I tested Kylie Skin‘s new Vitamin C Glow Serum against a $15 drugstore bottle for two weeks. Blindfolded. Well, not blindfolded, but my left cheek vs. right cheek with zero labels.
The price difference is $57. The actual difference? Way less than you’d think — and the expensive one smells like a melted Jolly Rancher.
It’s a 1.7oz bottle of 10% ascorbic acid (pure vitamin C) plus a bunch of botanical extras. The claim: brighter skin in 7 days, no irritation.
Watery-Gel Texture
Slides on like a slick toner, not a heavy syrup — absorbs in about 20 seconds flat.
No Sticky Residue
Actually true. My hair doesn’t stick to my face after applying. Rare for C serums.
The Smell
Aggressively sweet. Like a candy shop exploded. Not bad, just… loud.
Photo: ibnu ihza / Unsplash
10% ascorbic acid is the sweet spot — strong enough to work, low enough to not wreck sensitive skin. Then they threw in a bunch of plant extracts that sound fancy but mostly just hydrate.
- Ascorbic Acid (10%): The real worker — boosts collagen and fades dark spots
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Hydration magnet, keeps skin plump
- Vitamin E: Stops the C from oxidizing too fast
- Aloe Leaf Extract: Soothes, but honestly just feels nice
Photo: Harper Sunday / Unsplash
First day: zero stinging. That’s rare for a 10% C serum — my skin usually screams. Texture is watery-thin, sinks in before I finish brushing my teeth.
By day 10, my left cheek (the Kylie side) looked marginally more even. But my right cheek (drugstore side) caught up by day 14. The expensive one just got there faster — not better.
Photo: Fleur Kaan / Unsplash
My dark spots faded maybe 15% on both sides. The Kylie version made my skin look slightly more glowy in the first week, but by week two, they were twins.
Photo: Eurico Craveiro / Unsplash
It’s a good serum — not a great value. If you want the glow without the celebrity markup, the drugstore bottle does the same job by week two.