Meet Your New Fave Vitamin C Serum: A SkinCeuticals Dupe at Only $49

If you’re already on the vitamin C serum bandwagon, you know just how effective this baby can be. Not only does this antioxidant brighten and hydrate the skin but it also helps to stimulate collagen production and reduce pigmentation. And, when you find a vitamin C serum that does wonders for your complexion, you tend to stick with it.

Well, that is until you meet the new and powerfully potent kid on the block. Australian brand Software, which is best known for its personalised prescription skincare that treats everything from acne to pigmentation and ageing, has launched its very own Vitamin C + Ferulic Serum. 

And, the best thing about this product is that it claims to be more effective than the cult favourite SkinCeuticals serum that every beauty influencer swears by, while also staying stable (which is no small feat in the land of vitamin C serums!). But, instead of having to fork out $228, Software’s Vitamin C + Ferulic Serum is $49 — a literal fraction of the price. 

Early reviews of the serum are extremely promising, with Jessica Wright from Melbourne writing, “I didn’t think anything could be better than the SkinCeuticals Vit C serum, but I’m a convert now! The smell is super fresh, it brightened my skin noticeably after one use, and it’s literally a fraction of the price. I’m sold for life.”

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For those using prescription-strength formulas (like retinoids), it’s best to wait until your skin has fully adjusted before introducing the Software Serum. Leave it for six to eight weeks before beginning to introduce it gradually — we don’t want you compromising your skin barrier by going in too quickly!

Now, let’s get into the good stuff. This newbie from Software is suited for all skin types and has been shown to particularly benefit oily, dry and sensitive skin. And the combination of vitamin C, a skin-protective antioxidant, and ferulic acid, is a real winner. 

Vitamin C works to reduce pigmentation and dark spots while stimulating collagen and providing protection to the skin barrier. Ferulic acid, on the other hand, is all about reducing the appearance of dull-looking skin while also boosting the work of vitamin C to help repair skin on a deep level. 

There are a few other star ingredients within the serum, including vitamin E, which works to protect the skin from environmentally-induced free radicals like UV and pollution, and alpha-lipoic acid — another antioxidant that helps to brighten skin tone and improve the appearance of fine lines. 

Software’s Vitamin C + Ferulic Serum slots easily into your morning skincare routine — simply apply four to five drops after cleansing and before moisturiser and SPF. The beauty of using both vitamin C and sunscreen in your routine is that it can actually boost your sun protection. 

“Studies have shown that using sunscreen with vitamin C protects the skin from further photodamage caused by ultra-violet rays,” Kim Chang, a medical aesthetician at Baylor College of Medicine, said.

“This information is important because most people don’t know that you can protect your skin even further than just sunscreen. Sunscreen can certainly protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays,” Chang said.

“However, adding vitamin C into your skincare regimen can protect you even further.”