oil, it doesn't break me out at all.

 
    You can see the consistency of the product in the pictures above. One of the things I like about this serum is that it doesn't have any silicone, because some other vitamin C serums I've tried feel have that silicone texture, and end up just sitting on my skin instead of soaking in (they even out your skin and make it look smooth and soft during the day, you just wash it off in the evening and you are back to your own skin)
    Anyway, this is a standout product for me that I will repurchase again. This bottle lasts me about a year, so it's a good value for the money, and the best part is it delivers results. I recommend it to everybody, even ladies with oily skin like me.