This Hailey Bieber-Approved Serum Is Pricey — but Worth Every Penny

If you don't already have a vitamin C serum in your skin-care routine, I'm here to tell you: go buy one. The ingredient, which is a powerful antioxidant, can improve hyperpigmentation all while protecting the skin from environmental damage, among other things. When it came time for me to add one into my routine, I had a had time finding a formula that worked for my dry, acne-prone skin, until I tried one that was recommended to me by Hailey Bieber herself.

OK, she didn't recommend it to me personally; however, I watch all of her YouTube videos and in one video spotlighting Black-owned businesses, Bieber called out the BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner ($85), a vitamin C serum that she said "changed her skin" and is one of her "holy grail products." That statement alone was enough for me to make my first purchase, and I've been sold ever since.

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner

From

$85

$85 at BeautyStat

Keep reading for my full review of the product below.

Vitamin C is a tricky thing to get right when it comes to skin care. When considering a purchase in serum form, it's important to pay attention to how the product is packaged, what percentage of L-ascorbic acid it has (10 to 20 percent is the best), and what other ingredients are included.

The BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner is touted as "the world's first 20 percent vitamin C serum containing stabilized L-ascorbic acid" — the highest percentage of vitamin C you can get in over-the-counter skin-care products.

One of the first things I noticed when I tested it for the first time was that the texture is different from other vitamin C serums I've tried in the past. While most of them were a watery liquid formula, the BeatyStat serum had a creamy, satin finish. I didn't have any issues with residue, and it made my skin look and feel great.

Immediately after use, I noticed that my face looked brighter and more even. After a few months of use, I noticed a reduction in my hyperpigmentation as well as a huge improvement in the texture of my skin. It feels smoother to the touch, and my makeup always goes on perfectly layered on top — I never have issues with pilling, which is a big pet peeve of mine.

The brand recommends using this serum in the morning and at night on freshly cleansed, dry skin. They note that you may experience a tingling sensation after application, and if you have sensitive skin, they recommend using the serum every other day until your skin adjusts.

I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, but I didn't need time to adjust to this product. In the morning, after washing my face, I let my skin completely dry before I apply one pump over my face and neck. I follow up with moisturizer and then SPF. I don't typically use vitamin C serum at night, so this is a once-a-day product for me.

If you've tried other vitamin C serums and had a reaction, or if you have sensitive skin, I would suggest patch-testing this product when you first get it, or consulting with a dermatologist before purchasing. It has a high concentration of L-ascorbic acid, which makes it great for reducing hyperpigmentation, brightening complexion, and all the other fun stuff vitamin C does for the skin, but it can also cause redness and irritation if you're sensitive to the included ingredients.

Although I haven't noticed any issues with redness, I do occasionally feel a slight stinging when I apply the product.

Priced at $85 for 1oz, this product is not cheap. If you use it twice a day, the brand says it should last you a full month. Still, shelling out almost $100 every 30 days for a vitamin C serum isn't in everyone's cards. Personally, I only use it once a day, which means it should last me a good two months, and I've noticed such a difference in my skin that the price tag is absolutely worth it. Because it's one of the only vitamin C serums that doesn't irritate my sensitive skin, it's worth it to me to find a way to make it work in my budget.

The Beauty Stat Universal C Skin Refiner is available directly on the brand's website, Ulta, Dermstore, and Nordstrom.

Rating:

★★★★★