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If there's one skin-care product that floods beauty editors' desks and Reddit threads galore, it's vitamin C serums. Beloved for their potent formulas and glow-boosting benefits, it should come as little surprise that they've skyrocketed in popularity over the past couple years due to their brightening and firming properties. And while we'll admit that it's not always easy to pluck one to try for yourself — you can only reinvent the beauty wheel so many times, right? — every so often, there comes a launch that breaks the mold.
As Allure exclusively reports, Tatcha is following up the success of its Violet-C Radiance Mask with a supercharged serum, called the Violet-C Brightening Serum. It features a 20 percent concentration of vitamin C, Japanese angelica root, fruit-derived AHAs, and Japanese beautyberry (which contains antioxidant and stabilized vitamin C) to get a visibly radiant complexion.
"Clients loved the brightening and softening benefits [of the Violet-C Radiance Mask], however, people don't mask every day, and we wanted to create something that would offer those benefits more regularly, since the best results come over time," Tatcha founder and CEO Victoria Tsai tells Allure. "The Violet-C Brightening Serum offers the same over-time benefits as the intensive mask."
According to Tsai, the oil- and fragrance-free serum is formulated with two different types of vitamin C to offer both instant- and long-term results. "It's well-documented that vitamin C supports natural collagen production, in addition to evening out skin tone," she says, adding that the serum was made to be gentle enough for people who tend to be sensitive to vitamin C.
Tsai is right — the powerhouse ingredient is a potent antioxidant that helps reduce skin inflammation, irregular pigmentation, and promotes healthy collagen production, explains Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. "Vitamin C is a key component to many skin-brightening regimens, as it interferes with pigment production and keeps inflammation at bay," he says. Furthermore, "[vitamin C] may even help protect the skin from pre-cancerous changes from UV light exposure by neutralizing free radicals."
In addition, the Violet-C Brightening Serum is packed with a 10 percent concentration of exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids sourced from seven different fruits to promote radiance and boost the brightening effects of vitamin C. "We believe in gentle strength, and AHAs help promote cell turnover, giving you that baby-soft skin overnight without sensitizing or burning the skin," says Tsai.
Unlike many vitamin C serums that can be orange-y in color and smell either of citrus (or, you know, hot dog water), the texture of Violet-C is fluid-thin, completely clear, and virtually scent-free. "It's highly stabilized, so it doesn't turn orange on the skin or give off an odor," Tsai says.
After testing it nightly for about four weeks, my acne scars and hyperpigmentation were less noticeable, and my skin — dare I say it? — looked brighter and more even than it had in a long time. With continued use, the serum claims to smooth texture, improve overall skin luminosity and tone, and minimize the appearance of fine lines.
"As a brand, we are in love with our clients and our formulas," Tsai says. "Our best ideas come from them, which is why we listen to their asks and try to bring their dreams to life for them." Mission accomplished.
Tatcha's Violet-C Brightening Serum will retail for $88 and launches online at tatcha.com and sephora.com on January 1, and in-stores at Sephora and Barneys New York on January 3.
More skin-care launches to check out:
- These Are the Best New Skin-Care Launches Hitting Shelves This December
- The Most Exciting Things to Happen in Skin Care in 2018, According to Our Skin-Care Editor
- Algenist Launches Genius Sleeping Collagen for Nighttime Use
Now, see how acne treatments have evolved within the last 100 years:
