Vibriance is a brand that describes itself as “Where Science Meets Skincare” and their most popular product is their Super C Serum. The brand describes this serum as an “all-in-one hydrating serum that targets age spots, wrinkles, & more.”
But does topical vitamin C actually improve skin quality? Does Vibriance’s serum have other research-backed ingredients proven to have an anti-aging effect, or are these just marketing claims? Does the product have any unhealthy additive ingredients? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of Vibriance Super C Serum?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review every ingredient in Vibriance Super C Serum based on clinical studies to give our take on whether the product is likely to have an anti-aging effect or if it’s a waste of money.
We’ll highlight some questionable ingredients in the formulation and share real, unsponsored user reviews of the product. We’ll start by highlighting some questionable marketing claims and business practices related to the brand.
Questionable Business Practices
Vibriance claims on their product page that “our unique vitamin C extract is shown in studies to produce far better results than standard vitamin C.”
We can’t find any evidence of this, and this claim is uncited.
The type of vitamin C used by Vibriance is called 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. This ingredient has been shown in a clinical trial to have an anti-aging effect at a concentration of 30%, but Vibriance doesn’t publish its concentration so we can’t determine whether the brand uses an effective dose.
We cannot identify any clinical studies comparing this ingredient to standard vitamin C or proving it’s more effective. It’s a huge red flag when companies make uncited health claims, and we recommend that consumers avoid brands that do.
The brand also fails to publish the full ingredient list at the top of the page by the product images. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and expand a button titled “What Is The Full Ingredient List?”
We do not consider this to be a transparent way to publish ingredients. High-quality skincare brands will typically publish the ingredient list right at the top of the page, above-the-fold, because this is some of the most important information for potential consumers.
Ingredient Review
Other than the vitamin C derivative that we already determined to be potentially effective, Vibriance Super C Serum contains several other research-backed, anti-aging ingredients.
Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, which was described as a “skin rejuvenating biomedicine” in a 2018 medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles.
Caffeine is another effective ingredient, as a clinical trial published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that topical application of caffeine can reduce skin damage during UV ray exposure.
Panthenol is a type of vitamin B5 that was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science to significantly improve skin moisture content, making it an effective hydrating ingredient.
Acetyl glucosamine is another clinically proven skin moisturizing ingredient.
Unfortunately, there are also a few ingredients in this formulation we recommend avoiding.
Triethanolamine is a pH balancing ingredient shown in animal studies to be toxic, as we documented in our review of another skincare serum containing this compound called Perbelle CC Cream.
Phenoxyethanol is a common synthetic preservative found in a clinical trial to be toxic to human cells, and Vibriance Super C Serum contains another synthetic preservative called ethylhexylglycerin (which we consider to be a better choice).
Overall, we consider this product to be likely effective for anti-aging given the numerous effective ingredients. We don’t recommend it due to the inclusion of triethanolamine and the synthetic preservatives, but we do consider this product to be better-formulated and better-priced (at $49) than the majority of anti-aging serums we’ve reviewed on Illuminate Health.
Vibriance Super C Serum Real, Unsponsored User Review
One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Vibriance Super C Serum comes from a creator named Beaux Beauty Blog. She reviews the scent, the aesthetic effects and some of the ingredients in an informative overview:
Vibriance Super C Real Customer Reviews
Vibriance Super C is sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
The top positive review from a verified purchaser comes from a user named “carolyn phillips” who claims that the product had an anti-aging effect:
“This product functions well for my skin. After 1 week's use, the skin around my eyes is plumped and wrinkles are less noticeable. My lip lines are softer looking too. Very moisturizing on my 65 years old skin!”
The top negative review from a verified purchaser is written by a user named “Bonnie” who claims the product caused side effects:
“With the first application, my skin broke out with large red blotches on both cheeks. Needless to say, it is being returned. BE CAREFUL. I can't find any information on the percentage of Vitamin C in this product.”
Where to Buy Vibriance Super C Serum
Vibriance Super C Serum is currently sold both on the brand’s website and on Amazon. The serum is not currently sold at Target, Walmart or other major retailers.
Here are the links for consumers interested in purchasing. The prices are the same:
Brand website: $47 (link here)
Amazon: $47 (link here)
Our Clean Skincare Picks
There are skincare products that contain ingredients shown in clinical trials to be effective for reducing wrinkles and improving skin quality generally.
Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum is our top skin cream pick because of its effective and clean formulation. It contains hyaluronic acid which was described as a "skin-rejuvenating biomedicine" in a medical review due to its ability to reduce wrinkles and signs of facial aging.
Interested consumers can check out Annie Mak Vitamin C Serum at this link to the product page on the official brand's website.
Hydraglow is our top moisturizer pick. It features bakuchiol as an active ingredient which was described in a 2014 clinical trial as "clinically proven to have anti-aging effects."
Interested consumers can purchase Hydraglow at the secure checkout below:
The only oral supplement we recommend for skin quality improvement is Bulletproof Collagen Powder.
Oral collagen supplementation was shown in a medical review published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology to improve visible signs of skin aging as well as improve skin elasticity and skin hydration.
Interested consumers can check out Bulletproof Collagen Powder at this link to the product page on the brand's official website.
None of the products recommended in this section contain additive ingredients that we consider questionable from a health perspective.
