Prequel Skin Vitamin C Serum, L Ascorbic Acid Ferulic Acid Niacinamide Face

I have used a couple different vitamin C serums previously and after researching more, I found out they did not have L-asorbic acid nor the ferulic acid. I have several products from the prequel line and if you watch any of Dr. Ellis’s posts, she explains why she includes certain ingredients and the best percentages of that ingredient to work most effectively without excessive irritation. I have had no irritation using this. Yes there is a smell, this is normal and present in several other more expensive brands with similar ingredients, it’s not a deal breaker for me and after about 15 minutes I don’t even notice it. My product was a pale yellow. I’m thankful no artificial scents are added to make it smell more pleasant. I like the pump, I squirt it into my hand, pat my hands together and evenly pat on my face. It does have a thinner consistency and has a slight oily feeling at first but soaks in quickly and does not leave my face oily or sticky. It leaves my skin with a nice glow after.

Vitamin C is one of those ingredients I have become annoyingly picky about because putting “vitamin C” on the front of a bottle tells you almost nothing. Is it actual L-ascorbic acid or a derivative? What percentage? What pH? Is the formula designed to keep it stable? Is the packaging going to expose it to light and air every morning until you are eventually applying expensive orange water to your face? There are a lot of ways to get vitamin C wrong. Prequel got a surprising number of things right here, and at this price I genuinely had a “how did they do this?” moment. I’m 53, post-menopausal, with dry, mature skin, and I already use strong actives, so I want vitamin C that is effective without turning my morning routine into an irritation experiment. I actually bought this after hearing a skincare formulator discuss the formula, and once I looked at the ingredient list myself, I understood the recommendation. The headline ingredient is 15% L-ascorbic acid, and that matters. L-ascorbic acid is the form of vitamin C with the strongest body of research behind it for antioxidant protection, supporting collagen synthesis and gradually helping with uneven pigmentation. A lot of products marketed as vitamin C serums actually use more stable derivatives. There is nothing inherently wrong with derivatives, but they are not the same thing. This is actual L-ascorbic acid at a very respectable concentration. More is not necessarily better, either. Somewhere around the 10–20% range is generally where L-ascorbic acid makes sense in a topical formula, and 15% strikes me as a smart middle ground. You are getting a serious concentration without automatically jumping to the highest possible percentage just for marketing purposes. Then there is the pH of approximately 3.2, which is another reason I took this formula seriously. L-ascorbic acid needs an acidic environment to remain in the form that penetrates skin effectively. That low pH is also why true L-ascorbic acid formulas can sting, particularly on compromised or very sensitive skin. That is not necessarily an indication that something is “working,” but it is part of the chemistry of formulating this particular form of vitamin C. The supporting ingredients are unusually good. Ferulic acid is an antioxidant in its own right and is frequently paired with vitamin C because antioxidant combinations can provide broader protection against oxidative stress than relying on one antioxidant alone. Ergothioneine is another antioxidant, and I was very happy to see it here. It adds another layer of defense against free-radical damage rather than making this a one-ingredient formula built entirely around the 15% number on the bottle. There is also niacinamide, which supports the skin barrier and can help with uneven tone over time. There is an old skincare myth that niacinamide and vitamin C should never be formulated together. That idea largely came from older chemistry under conditions that do not reflect how well-formulated modern skincare is actually made. Seeing both in one professionally formulated product does not concern me. Propanediol, isopentyldiol and ethoxydiglycol are not glamorous ingredients, but they are part of why this formula works as a formula rather than just looking exciting on an ingredient list. They function as solvents and humectant-type ingredients and help create an environment in which difficult-to-formulate ingredients can be properly dispersed while keeping the serum wearable. With L-ascorbic acid, those seemingly boring formulation ingredients matter enormously. I also like inulin, which is commonly used as a skin-conditioning/prebiotic ingredient, and mannitol, another ingredient with humectant and antioxidant-supporting properties. None of these replaces the vitamin C, but together they make the formula more complete. And then there is the packaging. This is something people underestimate with L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C does not like oxygen, light, heat or time. A clear dropper bottle that gets opened twice a day is not my favorite way to package a highly unstable antioxidant. Prequel uses a dark, opaque pump-style container, which substantially reduces unnecessary exposure to light and repeated air compared with constantly opening a dropper bottle. Packaging cannot make L-ascorbic acid permanently stable, but it can absolutely help slow down degradation. The serum itself is also far more pleasant than I expected from a 15% low-pH L-ascorbic acid formula. It spreads easily, absorbs without leaving my face greasy, and layers well under the rest of my morning skincare and sunscreen. On my dry skin, I follow it with hydrating products rather than expecting the vitamin C serum itself to function as my moisturizer. I have not had the heavy sticky residue that I have experienced with some other high-strength vitamin C serums. I also have not had an issue with pilling under sunscreen, which matters because there is no point in using an antioxidant serum in the morning if the formula makes you hate applying your SPF afterward. As far as effectiveness, this is not a product where I expect to wake up three mornings later with all of my sun damage erased. That is not how vitamin C works. What I am looking for is long-term antioxidant support, some help maintaining collagen, gradual improvement in the look of discoloration and an overall brighter, fresher appearance with consistent use. That is also why sunscreen is non-negotiable. Vitamin C supplements sunscreen; it does not replace it. Because this is true L-ascorbic acid at 15% and a low pH, I would be more cautious if your skin is extremely sensitive, your barrier is already irritated, or you are new to strong actives. Starting every other morning would make more sense than deciding that tingling equals better results and pushing through irritation. Anyone using prescription retinoids, exfoliating acids or other strong treatments should also pay attention to their total routine rather than evaluating this product in isolation. For normal, combination, oily or mature skin that already tolerates active skincare, however, I think this is an outstanding option. Dry skin can absolutely use it too—I do—but I would pair it with a good moisturizer and barrier-supportive products. One other thing I always watch with L-ascorbic acid is the color. Some gradual color change can occur as vitamin C oxidizes, but if an L-ascorbic acid serum becomes very dark yellow, orange or brown, that is a sign it has significantly oxidized. I keep mine closed, away from heat and direct sunlight, and I do not leave it sitting around indefinitely just because there is still product in the bottle. What surprises me most is the value. There are vitamin C serums with cult followings that cost several times more, and some of them are excellent. But looking strictly at formulation—the 15% L-ascorbic acid, approximately 3.2 pH, ferulic acid, ergothioneine, niacinamide, supporting solvent system and protective packaging—Prequel clearly understood the assignment. This is one of those rare affordable products where I do not feel like I am choosing the budget version and accepting compromises. The chemistry makes sense, the packaging makes sense, it feels good on my skin, and the price makes daily use realistic. I will absolutely buy this again.

Prequel's Skin Lucent-C serum has been a great addition to my morning skincare routine. My skin tolerates it very well with no irritation. The texture is thin and light, so it layers very nicely under moisturizer or sunscreen without pilling. I’ve noticed my skin looks smoother and a bit firmer after regular use. I’m giving it four stars mainly because of the packaging and scent. Even a tiny press on the pump releases too much product, and the smell isn’t great. The smell does fade quickly after applying, but it’s not pleasant. Still, the formula itself is impressive, with L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, and niacinamide working together to brighten and even out my skin tone. I will put up with the smell because it's such a great product. If you’re looking for a gentle yet effective Vitamin C serum that delivers glow without irritation, this one is definitely worth trying. Just go easy on the pump. Also, when you are trying a Vitamin serum for the first time, start off using it 2-3 times a week to see how your skin reacts before using on a daily basis. :)

This brand is amazing for skincare. I have troubled acne prone skin and was told by my esthetician to use vitamin c in the mornings. Although I’m new to trying it it feels good on the skin and leaves a subtle glow. It’s very lightweight and dries pretty easily and then I layer my moisturizer on top. The scent threw me off at first but upon research I’ve learnt that the pure form of vitamin c has this strange somewhat off putting scent, however it does not linger.

Love this stuff! Got my original bottle from T A R G E T... I was hesitant to purchase this online because of the reviews and the package did leak. But.... I didnt appear to have turned color and looks the same as my prior one. Although the dispenser part, the serum is flighing out of it. I just took the top part off my old bottle and put it on my new bottle and no problem. But regardless id still purchase this again and again and again! I noticed my skin having less discoloration after a few weeks which seemed unbelievable to me. My complexion looks smoother. Very happy and I could care less if it smells like hot dog water, the results are worth it! Price is great! I love this stuff! Knock on wood, its working!

This is what you get when you follow trends on social media. I was swayed to try this, and the product itself is ok I think. I've been using this for about 4 months, and haven't noticed any fading of hyperpigmentation, but haven't noticed any new spots either, so I assume it's doing its job. It does smell awful, but it's something I can get use to. However, the spray is terrible. It sprays all over the place, and I see yellow-orange spots all over my white vanity table. I even found a few spot on my bedspread, which is about 3 feet away from my vanity. Also, some of the liquid dries in the nozzle of the pump, leaving crusty specks that feels like grains of salt when applied to the face. I need to find another product asap.

Product comes shooting out of the bottle wasting much of it. Contacted Prequel to see if it was a defect in bottle. They refused to discuss issue because it was purchased on Amazon. The issue is with their product, not Amazon. Product is lightweight. There is a slight smell to it upon application, but it goes away quickly. I would buy it again for the price if they fixed the bottle. Two months worth of product in this bottle for me.

Hate to give something that would be really great with wonderful ingredients 2 stars, but I should have listened to the other reviewers since I had a similar experience and have initiated a return. I won't be repurchasing this brand of vitamin C but return to my Coxrx and TirTir Vitamin C. I hope Prequel will address these issues. I tried to order off their website, but they wanted $8 to ship out a little bottle of Vitamin C--no thanks. Thing is, if Prequel is going to sell their product on Amazon, then they should make sure the quality is good as it is anywhere else. Bad--The serum was already tinted orange. Yes, the company indicates it can be discolored, but this isn't a light yellow or even a little darker yellow, but an orange tint. I don't trust it enough to use it on my skin. And if it is already oxidizing right out of the box, then it will not last even for the short time I would be using it. Why chance it when my Cosrx or my TirTir vitamin C is ALWAYS clear or maybe the very slightest bit yellow tinge. Bad--As others noted, it's very annoying to have it spray out all over the place so that much of it is wasted. They do indicate this happens with the first few but I did it 3 times and it happened all 3 times -- and beyond that I do not know. Bad--You can't open the container to get out the last bit that may be there -- this is wasteful. Every other serum including vitamin C that I have uses a dropper where when it is almost gone, I can upend the bottle and get the very last of it out so none of it is wasted. Skincare even when inexpensive can add up in costs so using every little drop is important to me. Even tubes can be split open and use what's left -- and you may be surprised at how much product is left in a tube! Semi-Bad--It is very watery. Not the end of the world and not a dealbreaker, but that just makes it runny and difficult to deal with. If that had been the only issue, I'd not have returned it. Okay--I didn't care about the smell - is it pleasant? No, but all vitamin C can have some kind of natural smell due to the ingredients. This, as well, would not have been a dealbreaker had the other issues not been off-putting. Excellent--The ingredients are VERY good--I looked them up on an ingredients tracker and every one of them was a good or great. No bad or worst at all. Which makes this more frustrating as I really liked the ingredients, but couldn't get past the oxidizing look, the consistency, and the spraying and wasting of product. Returning.