Painted Earth Optimum 20% Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid Serum Review

Press Sample (Unaffiliated Links)

I have found that my skin really responds exceedingly well to potent Vitamin C based products, and have noted that the benefits are many. Among the chief changes that I noticed when I began using such products was a pronounced clarity, an evening of skin tone, and a reduction in hyperpigmentation associated with sun damage. When Painted Earth sent me their new Optimum 20% Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid I was beside myself with excitement (yes, it's true-- I am a skincare geek through and through, and such things really do excite me). Not only was I thrilled to be trying a 20% concentration of Vitamin C, but one so wisely enhanced by the wonders of the antioxidant-rich Ferulic Acid.

According to Painted Earth their Optimum 20% Vitamin C With Ferulic Acid Serum is,

A multitasking brightening day serum to target the face, eyes and lips to deliver an instant boost of radiance and a glowing complexion. Suspended in a concentrated base of pure vegan hyaluronic acid to plump skin cells and protect and restore.

A revolutionary topical antioxidant with a concentrated delivery system for the highest form of active, bio-available Vitamin C, Ferulic Acid and Vitamin E that provides unprecedented 50 times the free radical neutralizing power of prior generations and up to eight- fold antioxidant protection, ninety-six percent reduction of sunburn cells, and prevention of the formation of free radicals in sun exposed skin.

Ferulic acid, an antioxidant that doubles the synergistic benefits of C and E alone - neutralizing free radicals, building collagen, and providing improved antioxidant protection. No other antioxidant technology has been shown to deliver comparable levels of photo-protection.

Maximum anti-aging results - better than any one antioxidant alone, once absorbed, it can't be washed or rubbed off - excellent for use in conjunction with sunscreens. Helps prevent the formation of thymine dimers, sun induced DNA mutations which are the primary cause of melanomas in human beings.

My experience: Painted Earth Optimum 20% Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid Serum is a lightweight and fast absorbing potent serum that is an antioxidant packed anti-aging powerhouse due to the high concentration of Vitamin C used in conjunction with Ferulic Acid. Unlike many serums of this sort, this one is also designed to be used on the eye area and lips as well as the whole face, neck and décolleté. When I began my initial testing of this serum I stopped using my other serums and my Retin A for a period of about a month, in order to see how it worked, and to be able to evaluate product efficacy unencumbered by the other products that I tend to use.

One of the first things that I noticed was that the high concentration of Vitamin C neither stung, nor irritated the my delicate eye area. The watery texture lends itself to fast absorption, and leaves behind no greasy or sticky film. After a month of sustained use I noticed that my skin had a definite pronounced clarity and radiance. I cannot say whether or not it stimulated collagen production per se, but I can say that my skin appeared texturally more dense and taut. Perhaps the most pronounced change is the fact that it definitely began fading and breaking up a small colony of hyperpigmented spots on my décolleté that I sustained due to overexposure to the sun the summer before last (no, I wasn't intentionally basking in the sun, but I wasn't vigilant enough about moving the patio umbrella, nor did I reapply my sunscreen as often as I should have). That this serum has begun to fade those areas of hyperpigmentation in the period of a month gives me great hope that sustained use for a longer period of time will result in a far greater reduction in those sun spots. For this reason alone I find this to be a tremendously effective serum, but thankfully it also gives my skin greater clarity and radiance as well. Add to this that my skin appears more dense and more texturally smooth, and I am really thrilled by the results. I'm really looking forward to seeing what my skin looks and feels like in another couple of months.

N.B. As always I slather on lots of sunscreen and reapply it frequently, and I am even more vigilant about this when using highly active products like this one.

Benefits and Claims:

• Improves skin radiance and clarity.
• Stimulates collagen production.
• Jump starts cellular defenses.
• Helps extend cellular vitality.
• Promotes new cell growth.
• For Photo-aged or Photo-damaged skin.
• Repairs Hyper-pigmentation.

Suggested directions: "Every day after cleansing and toning, massage a thin layer over face, neck and chest. For optimal results, wait one minute for maximum absorption then follow with recommended Painted Earth moisturizer and sunblock."

Ingredients: Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), d-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), (2s)-2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

Overall assessment: I'm very happy with the results of this serum, and am thrilled to see it is already making quite an impact on my areas of sun damage. Additionally, it leaves my skin looking beautifully even in tone, radiant, and with a gorgeous taut appearance. I'm just thrilled with the results.

Painted Earth furnished the following scientific data:

Scientific Evidence of Topical Vitamin C and antioxidants Formulated with high performance actives Our collection of antioxidant serum contains high amounts of the Vitamin C in its Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C) molecular form. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is the most useful form of Vitamin C and is most effective in stimulating collagen synthesis and providing protection against ultraviolet sunlight. Vitamin C has been backed by reliable scientific evidence confirming its effectiveness as a topical agent. 1. Topical vitamin C: a useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatologic conditions. Farris PK. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Jul;31(7 Pt 2):814-7; discussion 818. 2. Topically applied vitamin C enhances the mRNA level of collagens I and III, their processing enzymes and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in the human dermis. Nusgens BV, Humbert P, Rougier A, Colige AC, Haftek M, Lambert CA, Richard A, Creidi P, Lapière CM. J Invest Dermatol. 2001 Jun;116(6):853-9. 3. Photoprotection of UV-irradiated human skin: an antioxidative combination of vitamins E and C, carotenoids, selenium and proanthocyanidins. Greul AK, Grundmann JU, Heinrich F, Pfitzner I, Bernhardt J, Ambach A, Biesalski HK, Gollnick H. Skin Pharmacol Appl Skin Physiol. 2002 Sep-Oct;15(5):307-15. 4. Topical ascorbic acid on photoaged skin. Clinical, topographical and ultrastructural evaluation: double-blind study vs. placebo. Humbert PG, Haftek M, Creidi P, Lapière C, Nusgens B, Richard A, Schmitt D, Rougier A, Zahouani H. Exp Dermatol. 2003 Jun;12(3):237-44. 5. Topical melatonin in combination with vitamins E and C protects skin from ultraviolet-induced erythema: a human study in vivo. Dreher F, Gabard B, Schwindt DA, Maibach HI. Br J Dermatol. 1998 Aug;139(2):332-9.

$95.00 for 1 oz. from Painted Earth (Unaffiliated Link).
Press Sample. All views expressed are categorically my own.
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