Back in the ’80s or ’90s where face serum is probably unheard of, you are probably wondering how serums came into the picture and how it seems to be like a must-have in your collection of skincare products. And this often begs the question of whether the use of face serums is really necessary for the skin.
In my opinion, applying face serum is not a necessary skincare step unless you would like to target a particular skin concern. Otherwise, a simple cleanser and a moisturiser are basically all you’ll need for achieving healthy-looking skin.
What do face serums do for your skin?
Face Serum is actually a skincare product which you apply directly to your skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. Since Serum is made up of smaller molecules that can penetrate deeply into the skin, it can deliver a high concentration of active ingredients. Thus, this makes serums a great product to address specific skincare concerns such as dry skin, acne or wrinkles.
For instance, I myself have dry skin so I know that I need to use a serum with intense hydration properties to hydrate my skin. Depending on a hydrating moisturiser alone is not enough to alleviate my skin condition. But sadly, serums aren’t that cheap.
Serums can be pricey.
Because of the advanced science and technologies involved, serums often come with a hefty price tag. Typically, a 30-ml bottle of serum costs between $30 to $50. Higher-end serums can go up to as high as a hundred dollars. It’s rare to find quality serums that costs around $10. But I managed to source for such value-for-money skin serums on Althea, a K-beauty online marketplace. It’s called
And I just had to give a shout out here to anyone who is looking for affordable face serums that are rather effective in targeting certain skin concerns.
That under-$10 Face Serum
How I came across this life-saving, affordable Korean beauty brand called
Like any savvy online shopper, I often check out the best-selling products on the website and read the reviews to see if the product is worth the buy. While browsing for face serums, I discovered that one of
It’s Skin Power 10 Forumla VC Effector Serum
What caught my eye were the numerous positive reviews of their best-selling serum, the Power 10 Formula VC Effector serum (30 ml). And I just can’t say no to a best-selling serum that costs less than $10. Currently, it is only priced at $8.40 on Althea (but it’s sold out when I last checked!).
How effective is this face serum?
The three main ingredients in this serum are Vitamin C, Green Tea Extracts and castor oil. Thus, this serum mainly serves to hydrate and brighten the skin. But what I truly like about this serum is how lightweight and fast-absorbing it is.
As to whether it brightens my skin or lightens my spot, I can’t tell for sure but what I realised is that my skin felt so much more hydrated. Like many other reviewers, I find the experience of using this serum such a joy. Its citrusy scent is refreshing and very uplifting.
But I do notice the citrus scent gets lighter and lighter after some time. This is probably due to the fact that Vitamin C oxidises quickly. As such, I recommend that you should finish the bottle within one month after opening.
Is that all?
There are many other serums within It’s Skin Power 10 series but this bright yellow bottle proves to be the most popular one among them all. So, I decided to buy a few other serums from the same series to see if they are all equally good as well.
In addition to the serums, I’ve bought some other best-selling products on Althea which I’ve yet to try. There were some hits-and-misses.
The other face serums…
Surprisingly, the other serums work pretty well for my skin too. I’ve tried the Power 10 Formula GF Effector which comes in a bright blue bottle. It contains Gingko Biloba water and liquorice extracts that have hydrating and anti-aging properties. It really keeps my skin supple, soft and clear.
The moment I finish using the product, my skin starts to feel dry and taut. That’s how I know this serum is effective to some extent. But this serum is currently priced at $12.50, which costs slightly more than the Power 10 VC Effector serum.
Thank goodness, I still have three more bottles of serums left and I am excited to try them all. And if you’re looking for an affordable face serum, you can consider
Just remember that you don’t have to spend a bomb to get great skin.