Some skincare serums are like designer handbags—expensive, high-end, and often seen as must-haves. But just like you don’t need to spend thousands on a purse, you don’t have to pay $180 or more for a serum to get effective results. Many affordable serums and vitamin C serums use the same active ingredients and work just as well. In this article, we’ll review popular luxury serums like SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic and SkinMedica TNS Advanced+ Serum, and share budget-friendly alternatives that deliver similar anti-aging, brightening, and firming benefits.

Pants might exist in gendered sections, but they’re created for all.