verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ After using the best Vitamin C serums, you'll notice your face looking brighter. It's also one of the best hyperpigmentation treatments that you can safely do at home. How does all of this brightening, protecting magic work exactly? Hyaluronic acid, of course,” says Hughes, of the ingredient that draws water into the skin, and an emollient (moisturising) element such as ceramides. “I’m obsessed with ceramides for your skin barrier, they’re great under make-up as well.” Beginners should ease in: Don't jump straight into 20% concentrations if your skin's not used to active ingredients, warns Dr Metreveli. "Those with more sensitive skin should start on a lower percentage, and gradually work their way up once the skin begins to tolerate it."

is what my son earns for babysitting - so when I was making the serum I thought about it representing an evening of childcare. Even if it’s too expensive you always make sure there’s something more affordable. I would hate for anyone to sacrifice anything." What’s your philosophy on ageing? Beauty expert and journalist Sali Hughes has teamed up with Revolution Skincare to create “a simple, low maintenance but active routine for busy beauty lovers... great skincare, made easy.” You do not need morning cleanser with mega cleansing capabilities because you’re just removing a bit of dust, a bit of sweat, a bit of skincare from last night,” says Hughes, who prefers a gel or cream formula that can be rinsed off or removed with a damp flannel or reusable cotton pad.Easily-irritated skin should proceed with caution, as you would when you're introducing any new product to your skincare routine for sensitive skin. After noticing how confusing skincare was becoming for consumers, Hughes, 47, decided to partner with affordable beauty brand Revolution on her first product range. You do what you can when you are at the less expensive side of the market. Everything is recyclable but one of the products has a pump which is impossible to recycle. The jars and tubs are made out of 50% post consumer plastic. It’s more sustainable to have a formula rather than single ingredients. We manufacture in the UK so the products don’t have to travel far and we are supporting local infrastructure. I was adamant that I wanted it made here." Finally - what’s your favourite product from the range? You don’t necessarily have to shell out on premium brands either – even the most powerful ingredients can be found in reasonably priced products – nor do you have to spend more than about five minutes in front of the mirror to get the job done.

No7 protect and perfect eye serum then Boots Collagen moisturiser with SPF 30. I then follow with a foundation with SPF factor 50. - I don't cleanse in the morning. If you haven't heard of Farmacy, this Vitamin C serum would be a perfect product to get to know the brand. Why? Because unless you are on a tight budget there's very little not to adore here.It contains 10% ascorbic acid, the most stable and powerful form of Vit C, and combines it with gentle exfoliant lactic acid plus alpha arbutin, another antioxidant, for extra skin-protecting powers. It also has a waterless base, which means that precious vitamin C won't be prematurely destabilized by the oxygen in H2O, while the airless pump bottle boosts this protection further. I've been blessed with good genes but I also have been a skincare anti aging addict since my early 20s and I'm 39 now. My skin looks great even if I do say so myself! I've used so many different things over the years but my current routine is I cleanse with superdrugs B melting cleansing balm, it's really gentle and great at removing mascara. I just use water and my hands. I then use an ordinary flannel to wash and gently exfoliate with warm water. I then use my Skin+Me which contains Tretinoin 0.027% (I got up to 0.03% but found it too strong , this strength works best for me) Niacinamide 4% and Azelaic acid 4%. I follow this with cerave or no7 protect and perfect after about 30mins once the skin+me has soaked in. I usually use skin+me 5 days out of 7 or I get irrigation on the 2 days I don't use it I use a barrier culture moisturiser by The Nice company. I sometimes use and eye serum but usually just use my moisturiser around my eyes.

Budgets aside, if you can afford to buy this, you should. It combines 15% gold standard stable Vitamin C with Vitamin E plus ferulic acid, another antioxidant that's known to boost the power and stability of Vit C when combined. You'll spot this trio of ingredients together a few times in this list, but just know that these guys did it first. There’s a wisdom and confidence that comes with ageing. It's not arrogance. Part of it is having children and you’re not prepared to take any nonsense and you become a tigress about things. I’ve had incredibly long friendships and that also gives me confidence - because I know that I am loved and understood and there’s a loyalty there and that makes me a stronger person. It’s still a work in progress." Who do you look up to and learn from? Many breakout-prone or combination types complain Vitamin C serums have a pore-clogging or heavy texture on the skin, but not Silymarin CF. It combines all your top antioxidants with salicylic acid, the most powerful skincare acid for clearing pores. Plus we get silymarin, another antioxidant derived from milk thistle that regulates oil production and the tinted dropper keeps everything inside fresh and active. The Must-C Daily Anytime Serum is a hydrating and brightening Vitamin C formula, that can be used in the morning and evening. SPF is not about weather, but it is about how much time you spend outside,” says Hughes, who varies her sunscreen according to how long she’ll be outside. “If I’m spending a lot of time outside, I use a dedicated sunscreen from a suncare company. If I’m not spending much time outside, I might use an SPF in my make-up. If I’m spending a little bit of time outside, I might use a moisturiser with an SPF in it.”

An award-winning health and beauty writer, stylist and creative director, Lisa Oxenham is one of the UK’s top beauty editors and the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK. With 20 years of editorial experience Lisa is a brand partnership expert, and a popular speaker, panelist and interviewer on a range of topics from sustainability to the future of beauty in the digital world. She recently spoke at Cognition X and Beauty Tech Live and is on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council’s Sustainable Beauty Coalition. I love being the age I am, I think it’s a privilege - I have had too many people go too early at a young age. There are a few things that I prefer five years ago - there’s not much I can do but always look after my skin. I get botox every six months. I do not understand people being angry with injectables. Look at our society that leads people into not wanting wrinkles. I’m learning so much from older women - like my family, but also female brand founders." How do you find confidence?CE Ferulic is never far from the top of any list of the best Vitamin C serums, and with good reason. SkinCeuticals are pioneers of antioxidant skincare and this is their hero product. In fact, the only thing keeping it off the top of this list is the price, which will be prohibitive to some. Meanwhile, those less cautious get in touch to say their skin is suffering - going red, flaring up, becoming too dry and sore or too oily. My friends straddle both camps, too. It’s madness to me that so many already overstretched women are being expected to combine skincare ingredients like some biochemist! Ascorbyl Glucoside: a stable form of 15% vitamin C that brightens, evens skin tone and provides antioxidant protection

First things first - the ampoules are biodegradable, which should assuage any environmental concern. The second thing to say is, naturally, individual dosing could not be more suited to Vitamin C as an ingredient, as every drop is kept safely away from light and air until it's going onto your face in fully active form. The capsules also contain ceramides, Arden's signature ingredient, which nourishes and rebuilds the skin's barrier function for soft, plump, protected skin. Sali says, “I've worked with great formulators, and proven active and supporting ingredients, to create a 100% cruelty-free and vegan-friendly core range of two cleansers, one exfoliant, one serum and two moisturisers, all fully compatible, to be applied in four simple steps over just four minutes.” Apply to clean skin after your daily exfoliant. Leave a few moments before layering moisturiser or sunscreen on top. Can be used nightly too.

I’m a prescription tretinoin [retinoic acid] user,” says Hughes. “So what I do is I use vitamin C [serum] in the morning, then a day cream, and then at night I don’t use the vitamin C, I use tretinoin.” I am a very curious person. If you have a journalist sensibility - you are on the outside of the room listening in. That’s a journalistic personality - I like to work people out and I’m very sensitive to temperament in the room and always thinking how is this person feeling. It’s also about being adaptable to the future. When the digital stuff happened - so many people in the industry were pissed off as they thought they were 'glossy editors'." You are also one of the most recognisable and authoritative names in the industry. Do you feel a sense of pressure that comes with that? Chances are, if you're a beauty obsessive, you'll know who Sali Hughes is. The beauty journalist, author and influencer is known for her fuss-free approach to skincare, so there was a big buzz when she launched her minimalist skincare range with the affordable brand Revolution.Even if you don't necessarily know who Hughes is, it's worth paying attention to her incredibly democratic, hardworking collection.