PRODUCT REVIEW: BUBBLE DAY DREAM VITAMIN C + NIACINAMIDE TONE AND TEXTURE SERUM - BEST VITAMIN C SERUM FOR OILY SKIN, BEST BRIGHTENING SERUM WITH NIACINAMIDE
BUBBLE | DAY DREAM VITAMIN C + NIACINAMIDE TONE AND TEXTURE SERUM
My most recent deep dive into Vitamin C serums was earlier in the year in an article titled, The Best Fresh Activated Vitamin C Serums to Get Your Complexion Lit in the New Year - Drunk Elephant C-Firma, Clinique Fresh Pressed, Goop Glow 20% Vitamin C Glow Serum.
If you missed it, you can catch it on the blog here.
I’m a long-time fan of Drunk Elephant’s iconic original C-Firma Vitamin C serum. And I never imagined that the brand could make it any better than it already was. But they did just that with the C-Firma Fresh Day Serum — a freshly activated version and one of the best fresh Vitamin C serums I’ve come across.
Similarly, the goop beauty GOOPGLOW 20% Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Glow Serum is a superbly pro-skin health antioxidant hydrating serum. Both are relatively costly for Vitamin C serums with the GOOPGLOW 20% Vitamin C priced at $125.
PRODUCT REVIEW: DRUNK ELEPHANT C-FIRMA FRESH DAY SERUM - BEST VITAMIN C SERUM, BEST BRIGHTENING SERUM
As I’ve said on multiple occasions, if you’re going to pay a lot for a skincare product, it should at least be a good one! And both the Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Fresh Day Serum and goop beauty GOOPGLOW 20% Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Glow Serum are quite well-formulated Vitamin C serums.
But you don’t need to spend $100 on a Vitamin C brightening serum — unless you really want to! I’m always on the hunt for the best anti-aging serums with antioxidants like Vitamin C and Niacinamide. And when they are affordable, I get really, really excited.
At just $17, the new Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum is the perfect brightening serum that combines pro-skin health actives like Vitamin C and an affordable price that makes it accessible to a lot more people. It also happens to be one of the best Vitamin C serums for oily and acne-prone skin.
I’ve been playing around with Bubble’s Day Dream brightening face serum over the last several weeks and have to say it’s become a go-to of mine for the summer.
Why? Well, for me summer means lighter textures, refreshing serums and lots of antioxidants! Here in NYC, I’m outside more when it’s warm and in addition to sunscreen, I want light, easily layered serums powered by Vitamin C, Niacinamide and hydrators. Antioxidants like Vitamin C and Niacinamide are key to protecting your skin from environmental damage, brightening your complexion, and keeping your pores clear in high humidity weather — essential for skin health in the summer heat.
The Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum is the perfect blend of all of those in a super lightweight, refreshing texture that’s literally everything on a summer day.
Want to brighten your dull complexion? Day Dream is packed with brightening actives. Among these are a 20% concentration of Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, a form of Vitamin C that’s ideal for oily and acne-prone skin.
That makes it ideal for everyone on a hot, humid day.
According to the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team: “There is research showing amounts of 1% and 5% concentrations of sodium ascorbyl phosphate can influence factors linked to breakouts, likely due to its skin soothing effect. Thus, this form of vitamin C may be an effective adjunct to anti-acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.”
And yes, Salicylic Acid is your BFF in the summer heat for keeping pores fresh and clear.
In addition to Vitamin C for brightening the skin, there’s Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid and Licorice Root Extract. Alpha-Arbutin is hot in skincare right now. Considered to be a power-brightener for treating hyperpigmentation, it’s on par with hydroquinone. I’m somewhat amazed that Bubble included it in the Day Dream formula.
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What Is Arbutin and What Does Alpha Arbutin Do to the Skin?
All skin types can benefit from antioxidant Vitamin C. If a Vitamin C serum is light and water-based like the Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum, it’s more easily layered into any skincare routine.
There’s an excellent, thoroughly sourced breakdown of the unique benefits of Arbutin and its most common form, including Alpha-Arbutin, from the experts on the Paula’s Choice Research Team that you can catch on the brand’s website here. This is what I found most insightful:
Arbutin is antioxidant that may be derived from plants (most commonly the bearberry plant) or made in a lab. The plant-derived form is known as beta-arbutin and the synthetic forms are alpha-arbutin and deoxyarbutin. Each is backed by research for addressing hyperpigmentation issues (i.e. fading dark spots and other discolorations), as well as improving skin’s overall radiance.
Arbutin’s main benefit comes from the fact that it naturally breaks down into hydroquinone (which is known to inhibit excess melanin). This allows it to even out skin tone and minimize blotchy/patchy spots that are caused by factors such as unprotected sun exposure.
Studies have shown the synthetic derivatives alpha-arbutin and deoxyarbutin are more effective in this regard than the pure natural form of beta-arbutin due to having better stability, longer efficacy, and no risk of sensitivity when exposed to human skin cells. As a raw material, arbutin comes in powder form, with a colorless to faint yellow appearance.
The Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety recognizes up to a 2% concentration of alpha-arbutin and 7% concentration of beta-arbutin as safe in facial skin care products.
The Best Vitamin C Serums and Face Creams
The Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum also contains a superb cocktail of ceramides and botanicals that moisturize and hydrate skin to prevent TEWL. If you have oilier skin, Day Dream even can double as your moisturizer, too!
I’m literally infatuated with its light and refreshing texture. It melts right into my skin and is quite easily layered into any skincare routine.
If you’re looking for an affordable Vitamin C serum, or if you have oily and acne-prone skin, the Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum is perfect for you.
The Best Brightening Serums
What I like about it: The Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum is one of the best Vitamin C serums for the price. At just $17, you really can’t do much better than this one. I love its blend of antioxidants, many of which do double duty to brighten the complexion and protect the skin from environmental damage.
What I don’t like about it: I really like everything about this Vitamin C serum for face.
Who it’s for: All skin types, especially oily, very oily and and acne-prone skin.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum for $17 here.
The Ingredient List of the Bubble Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone and Texture Serum:
Water (Aqua), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Alpha-Arbutin, Tranexamic Acid, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide AS, Cholesterol, Ceramide NS, Ceramide EOP, Xanthan Gum, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sucrose Distearate, Phenoxyethanol.
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