Is ICON SKIN's vitamin C serum suitable for sensitive skin?

Yes, I used it for a week without any irritation, but it's always a good idea to patch test any new skincare product before committing to a full-size purchase.

Can I return the serum if I'm not satisfied?

Yes, ICON SKIN has a return policy in place, but I'm not sure about the specifics, so it's best to check their website or contact their customer support for more information.

How long does the serum last?

The bottle is travel-sized, so it's designed to last a reasonable amount of time, but I didn't use it long enough to determine its overall shelf life.

Is the serum fragrance-free?

Yes, it has a light, neutral scent that's not overpowering.

Can I use it with other skincare products?

Yes, I used it in conjunction with my regular skincare routine without any issues.

Is the serum suitable for all skin types?

Yes, it's labeled as suitable for all skin types, but as with any new product, it's always a good idea to patch test before committing to a full-size purchase.

How often should I use the serum?

The instructions recommend using it once or twice a day, but I used it once a day and didn't notice any issues.

Can I purchase the serum in stores?

I couldn't find it in any local stores, but it's widely available online through popular e-commerce platforms.

Vitamin C Serum Review: ICON SKIN Falls Flat

Hello!

I'm a big fan of vitamin C in skincare, especially serums for the face. I've noticed that applying serums with this ingredient often gives me the most noticeable results. My skin tone becomes more even, I get a subtle glow, and overall, my skin looks better.

When I finally ran out of all my serums, I started looking for a new one to try. That's when I stumbled upon ICON SKIN and their popular vitamin C serum. I decided to give it a shot.

ICON SKIN vitamin C

I'll share my thoughts on whether this serum delivered on its promises or not.

Price and Where to Buy

The price varies depending on where you buy it and when. When I checked, the serum was selling for 3300 rubles on Ozon, and it was slightly cheaper at around 2750 rubles on the ZYA website.

It's not a bad price, but it's definitely something to consider when you're weighing the pros and cons. Is it really worth 30 ml of serum, or will the effect on your skin be minimal?

First things first, let's take a look at the ingredients.

Ingredients

You can find the list on the packaging.

I've got to say, I was a bit surprised by the name of this serum - Vitamin C. But when I looked at the ingredients, water was first, and niacinamide was second.

That already gave me a hint that the percentage of niacinamide is probably higher than that of vitamin C. And let me tell you, niacinamide is a great ingredient, but it's also pretty cheap, so you can easily find it in cheaper skincare products.

I couldn't find the percentage of vitamin C or niacinamide on the packaging or the product description, but I did some digging and found a response from the brand's official representative on the OZON marketplace.

So, about the percentage of vitamin C in this serum...

The total concentration of vitamin C in this serum is between 6% and 8%.

The serum contains three different forms of vitamin C - none of which are the acidic kind.

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate

Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract (that's Australian soursop, a natural source of vitamin C)

Each of these forms of vitamin C has a pretty low concentration, and the overall percentage is pretty low too.

And now, about the percentage of niacinamide...

The concentration of niacinamide in this serum is up to 4%.

Niacinamide is effective in skincare at a concentration of around 2%, so I'm happy to see that this serum has a decent amount of it. Some brands even use concentrations of up to 20%, but I think 4% is a good sweet spot.

On the other side of the box, there's a more detailed description of what else is interesting in the composition and how it can help avoid premature aging of the skin.

I'll give you my subjective opinion right off the bat.

Australian plum extract

I'm not entirely convinced that it can have the same effect as pure vitamin C, for example.

Pepptides

There are some, but I think there's so little of them that their presence in the serum doesn't make a difference.

Red cypress extract

Extracts are great in cosmetics, but they're not usually the ones that make the formula work.

Packaging

Thanks for including it in the box.

I prefer cosmetics with packaging, so the bottle doesn't just float around in there. I like the look of the vitamin C line - it's bright, eye-catching, and that orange color really grabs your attention.

I didn't start using the serum right away after buying it, and for a while, the box just sat there waiting for its turn. You can notice that the silver letters on the Icon Skin packaging are starting to fade a bit.

There was also some kind of protective sticker on the bottle that nobody had opened.

I love that the heavy glass bottle has a built-in dropper, so I don't have to twist it open. It's a great touch, especially since serums with vitamin C are best stored in opaque containers to prevent exposure to air.

The dropper is super convenient and doesn't require any fiddling. It dispenses just the right amount of serum, and it doesn't leak or clog.

Organoleptics

The serum has a slightly cloudy texture and a light, liquid consistency that spreads easily across both dry and oily skin.

For me, this serum feels like an emulsion. I can use it in the morning as a lightweight moisturizer during the summer, and it might even replace my night cream for oily skin types.

I have to say, the scent of this serum is pretty tropical and fruity, like a mix of fruit juice. At first, I loved the fresh vibe, but after a while, it started to get on my nerves and seemed kinda childish. Luckily, the smell doesn't linger on my skin.

My Takeaways

When I used the serum.

I bought this serum for my morning skincare routine, aiming to keep it simple with just the serum and a moisturizer with SPF. Let's face it, summer is all about sun protection, and I don't want to overload my skin with too many products. To be honest, the serum often worked well on its own, and I only needed a hydrating toner or a moisturizer with SPF to keep my skin happy.

Occasionally, I'd use a hydrating toner before applying the serum, and my moisturizer with SPF has hydrating ingredients, so I rarely needed a separate moisturizer before heading out.

I think owners of oily skin might be able to get away with using this serum solo under SPF during the summer, or in the evening skincare routine, as it won't clog your pores or leave any residue.

Give it a try!

How the serum performs on my skin.

The serum glides smoothly onto my skin, doesn't clash with other products, and doesn't roll off. It absorbs quickly, leaving no greasiness, stickiness, or shine behind. Within 1-2 minutes, it's like nothing was applied, and I'm left with a nice, subtle hydration.

Antioxidant protection for my skin.

I usually use serums with antioxidants in the morning, often featuring vitamin C. To see if a serum works, I just observe my skin over time – it's not a short-term thing. I'm talking weeks, even months.

I'm making an educated guess that the antioxidants in this serum are doing their job, but it's hard to tell for sure. How can you really know if a serum is protecting your skin from free radicals? You can only rely on research about the ingredients and see how they affect your skin.

This serum is packed with antioxidants: vitamin C, vitamin E, and niacinamide - all antioxidants.

Hydrating effect.

The serum does a great job of hydrating my skin. After applying it, my face feels comfortable, and my skin doesn't feel tight like it does with the same vitamin C serum from Sesderma. I don't need to reach for a moisturizer, and if my skin isn't extremely dry or dehydrated, this serum from Icon Skin is enough to keep my face hydrated.

For me, a good hydrating serum is one that leaves my skin feeling comfortable after application. This one does the trick.

Evening out skin tone.

This is one of the effects I was hoping for from a vitamin C serum, but unfortunately, this one from Icon Skin didn't deliver. I didn't see that fresh, radiant glow that vitamin C is known for. My skin looked pretty much the same.

I was expecting that cumulative effect, but it didn't happen.

I've got to say, this serum isn't going to give you that radiant glow you're looking for. The only shine I noticed was during the 2 minutes it took for the serum to absorb into my skin.

Reducing hyperpigmentation and acne scars.

I'm not convinced that even using this serum for years would make a difference. I don't think it's possible to reduce or get rid of hyperpigmentation with this stuff. I've been watching my acne scars, which take forever to fade, especially if they're deep. I've been treating them with light acids and this serum for 3 weeks now, but they're still going strong.

This serum didn't do anything for me in that department, and I wouldn't recommend it to people with similar issues.

Impact on pores.

I have combination skin that gets clogged up with the wrong cosmetics. My forehead is particularly prone to this. If something's not right, I can always tell after a while that my pores are clogged with sebum, those greyish spots that can only be cleaned out mechanically. Acids don't touch them, they don't remove them completely from the pores.

This serum didn't add to the problem, though. My pores stayed clean, they just got clogged up again, but it wasn't because of the serum.

It's worth noting that the serum lasts a long time, I used it for two months with regular application from one bottle.

I didn't stint on using it, but I only needed about 0.5ml per application.

My Verdict

I'm really disappointed with this purchase. I'm glad I didn't buy the second bottle before opening the first, although I did have some initial enthusiasm.

Now that I've tried the Icon skin serum with vitamin C, I wouldn't recommend it to myself because I don't see the point in buying it. It doesn't do anything special for my skin, and it doesn't make a visible difference - and I'm not willing to pay 3300 rubles for that.

Image of the serum

Russian cosmetics have definitely improved, and there are now many decent options on the market - but some manufacturers have gotten a bit too greedy. I don't want to pay for a product that doesn't deliver.

Whether or not to buy it is up to you, but I wouldn't expect your skin to improve with this serum.

From my own experience, I wouldn't recommend it. That's my subjective opinion.