Olay

Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum.

Serums

About this product

A serum combining vitamin C (ethyl ascorbic acid), lactic acid, peptides, and niacinamide, designed to brighten skin and reduce the appearance of discoloration.

Full ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide*, Lactic Acid**, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid*, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4^, Panthenol^^, Trehalose, PEG-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Fragrance

Guru Score

72%

Mixed

3 experts · Moderate agreement

What they liked

Lactic acid softens and gently exfoliates
Stable vitamin C form easier to formulate

What they flagged

Vitamin C percentage not disclosed
Contains fragrance
Full price steep for the brand

What the gurus are saying

Lactic acid shines for softening and brightening, but the serum doesn't disclose its vitamin C percentage despite the '24' on the label, and uses ethyl ascorbic acid, which isn't as well-studied as ascorbic acid. Some gurus like it overall despite these caveats; others are more concerned about transparency and pricing. The formula also contains peptides and niacinamide, with fragrance included (a potential irritant) and a steep retail price, though frequently discounted.

Synthesized from 3 expert reviews · most recent take January 2024

Best for

Mature skin

Type

SerumsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Vitamin C NiacinamideAHAPeptides

Formula notes

Contains fragranceNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Mad About Skin

731k subs

~Mixed

"That said, the formulation is pretty good. The use of vitamin C and peptides is hotly contested in skincare, but you can absolutely use peptides alongside vitamin C and they work fine. Some people say you shouldn't because the low pH of vitamin C can impact the function of those peptides, but this has been disproven many times. So for people that are still wary of using peptides and vitamin C together, this serum is a great option if you're looking for vitamin C and peptides all together."

Dr Alexis Stephens

582k subs

~Yay

"It also has a lot of the same proven benefits as ascorbic acid, especially when it comes to hyperpigmentation, and because it's a higher pH and its lipid soluble it's much less likely to be irritating on the skin. [...] THD is going to be a fantastic vitamin C derivative honestly for pretty much every skin type. It's especially good if you have sensitive skin or if you're dealing with hyperpigmentation."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Mixed

"That's not going to be everybody, and it's not something you should go out of your way to avoid, nor should you go out of your way to necessarily incorporate into your routine, but it's there. It may help with fading hyperpigmentation, but it's not as research backed as ascorbic acid, though it's easier to work with in formulation."

All 3 takes from Dr Dray

NEW SKIN CARE AT COSTCO 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

NEW SKIN CARE AT COSTCO 🛍 SHOP WITH ME 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

"It's 46.49 for two bottles, which seems pretty steep, since Olay is always a little on the pricey side in my opinion. It has lactic acid, which can help soften and hydrate the skin and gently exfoliate, vitamin C in the form of ethyl ascorbic acid, which is an antioxidant, and niacinamide, which is good for hyperpigmentation. It does have fragrance, which can be irritating. I like that serum."

Dermatologist SHOP WITH ME WALMART SKIN CARE| Dr Dray

"Olay Vitamin C Plus Peptide 24 has ethyl ascorbic acid, which is a form of vitamin C that doesn't seem to get into the skin and be converted to ascorbic acid, [...] so it's [...] useless [...] if you're looking to use a vitamin C product for boosting collagen production. However, it is an antioxidant so it may help in temporarily brightening skin tone and reducing sun damage."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

Source: DermNet

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum?

A serum combining vitamin C (ethyl ascorbic acid), lactic acid, peptides, and niacinamide, designed to brighten skin and reduce the appearance of discoloration.

Is Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 72%.

What is Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum's Guru Score?

Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum holds a Guru Score of 72%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 3 expert reviewers we have collected.