Does Vitamin C irritate your skin? I’ve found the perfect alternative - and my skin's never looked glowier
This affordable buy offers all the radiance of Vit C serums, without breakouts or sensitivity
As a beauty editor with a slightly lazy approach to skincare, my job involves navigating a fair amount of ‘do as I say, not as I do’. I don’t really think an eye cream is necessary. I’ve disgusted a lot of trichologists by telling them I only wash my hair once a week.
None of these little rebellions particularly worry me - I’m confident in my ability to reach my skin goals (plump, dewy skin) and how to achieve them (enough hyaluronic acid serum to sink the Titanic). One little miss does bother me, though - I don’t use Vitamin C serum.
Even the best Vitamin C serums break me out, and I’ve tried them all. They irritate my skin and cause breakouts almost immediately. I resigned myself to being antioxidant-less and vulnerable to the perils of pollution until I found this powerful protective serum that doesn’t rely on Vitamin C as an ingredient. The best bit? It’s only £26.50.
RRP: £26.50
Powered by Gallic acid, this antioxidant serum is twice as effective as Vitamin C - and much less irritating.
I know - in the grand scheme of things, my intolerance of Vitamin C isn’t actually that concerning. Having interviewed plenty of skin experts and dermatologists over the years, though, it does feel like I’m breaking quite a crucial rule.
If you know what vitamin C does, you’ll know that it’s an antioxidant that protects skin from pollution, while also helping to heal damage that’s already occurred. Vitamin C is one of the best-known and most commonly used antioxidants, but the downside is that it can irritate sensitive skin types.
Lucky me, then, that I stumbled upon Cetaphil’s Advanced Defence Serum, which is sold as an alternative to Vitamin C for sensitive skin - something I’d never even considered seeking out. I thought I was doomed to be spotty from blemishes or pigmentation forevermore.
I tried it on a whim, half expecting a breakout or a reaction, and was happy to note that it never arrived. I was happier still, a week later, when I noticed how much brighter and fresher my skin looked. I found myself using less concealer, or sometimes skipping base altogether.
Rhiannon without (L) and with makeup, after using the serum for two weeks
Instead of pesky Vitamin C, this serum is powered by a blend of Gallic Acid and Vitamin E. These, working in tandem, have been proven to be two times more effective than Vitamin C, minus any irritation - so it’s no wonder I saw the results so powerfully (and so quickly).
Another thing I never enjoyed about Vitamin C serums was the texture. They were sticky or oddly gritty, and never sat nicely on my skin. Cetaphil’s Advanced Defence Serum is positively silky. It glides on beautifully and sinks in almost immediately, never leaving skin feeling tacky or pilling.
This might also be down to the ingredients list - pairing it with my good friend hyaluronic acid and tightening niacinamide makes it a clever multitasker that provides multiple skin wins.
If you found Vitamin C irritating or hard to fit into your routine, I'm betting you'll enjoy using Cetaphil's Advanced Defence Serum much more. I'm certainly hooked.
