Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum


I told you last month that I had a major disappointment when using a vitamin C serum from Peter Thomas Roth that did absolutely nothing for me. My next step was trying to find a new product that will be at least as effective as previous C serums I've used but will not stink to high heaven. A friend recommended a NeoStrata serum, but it was one of the Canada-only products, and I needed an immediate solution. So I went with the surprisingly cheap option of Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum.

Why was I so keen on finding a vitamin C? It's an antioxidant that fights free radicals (a major skin destroyer) and boosts collagen production (basically, that's the meaning of that hateful term "anti-aging"). Recent studies also show that the best and most stable form of vitamin C in cosmetics, l-ascobic acid, can reduce skin water loss and increase moisture content in the skin, thus helping to keep it hydrated. And the last benefit is correcting sun damage: Vitamin C has skin-lightening properties that help reduce dark spots (not just sun spots, but also acne marks). It's science, not magic, and good results are contingent on consistent use of the serum as part of one's skincare regimen that needs to include retinoids, AHA, a good moisturizer, and most important: an effective sun block (applied zealously).

The difference was visible after only a couple of days. Smoother skin, shrunken pores, better moisture absorption, a certain brightness that disappeared during the PTR month. Basically, all the benefits you want to see from your vitamin C serum. I use a moisturizer over it (absorption time is seconds), and can forget all about it once I step out of the bathroom. There's no stickiness and no trail of hot dog smell (there's only the faintest smell of... something, but it doesn't linger).

It seems that in the last six months Timeless has tweaked the formula. Previously it contained fragrance while the one I have and the updated ingredient list are free of it (the photo of the bottle on their website is of the old label). They may have also changed the vitamin E from Alpha Tocopherol to something else, but they're not clear about that. In any case, I love it and highly recommend giving this serum a try.

Ingredients: water, ethoxysiglycol, L-ascorbic acid, propylene glycol,vitamin E, polysorbate 80, panthenol, ferulic acid, sodium hyaluronate, benzylalcohol, dehydroacetic acid.

Timeless 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum ($24.95, made in USA) is available from timelessha.com.

11 comments:

  1. Hi. Any idea how it compares to the same product by Skinceuticals? I have been using that one for years, but would love a cheaper alternative. Thanks for the reviews!

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    Replies
    1. If you look on Paula's site you can see the ingredient list for various SkinCeuticles products. This Timeless formulation is quite different from SkinCeuticles CE Ferulic (which is 15% C) and from SkinCeuticles Serum 20 AOX+ (which is 20% C). If you want a high quality clone of the CE Frulic, Cosmetic Skin Solutions makes one that is an almost exact dupe at a fraction of the price. They also make a 20% C that is similar to the one by SkinCeuticles. You can check them out on Amazon or their own website.

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  2. Despite numerous attempts, I just couldn't get used to the Skinceuticals or Paula's versions--the odor lingered all day and made me nauseous. Right now I use PC's retinol serum, which has vitamin C. I am intrigued by this post, I would like to find something that doesn't reek. Although there is a warning on it that says it should't be used on oily skin, as it containes vit E? And that its shelf life is 3 months unless refrigerated? Could you report back after a few months and update us on how long it lasted you? -EM

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    Replies
    1. The Timeless brand C serum has no odor at all. I'm on my 3rd or 4th bottle and they last me about 2 months because I splash it on both in the morning and at night. I siphon off half when I receive it and hide it in a metal canister in my refrigerator. The half bottle I'm actively using stays tucked into a little black velvet bag on a dimly lit shelf in the bathroom. None of them have oxidized on me yet.

      I'm also using their hyaluronic acid mist stuff: I carry it in an atomizer from Sephora and spritz it on across the day. Love it.

      I think if someone is trying to make it last 3 months, they're not applying enough.

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  3. High recommend. After exhaustive research I started Timeless' C serum 3 months ago and have since added their Matrixl. Astonishing results, low cost, responsive company. I have colleagues who are having fun (?) paying way more and I just don't get it. My before and after pictures are spectacular.

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  4. could someone address all the negative reviews in regards to Timeless charging credit cards and not shipping products? I might like to order, but I'm put off by reports of poor customer service, no response to customer emails and no listed phone number. I have used many bottles of Paula's Choice Vit. C and have never ever noticed any kind of smell. Maybe that indicates the product has gone bad? Don't know. What I do know is they have excellent customer service and I'm inclined to continue to use them. I don't like to take chances with a company that has so many bad reports like Timeless appears to have. If any can set me straight, I'd love to hear your experience with them.

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  5. For the price and with a Non-Blonde stamp of approval, this is worth a try. I got three emails after I placed my order with receipts and a way to track the shipping, so maybe the company is trying to do better.

    Kathy
    Bloomington

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  6. A friend recently told me that her bottle says 'made in China' and was quite concerned about that. Can anybody chime in on that?

    Thank you in advance, Anneri

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    1. Mine clearly says "Made in USA"

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    2. Thank you Gaia! Apparently the whole package came from China which is just - weird. But thankfully CS is now in contact with her, so I hope this gets cleared up soon!

      Anneri

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  7. Hi, I'm wondering if the negativity about timeless is coming from some that are buying it from an Amazon source that is actually not the true product??? Hence "made in China" because I just bought this product from their actual site, and was emailed 3 times, and had tracking and received my product in 3 days!!! I have also tried, skinceuticals and Cosmetic skin solutions... And I feel like this product is just as good as skinceuticals which works very well, but carries a high price and oxidizes way too fast for the money! And I feel timeless works better than CSS too, which also oxidizes too fast, but is less expensive... Also timeless is 24.95, people, with promo code its 19.95 and free shipping! So if you are unhappy with Paula's choice, go directly to the timeless web site to order, first time buyers get it for 19.95.... It's an amazing product!!! And it's cheap... So there's no excuse not to try it

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