PRODUCT REVIEW: WANDER BEAUTY SIGHT C-ER VITAMIN C CONCENTRATE - BEST VITAMIN C SERUM, BEST ANTI-AGING SERUM WITH VITAMIN C
WANDER BEAUTY | SIGHT C-ER VITAMIN C CONCENTRATE
Photo credit: ©2021 Antonio Jefferson, Antonio Jefferson Studios
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Collab with Antonio Jefferson Studio: New Vitamin C Serums I’m Crushing On from Wander Beauty, Glossier, Kat Burki and More - Best Vitamin C Serums, Best Brightening Serums. You can catch the full piece here.
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Over the last few months I’ve been collaborating with one of my most creative, motivated and inspiring friends — New York-based photographer Antonio Jefferson.
Antonio recently set up his own photo studio in the Bronx called Antonio Jefferson Studio where he shoots for beauty and fashion brands — and even his own collection of dope streetwear.
Meet Antonio…
Photo credit: ©2021 Antonio Jefferson, Antonio Jefferson Studios
“Growing up in a military family, Antonio Jefferson began traveling at an early age. From Dallas to Las Vegas to Japan, his childhood introduced him to the diverse beauty of the world around us — a beauty he felt inspired to share.
From behind the camera, Antonio realized that he could paint stories of his journeys through snapshots of the places, people, and things he encountered. It was here, in this quest for others to share the adventure, that Antonio’s passion for photography was born.
Today, Antonio uses his passion to tell the stories of friends, pioneers, curators, and brands. He thrives on finding the perfect still representation of the beauty in everything.
If you’re ready for your story to be told, reach out today.”
- Antonio Jefferson
Every image in my blog New Vitamin C Serums I’m Crushing On was shot by Antonio, bringing Skincarma product imagery to a whole new level. Something I couldn’t have achieved on my own. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do! Check them out here.
And be sure to check out Antonio’s portfolio of fashion and product images on his site here — and follow his journey on his IG page, too!
Photo credit: ©2021 Antonio Jefferson, Antonio Jefferson Studios
There are two ingredients that I wish everyone on Earth who’s serious about their skin health would incorporate into their own skincare routines — Vitamin C and Vitamin B3, or Niacinamide. Both are indispensable antioxidants — and much, much more. In the case of a good Vitamin C treatment, it can be one of the best anti-aging serums in your arsenal.
Yes, like sunscreen antioxidants are anti-aging.
Right at the start of the year, I published an article about my favorite Vitamin C serums of 2020 in a piece titled, The Year’s Best Vitamin C Serums with Paula's Choice, Sunday Riley, The Inkey List and More! – which you can catch here. It was a collection of the latest and greatest Vitamin C serums, brightening face oils, anti-aging lotions and dark spot treatments.
Among my top picks were some of my favorite brightening Vitamin C serums to this day, including the Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster and BeautyStat’s Universal C Skin Refiner. I’ve used up and replaced each of those products multiple times over the past year or so. During the darkest days of the pandemic, at least my skin was bright!
THE YEAR’S BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS WITH PAULA'S CHOICE, SUNDAY RILEY, THE INKEY LIST AND MORE!
Also in the mix were the cult Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum and The Inkey List’s 15% Vitamin C and EGF Brightening Serum — a super silky, lightweight oil.
And rounding out my most recent collection is one of the best dark spot treatments — the Paula’s Choice C25 Super Booster, powered by an extraordinary 25% concentration of Ascorbic Acid, the pure form of Vitamin C.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
MY 2021 VITAMIN C PICKS + THE BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS TO BRIGHTEN UP THE COMPLEXION!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
Just two years ago, Vitamin C was perhaps the most under-appreciated of all skincare ingredients. Mainly because it seemed to be old news. And marketers don’t push what’s old; they spend their marketing dollars on what’s new, fresh, sexy and innovative — whether it works or not. Their job is to make you believe what they’re pushing does.
Until recently, it’s also been nearly impossible to keep high levels of Vitamin C stable in a skincare formula. The truly effective levels weren’t possible. Until you get to ten percent or more, you don’t really get the power brightening, collagen-building benefits that Vitamin C has to offer.
PRODUCT REVIEW: PAULA’S CHOICE C15 SUPER BOOSTER - BEST VITAMIN C SERUM, BEST BRIGHTENING SERUM
What Does Vitamin C Do for Skin?
There’s an excellent article on the remarkable benefits of Vitamin C for the skin from the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, What is Vitamin C and How Does it Benefit Skin?
Vitamin C is one of the most exciting, research-proven ingredients you can apply to skin. This water-soluble antioxidant is a natural component of healthy skin. When we’re young, vitamin C levels in skin’s outermost two layers (epidermis and dermis) are abundant, but as we age, these levels naturally deplete. Unprotected sun exposure (UV damage) and pollution can accelerate this decline, leading to skin looking and feeling dull, uneven, and less firm than it once was.
Luckily, there are topical skin care solutions that can help mitigate this damage, so skin looks and feels healthier and younger longer.
Vitamin C Benefits for Skin
Vitamin C’s benefits for skin are vast, including its ability to even out skin tone and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While this powerhouse ingredient is well-known for its skin-brightening benefits, research also shows it can shield skin from the visible impacts of environmental stressors, including free radical damage. This synergy of mitigating problems both before and after they occur makes vitamin C a force to be reckoned with.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
2020’s BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS WITH THE ORDINARY, CLINIQUE, BEAUTY STAT & MORE!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
With the understanding that Vitamin C can be a real game changer for your skin health (and your complexion!), let’s take a look at five of the best Vitamin C serums, lotions and even a dope mask that I’ve been crushing on over the last several weeks.
Meet one of my favorite Vitamin C skincare products for SS21, shot by Antonio…
Photo credit: ©2021 Antonio Jefferson, Antonio Jefferson Studios
Wander Beauty | Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate
New Vitamin C serums are always my favorite skincare discoveries. It literally feels like Christmas when I get my hands on one. I was so honored to be among the first to experience Wander Beauty’s new Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate. I’ve been using it now off and on for the better part of the last two months and as the weather has warmed up, I’ve found myself reaching for Sight C-er as my daily moisturizer.
In fact, I’ve reached for several Wander Beauty products this past year. Among my absolute faves is the Wander Beauty Do Not Disturb Overnight Repair Concentrate — one of the least irritating Retinol serums I’ve come across. I’m no fan of Retinol as it just doesn’t play well with my skin and Wander Beauty’s Do Not Disturb is one of the best Retinol creams for sensitive skin.
Do Not Disturb is powered by Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate (HPR), more commonly known as Granactive Retinoid — the form used in the super popular The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 5% in Squalane. HPR is one of the most effective OTC forms of the family of retinoids. It’s known to have efficacy on par with Retinoic Acid (aka Tretinoin or Retin-A) — but without the irritation.
PRODUCT REVIEW: WANDER BEAUTY DO NOT DISTURB OVERNIGHT REPAIR CONCENTRATE - BEST RETINOL FACE CREAM
So I had high expectations for the Wander Beauty Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate. It’s met my expectations — and more. Honestly, it’s just a genius product, beginning with the name itself. As a copywriter who specializes in naming products, I love a good product name and I wish I’d thought of it myself!
Sight C-er is a brightening and antioxidant powerhouse with a blend of Vitamin C in the form of Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate and Vitamin C’s BFF Niacinamide — part of Wander’s proprietary C-Suite complex. Composed of six potent actives, the blend also includes moisturizing Squalane and Vitamin E, brightening Kakadu Plum Extract, and seven forms of Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate skin and prevent trans-epidermal water loss.
Do Vitamin C and Niacinamide Go Together?
With the combination of Vitamin C and Niacinamide in the Wander Beauty Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate, you may be wondering if the two work in combination. Well, contrary to the urban myth that Vitamin C and Niacinamide don’t play well together, Viamin C actually loves Niacinamide. There is a huge misunderstanding that the two powerful antioxidant vitamins somehow deactivate one another or worse, cause irritation.
It’s time to put that myth to rest.
There’s an excellent article from the Paula’s Choice Research Team titled, Can Niacinamide and Vitamin C Be Used Together? — available on the brand’s site to read in full here. This is what I found most salient:
The studies showing incompatibility between niacinamide and vitamin C date back to the early 1960s (yes, that far). These studies were off from the start because they used non-stabilized forms of both ingredients, whereas both ingredients are typically stabilized when used in modern-day cosmetics formulas.
Niacinamide is a pretty “tough” ingredient; light and air don’t have the same effect on it as they do on antioxidants like vitamin C. What’s important for niacinamide is that the product be formulated at a pH that’s close to neutral. Vitamin C (pure ascorbic acid), on the other hand, does best in a low-pH (acidic) environment. However, nicotinic acid—the undesirable by-product of niacinamide and vitamin C—becomes an issue only when the niacinamide and vitamin C are combined in a high-temperature environment for a long time. That temperature is higher than you’d find in most at-home scenarios, including leaving a box of skin care products sitting outside in the sun for a couple of days.
Also, it’s important to point out that this concern applies only to pure vitamin C, not to its many other forms (such as magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and ascorbyl glucoside). So, to reiterate, combining ascorbic or l-ascorbic acid with niacinamide is fine.
In short, any studies that show a definite issue from combining niacinamide and vitamin C were conducted in an environment that does not reflect what average skin care products experience during development, manufacturing, or in real-world storage and usage.
Photo credit: ©2021 Antonio Jefferson, Antonio Jefferson Studios
So yes, use your Vitamin C and Niacinamide serums in the same routine, any time you want. And if you can get the power pair in a well-formulated product like the Wander Beauty Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate that’s even better — and more convenient.
Wander’s Sight C-er has a super lightweight texture that’s more like a velvety milky serum — and it’s quite easy to layer. It’s also super comfortable on skin and melts right in. There’s even an ever-so-subtle iridescent hue that gives the complexion an instant radiance boost. It’s nearly invisible but I like that barely discernible glow. My complexion just looks a touch healthier.
Again, with its non-fragrant plant oils and humectants, Sight C-er makes a perfectly effective moisturizer for oily skin — or all skin types in warmer weather.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Wander Beauty Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate for $42 here.
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
MY 2021 VITAMIN C PICKS + THE BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS TO BRIGHTEN UP THE COMPLEXION!
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
WATCH MY VIDEO REVIEW
AMPING UP THE BRIGHTENING WITH ALGENIST FOR SELFCARE SUNDAY
ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE
Orpheus always takes his morning vitamins!
The Ingredient List of the Wander Beauty Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate:
Water, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Triethylhexanoin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Vinyl Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Behenyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate-13, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyisobutene, Sorbitan Isostearate,citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 60, Disodium Edta, Tin Oxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Potassium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer.
The Ingredient List of the Glossier Super Glow Vitamin C + Magnesium Serum:
sb|aox, Propanediol solv|h, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Glyceryl Stearate SE emu 2 3, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride emo, Cetyl Alcohol emo|emu|vc|surf 2 2, Glycerin 
sii|h 0 0, Magnesium Pca h, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil emo 0 0-2, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter emo|vc, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil emo 0 0, Evodia Rutaecarpa Fruit Extract , Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol solv, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate emu, Betaine h, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Xanthan Gum vc, Caprylhydroxamic Acid chelThe Ingredient List of the Beautycounter Counter+ All Bright C Serum:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Propanediol, Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate*, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate*, Pentylene Glycol, Coconut Alkanes, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract†, Curcumin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Phytic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate, Citrus Nobilis (Mandarin Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Decanal, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Ionone, Ethyl Lactate, Vanillin, Isoamyl Acetate, Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate, Methoxyphenylbutanone, Dec-9-en-2-one, Dimethylhydroxy Furanone, Ethyl Propionate, Ethyl Cinnamate, Hexenyl Acetate, Triethyl Citrate, Benzyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate. Citral+, Limonene+, Linalool+
*Vitamin C | †Camu Camu Extract | + Naturally occurring in essential oils & natural materials as defined by International Organization for Standardization
The Ingredient List of the Kat Burki Retin-C Treatment Complex:
KB5 Complex (Arnica Montana (Arnica), Centella Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Matricaria Recutita (Chamomile)), Hamamelis Virginiana Water (Witch Hazel), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Extract (Botanical Hyaluronic Acid), Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil (Borage), Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil (Tamanu Oil), Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil (Flax Seed Oil), Oenothera Biennis Oil (Evening Primrose Oil), Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil (Jojoba Oil), Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil (Grapeseed Oil), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Rovisome Retinol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea), Propolis Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract (Horsetail), Geranium Maculatum Extract (Geranium), Taraxacum Officinale Extract (Dandelion), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Polysorbate 20, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol (Preservative, less than 1%), Ethylhexylglycerin (Preservative, less than 1%), Natural Fragrance, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene
The Ingredient List of the Algenist Blue Algae Vitamin C Dark Spot Correcting Peel:
sii|h 0 0, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil aox|emo 0 0-2, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil emo 0 0, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil emo, Glycolic Acid exf|buff, Gluconolactone exf|chel, Polyglyceryl-10 Behenate/Eicosadioate emu, Aminomethyl Propanol buff, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) aox|sb|buff, Mandelic Acid exf|amic, Glyceryl Behenate/Eicosadioate emo|emu, Oleth-5 emu 2 3, Alpha-Bisabolol so, Menthoxypropanediol, Spirulina Platensis Extract, Algae Exopolysaccharides h, Citric Acid buff, Azelaic Acid aacne|so|buff, Tranexamic Acid sb, Malic Acid exf|buff, Salicylic Acid exf|aacne|so|pres, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate so|h, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) aox 0 0, Tanacetum Annuum (Blue Tansy) Flower Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil 
amic|perf, Sodium Hyaluronate sii|h 0 0, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract emo, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract aox|so|sb|perf, Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil emo 0 0-2, Tocopherol (Vitamin E) aox 0-3 0-3, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Glyceryl Stearate SE emu 2 3, Sodium Citrate chel|buff, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax perf|vc, Candelilla Cera emo 0 1, Behenyl Alcohol emo|vc, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate emu, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Water solv, Phenoxyethanol pres
