I received this as a sample with my MB order and was excited to try it (this was my first experience with vitamin serums). I didn't like it. It made my skin tight and dry and a little red. I gave it to my sister.

background: beauty concerns of acne and anti-aging.
price and packaging: the vitamin c serum comes in a small green glass with a white eye dropper. it cost me about $45 on the mario badescu website. this is my first time purchasing a vitamin c serum, so i dont know if this is expensive for a serum. considering i use about three drops per night for my face, i know itll last me a while. its been a good several months of using it almost every night, and i still have more than half the serum.
texture and smell: it does have lavender oil in it, which is an essential oil, i think. it has not caused me to break out at all, which is wonderful because i break out quite easily. the consistency is slightly thicker than jojoba oil and goes on smooth. i dont feel slick afterwards, and my skin absorbs it well. the serum smells of lavender, which i never really loved. i tend to use it at night, though, so i dont mind it.
the verdict?: as my skin is slowly maturing, i feel i need to do what i can to give it the extra antioxidants and vitamins it craves, especially because i use glycolic acid. i use it at nights, and although i havent seen a HUGE difference in the overall brightness of my skin, my skin tone overall looks calmer and healthier. i will continue to use the entire bottle and will probably repurchase it again since i know that it works for me.

Got a sample gave a very nice glow but I didn't use it long enough to see results but the little sample I got last 5 days. Also it kinda stings but it goes away and lemony smell to it.

Dec 29, 2011: Just bought this product to add in between my softener and moisturizer, in hopes of getting rid of some dryness/lines, and build protection with my s/s. We'll see how it reacts with my dehydrated (tretinoin), clogged zones (oily underneath). My acne is under control these days, so I'll be able to tell if this will cause my skin to break out.
For now it's making it feel more plush and springy, which is nice. Time to get my beauty sleep! Will update later...
Dec 30, 2011: Woke up seven and a half hours later. In the mirror my lines look deeper, more defined. And my skin seems to me more moisturized, but nothing special. I was hoping since this has hyaluronic acid in it, it could replace my Japanese softener, but at this point that doesn't look to be the case...

I will be the first to admit, I'm a cynic. I'm 52 and have pretty much given up on any product making a major difference. I've heard of Mario Badescu products - mainly for acne issues, and have only heard good things. I had an Ulta 2 20% off coupon and decided to purchase to MB items - this and the Temporary Lifting Mask - with the intention of returning them if I was not thrilled. Ladies - I am thrilled. I have used the mask twice in the last 4 days. It's great, but what I think is really giving me this lovely tightened feeling is the Vitamin C serum! I have a problem with old acne scars and large pores. It just seems to be calming everything down. It doesn't feel dry or flakey, and my makeup just seems to go on beautifully. I will report back if there is a change, but for the time being - I love it and would say give it a try!

I have to say I have only been using this for a week but I love it already. It may replace my Korres rose serum that I normally use between retinA at night/mixed in with sunscreen during the day (although sometimes I use Clarins flash beauty balm for that). So I thought this might clog my pores or cause some badness. I usually have great skin but after trying some new scrubs out last week (argh) have broken out into two huge cystic pimples, only one of which has come to the surface. So back to the old routine, with every three to four hours of toner to dry out the pimples....and at night I've been using this along with boscia's willow bark treatment alternating with retinA. Well, its made a big difference in a few days. I don't believe in popping zits or anything so I will have to wait for this one to subside but in two days I could see my big pimple shriveling up (its about ready to fall off now scarless) and the other one is starting to calm down rather than come to the surface. I am very impressed with this serum...not only has it not broken out my incredibly oily summer skin but its also not dried it out, and smooths down to a easily absorbed layer on the skin which definitely makes my skin feel softer in the morning, has been keeping my pores in line (they seem smaller, although I know they will always be the same size approx), and def has improved my skin tone to a more even/rosy tone. It only takes a few drops and although I can't tell yet if this packaging will make the vit C go bad as per another reviewer below, I like it a lot so far because I can control the number of drops I'm applying, and it keeps it clean and sanitary. Yay mario badescu- this is the first product of his that is working for my skin and I plan on keeping on using it till they stop making it! Its very affordable for a vit C serum--and has all other kinds of goodies in the ingredients.

I was not sure if this product would work any different than the others I have tried, and it is expensive ($45 for 1oz). I decided to treat myself and splurge on this. I am so happy I did. It makes my skin tight possibly from the collagen in it. It has also faded my age/sun spots incredibly after using it a couple of times a week for the past 2 months (plus using Arcona reozone spf 40). My skin just looks great the morning after I use this. My only gripe besides the price (really, if I knew the recipe I could probably make it for $3 a bottle) is that the dropper bottle is a bad idea. I am thinking of buying a pump dispenser (I thing Garden of Wisdom has some nice tinted ones) so I can use this product without exposing the contents to air because vit. c. can spoil quickly. I will continue to buy this stuff anyways and probably order a pump from GOW.
UPDATE: still using this for 1 yr now and LOVING IT! I did transfer it to a 1oz pump glass tinted bottle and am just finishing up my first bottle! I use 1 squirt and apply it to a dampish-wet face, neck, chest area. It really brightens my skin, tightens it, and has faded sun spots and post acne marks drastically! Will splurge and repurchase when I run out. I must add that this stuff is a much thicker serum than most and can feel tacky for 30-40 minutes after putting it on. But it does go away. In the morning my skin is just so bright and tight looking.

I could not stand how this felt on my skin. It almost smothered my skin. I was hoping it would be a great product and I could start using it. It is affordable though, that might be the only thing it has going for it.

I love this! I have very oily skin and wake up every morning with a layer of oil. Miraculously this doesn't happen on the nights I use this serum. I wish I could use it every day and every night! My skin has gotten a lot smoother as well. Definitely a keeper for me.

I bought this when it first came out-Its just ok-I didnt really see much benefit from it. I think for the money, save up a little more and get the Estee Lauder serum. Did not break out but it was simply nothing special-

I like the ingredients in this product but it made me breakout. I never break out, so I know when it's a result of a product and not my hormones. It's a shame because I like the concept of a vitamin C serum also packed with acids and collagen.

I'll continue to take vitamin C orally rather than applying it to skin. That really is the way to go.

i dont think its good
it gave me cystic acne
and since its a serum it gave really big ones
im returning this
i was really hoping it would fade my scars but i dont see a difference so far
it does do a good job taking out fine lines n wrinkles though

Im on the fence with Mario Badescu Products. On one hand they have great masks, on the other hand their moisturizers are laden with nasty chemicals :( This product however is quite incredible. After 2 days of using this my acne has subsided, scars are fading very quickly, skin looks rosy and feels very soft. Im really impressed with the quality of the ingredients and the overall product. Will defiantly repurchase.

Wow! This is one of the only products I have ever used where I truly saw a difference after 1 use. It's a serum in an opaque green glass jar with a dropper/lid. You only need about 4 drops for your face, plus I do about 4 more for my decollete. It's sort of weird/greasy at first and it smells and tastes bad... but oh man, the skin you wake up to the next morning... glowly, smooth and super soft. I have used stuff twice as expensive as this with no benefit. Great product.