Sunday Riley C.E.O Rapid Flash Brightening Serum Review

TL;DR:

It's like a S.A.D lamp for my skin — brightening and winter-proofing (tonally-speaking).

Vitamin C serums are a dime a dozen. There are a handful of types of vitamin C and they all have way too many letters in their names and why do there need to be so many? I just want nice glowing skin! Not a spelling bee nightmare! The cheeky C.E.O name of Sunday Riley's serum implies that there is more than just the one vitamin (c) — there's also an E and O, mysteriously enough, in there. Actually the C in question here — tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate — is considered the "gold standard" stable form of vitamin C which brightens and evens out skin tone.

But really, this serum is a lightweight emulsion that smells vaguely citrusy and absorbs nicely into my skin. I have an olive skin tone that's prone to hyperpigmentation so I'm always hawk-eyeing any spot that comes from picking at zits or any other kinds of spot-causing skin trauma (they stick around foreverrrrrrr). I always have some sort of brightening serum/skin-care product on hand for that reason. Chemical exfoliators, essences, spot treatments — I am on that shit.

This serum's main agenda is about brightening, but it also has glycolic acid (for exfoliating!) and saccharide isomerate extract (for pore-polishing!) so it gives you a kind of 360 experience. I mean, technically all those things contribute to brighter skin, so consider it a package deal in making skin look like very nice fancy skin.

All I can vouch for with this baby is that using it for two weeks has gradually evened out a couple acne battle wounds and contributed to softer and smoother skin texture. Not bad for an ingredient I can barely pronounce, let alone spell.

For normal to dry skin types, I imagine this would suit nicely since it has a richer texture than the general serum, making it a great fall and winter serum in your skin-care line-up. I consider it like one of those S.A.D. lamps... but for my skin tone.