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Splurge: Vitamin C Serum
There's a reason why so many beauty products give vitamin C top billing. This powerhouse antioxidant helps brighten skin and protect against wrinkles and fine lines. Since it neutralizes skin-damaging free radicals, a vitamin C-packed serum means you're working on your skin both present and future. This 10% vitamin C serum contains three forms of vitamin C for triple the antioxidant power. That explains the price tag, but it also means a stronger attack on discoloration and fine lines.
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Save: Vitamin C Serum
Even if you can't opt for the black diamond-level version, vitamin C should still be on your roster for protecting against sun damage and wrinkles. Mad Hippie's cult classic contains konjac root, grapefruit, and chamomile extracts to help soothe and brighten the skin. Notice the product name here isn't something like Glowing Radiant Intensity Fortifying Serum? That's because they're straightforward about what this serum has to offer: Vitamin C-based skin protection with all-natural active ingredients.
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Splurge: Serum for Wrinkles
If anti-aging is your skin concern, a retinol serum should be the first ingredient on your skin care must-have list. As you work your way up to a prescription-strength retinoid, a more gentle retinol serum is a great place to start. This serum is infused with hyaluronic acid, so you'll avoid the flakiness and irritation that can come from a retinol-based product and go straight to smoother skin.
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Save: Serum for Wrinkles
You don't necessarily have to drop top dollar or deal in unpronounceable ingredients to tackle fine lines. Neutrogena's take on an anti-aging serum combines ingredients we love like hyaluronic acid, retinol SA, and a glucose formula for an "accelerated" assault on fine lines. If you're looking to drop a few years in time for your high school reunion, this just might be your best bet.
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Splurge: Serum for Lifting
It's the plain truth that as we age, skin becomes less elastic. But firmness isn't just a sign of youth or a recent facelift -- keeping skin healthy and moisturized can help reverse this classic sign of aging. Ole Henriksen's serum contains collagen stimulators to rebuild firmness, while hyaluronic acid plumps up dry skin.
