
Is it price investing in a vitamin C serum that goes dangerous earlier than you will have the possibility to complete the bottle? I get this query rather a lot. So a lot of you will have purchased Skinceuticals CE Ferulic or considered one of its many dupes solely to finish up with an unusable serum after a number of brief weeks. Certainly, there have to be a greater various on the market?
Right here’s the deal: it’s not that these serums are dangerous. It’s vitamin C that’s as finicky AF. It oxidises (i.e. loses a little bit of its effectiveness) each time it’s uncovered to gentle, warmth and air and doesn’t final that lengthy in water both.
This guidelines out something that is available in jars. Tubes and bottles fare higher however then Vitamin C’s in a sea of water. If you wish to take that out, it’s worthwhile to exchange it with silicones (The Atypical Vitamin C 30% In Silicones and Certainly Labs Vitamin c24 work like this), however these are a no-go zone for lots of people too.
Isn’t there a greater manner? Like, what should you may add a little bit of vitamin C to your serums every day so it’d by no means get in touch with its enemies? Let me introduce you to Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder, a vitamin C powder that means that you can do exactly that. However is it actually a greater approach to get your every day dose of Vitamin C or does this strategy comes with a catch or two, too? I’ve put it to the check to search out out:
Key Substances In Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder: What Makes It Work?
L-ASCORBIC ACID TO FIGHT PREMATURE AGING
Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder is 99.8% Ascorbic Acid powder (should you’re curious, the remainder is a mixture of amino acids, minerals and anti inflammatory components). Ascorbic Acid is the pure type of vitamin C. It’s the best but in addition essentially the most irritating and unstable (it goes dangerous manner ahead of different vitamin C derivatives). Right here’s what it does to your pores and skin:
That’s when it’s lively. As quickly because it turns brown (it’s the color of dying for vitamin C), all these advantages are gone. That’s why Philosophy solely provides you the powder. Away from gentle, air, warmth and water, it lasts A LOT longer.
Associated: My Vitamin C Serum Has Turned Brown! Can I Nonetheless Use It?
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The Relaxation Of The Components & Substances
NOTE: The colors point out the effectiveness of an ingredient. It’s ILLEGAL to place poisonous and dangerous components in skincare merchandise.
- Inexperienced: It’s efficient, confirmed to work, and helps the product do the very best job to your pores and skin.
- Yellow: There’s not a lot proof it really works (not less than, but).
- Crimson: What is that this doing right here?!
- Panthenol: A humectant with soothing properties. It attracts water from the air into your pores and skin to maintain it hydrated and reduces irritation.
- Zinc PCA: It hydrates pores and skin and reduces sebum manufacturing to forestall pimples.
- Copper PCA: A humectant that entice moisture from the air into your pores and skin, protecting it hydrated for longer.
- Camellia Oleifera Leaf Juice: Derived from inexperienced tea, it’s loaded with antioxidants which have each wrinkle-fighting and soothing properties. They neutralise free radicals earlier than they wreak their harm in your pores and skin and cut back UV-induced irritation.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate: Derived from licorice, this extract has soothing properties that cut back irritations. In greater doses, it may well additionally lighten darkish spots.
- Arginine: An amino acid naturally current in your physique that has each hydrating and antioxidant properties.
- Cysteine: An antioxidant that helps stop and struggle wrinkles.
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice: Hydrating and soothing, it makes pores and skin softer and plumper and reduces irritations.
Texture
Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder is a powder. Nothing extra must be mentioned about it.
Perfume
It’s fragrance-free. Once more, it’s only a powder, so not room for a lot perfume.
How To Use It
You combine it along with your fave water-based serum or moisturiser. I like to recommend an antioxidant serum, particularly one with each ferulic acid and vitamin E. They’re generally known as community antioxidants as a result of they make one another simpler.
However don’t combine it suddenly. Nope, you will need to combine a brand new batch every day. In any other case, you’re simply defeating the aim of utilizing vitamin C in powder type. You pour a number of drops of your fave serum/cream within the palm of your hand, add 1/2-1 scoop of the facility and apply it to your face.
I’ll be trustworthy. For me, it’s an excessive amount of work. I like merchandise which might be prepared to make use of. If I’ve to combine them every day, I received’t do it. However perhaps you’re the DIY sort and like to make your vitamin C serum each morning. It appears straightforward sufficient. What may go unsuitable?
Associated: What Are The Greatest Antioxidant Serums?
Packaging
The powder is saved in a small, darkish bottle. It comes with a small spatula that makes it simpler to manage the dose.
Downside #1: Greater Potential For Irritation
L-Ascorbic Acid isn’t simply finicky AF. It’s additionally irritating as hell. That’s why derms let you know to begin with a small focus and work your manner up. Or use a by-product (they’re much less efficient, however gentler). Now, whenever you combine the powder, it’s possible you’ll unintentionally combine an excessive amount of at a time. And that’ll sting your pores and skin actual dangerous.
However, how have you learnt the precise quantity of Vitamin C your pores and skin can tolerate? In case your pores and skin’s fairly resistant otherwise you’ve already labored your manner up, there’s no must panic. This powder might be secure for you, even should you combine a bit an excessive amount of (simply don’t do it every day!). Anybody else, begin with a low dose and work your manner there. And when you’ve got delicate pores and skin, it’s possible you’ll not be capable of use all of it. L-Ascorbic Acid and delicate pores and skin don’t all the time get alongside, sorry!
FYI: I’m not providing you with the precise quantity of vitamin C powder to combine right here as a result of it’s pointless. It is determined by how resistant/delicate your pores and skin sort is, how a lot serum/cream you’re utilizing with it, your measuring gadget and so on. Simply experiment to search out out what works for YOU.
Associated: Can You Use A Vitamin C Serum If You Have Delicate Pores and skin?
Downside #2: Improper pH
Vitamin C works solely at an acidic pH. Meaning a pH decrease than 3.5. Go too excessive and it received’t work. Go too low (decrease than 2.8) and it’ll irritate your pores and skin. Now, whenever you combine L-Ascorbic Acid with one thing, something, you’re altering the pH. Mixing the powder with water solely, for instance, will drop the pH to 2.5!
So whenever you’re mixing it along with your fave serum/cream, how have you learnt the pH is correct for vitamin C to work its magic? On the very least, get a bunch of pH strips to verify your concoction has a pH between 2.8-3.4. In any other case, it’s possible you’ll undergo all this bother for nothing!
Associated: Combine And Match: The Skincare Substances You Shouldn’t Use Collectively

Efficiency & Private Opinion
Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder works – there’s little question about that. It does every thing a superb Vitamin C serum ought to: it makes pores and skin brighter, helps fade away the darkish spots pimples go away behind and, in the long term, slows down untimely growing old, too. Plus, it mixes properly with a wide range of serums and moisturisers. I’ve by no means skilled any grittiness or piling with it.
I simply don’t like the thought of DIY merchandise. I’ve learn critiques of people that had a nasty case of irritation after utilizing this – just because they used an excessive amount of powder! If you wish to use it, positively err on the facet of warning. Should you use too little, you’ll be able to all the time add extra subsequent time.
Associated: The Full Information To Vitamin C In Skincare: What It Is, What It Does, And How To Use It
How Does Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder Evaluate To Different Vitamin C Merchandise From Philosophy?
Vitamin C has discovered its manner, in a single type or one other, in a lot of Philosophy’s merchandise. Do you have to go for considered one of them as a substitute? Let’s examine them and discover out:
- Philosophy Anti-Wrinkle Miracle Employee+ Line-Correcting Moisturizer ($74.00): This moisturiser has 3 types of Vitamin C, however none of them is current in a excessive sufficient dose to brighten the complexion. It’s only a light-weight moisturiser for mixture pores and skin that makes pores and skin softer and smoother. Out there at Philosophy, Sephora, and Ulta.
- Philosophy Anti-Wrinkle Miracle Employee+ Line-Correcting In a single day Cream ($79.00): Just like the day cream, it has 3 types of Vitamin C, however none is potent sufficient to brightens pores and skin. It’s a richer cream and has its fair proportion of soothing components. Out there at Philosophy, Sephora, and Ulta.
- Philosophy Dose Of Knowledge™ Bouncy Pores and skin Reactivating Serum ($68.00): This serum guarantees to revive vitality, however which means nothing. It has Vitamin C within the by-product type of 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, however unlikely in excessive sufficient dose that really works. Depart this one on the shelf.
- Philosophy Purity Made Easy Extremely-Gentle Moisturizer ($34.00): A light-weight moisturiser that packs a hydrating punch for softer pores and skin with out breakouts. The by-product of Vitamin C it makes use of is sufficient to struggle free radiclas, however received’t brighten pores and skin. Out there at Look Incredible, Philosophy, and Ulta.
- Philosophy The Microdelivery Resurfacing Answer ($45.00): A delicate exfoliant enriched with a Vitamin C derivate to brighten and smoothen the complexion. I like to recommend it to first time exfoliating acid customers solely. Out there at Look Incredible, Philosophy and Ulta.
- Philosophy Turbo Booster B3 Powder ($40.00): Similar concepts as this Vitamin C powder, nevertheless it’s a niacinamide powder. Niacinamide brightens, hydrates, soothes, fights wrinkles and treats pimples. However there’s no cause to make use of it in powder type. However not less than it has L-Ascorbic Acid, essentially the most highly effective type of Vitamin C. Out there at Philosophy.
- Philosophy When Hope Is Not Sufficient Facial Firming Serum ($49.00): There’s nothing in right here that may agency pores and skin. The type of Vitamin C is a little-studied by-product, so don’t anticipate a lot from it. Depart this on the shelf.
What I Like About Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder
- Makes pores and skin softer and brighter
- Doesn’t go dangerous shortly
- Perfume-free
- Bottle comes with a spatula
What I Like About Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder
- Making an efficient DYI Vitamin C serum is difficult. You threat making a method that’s both too irritating or not efficient sufficient.
- Not appropriate for delicate pores and skin.
Who Ought to Use This?
DIY varieties who’re uninterested in Vitamin C serums that go dangerous after a number of weeks. When you’ve got delicate pores and skin or don’t like mixing your skincare merchandise, this isn’t for you.
Does Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder Dwell Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM | TRUE? |
---|---|
Give pores and skin a every day increase of vitamin c with our 99.8% topical vitamin c powder for face and neck. | True. |
Acts as an antioxidant to assist defend pores and skin in opposition to environmental assault and stop untimely growing old. | True. |
Value & Availability
$42.00 at Philosophy and Ulta
The Verdict: Ought to You Purchase It?
Should you’re uninterested in your vitamin C serums going dangerous too quickly, it’s tempting to change to a powder type of vitamin C like Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder. However this strategy is difficult. It’s good to make a brand new batch every day and experiment with each dosage and pH to finish up with a very efficient method. Get it provided that you’re keen to do all that.
Dupes & Options
- The Atypical 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder (£6.30): This powder comprises L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and nothing else. It doesn’t profit from the additional antioxidants Philosophy has, however has the identical drawbacks. It’s a extra reasonably priced approach to check Vitamin C powders, although. Out there at Magnificence Bay, Cult Magnificence, Sephora, SpaceNK and The Atypical.
Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Zinc PCA, Copper PCA, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Juice, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Arginine, Cysteine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice