Price: $14.40 (RM60)
(Use affiliated coupon at checkout C10T190S3 for 8% off)
Verdict: 8/10
Repurchase: Yeah.
Name Change & Shop
O.S.T. C20 changed it's name recently from O.S.T. C20, to Tia'm My Signature C Source Serum, which is an interesting change in my opinion. Nothing has changed other than that. The only thing that's changed is the name. The product and ingredients, production line and I'm assuming even the people responsible for making these are the same. Tia'm kindly informed me that the reason for the name change is because people (me included) frequently mistake O.S.T. C20 for By Wishtrend, which are actually completely different. In addition, there's an issue of trademark rights about C20 in the US, so the name change was necessary in order to extend the product line. I'm really pleased Tia'm is transparent about that. ^^ Thank you.
Tia'm is actually a brand I've never heard of before. Their website seems to be exclusively in Korean, but the instagram page is helpfully translated, which lets me follow their new products launch and whatnot. There are other items that they offer, though none that I've tried before.
Anyways, I actually won this product from an instagram competition hosted by Tiam Korea and did a first impression on my instagram here, which is really very cool! I love it when I get items from the source! Makes me feel special. XD I was really excited to try this out since I've already tried O.S.T. C21.5 and has seen no effect whatsoever. I reviewed the O.S.T previously here:
Several shops have started to carry this immediately after the name change, so I'm curious if they distributed stickers and new boxes to just replace the older ones. XD My favorite shop, BBCosmetic seems to be carrying it cheapest at $14.40 with an additional 8% off (with code C10T190S3 to bring the price down to $13.40) and free shipping with no minimum purchase. Here's the link.
Product (What Is Tia'm My Signature C Source?)
All said and done, what exactly is this that the name change is such a big deal? This is a vitamin c serum that's HG (holy grail and forever repurchases) for a lot of people out there. It uses 20% L-ascorbic acid to help prevent premature signs of aging, protect, soften, and moisturize the skin. It's an exfoliating serum that can help with all sorts of skin conditions and has been proven to work for many people to help fade scars, lighten and even skin tone, and brighten skin.
The best thing is, it's not one of those gimmicky products without scientific research to back up it's claims. The ingredients in the product makes sense, with vitamin E included to work together to the vitamin c and increase it's effectiveness. The vitamin c (L-Ascorbic Acid) included in this has been proven to improve/heal scarring and counter aging. However O.S.T C20 is fairly famous for being unstable, meaning after opening, this needs to be used up asap.
Ingredients
All said and done, what exactly is this that the name change is such a big deal? This is a vitamin c serum that's HG (holy grail and forever repurchases) for a lot of people out there. It uses 20% L-ascorbic acid to help prevent premature signs of aging, protect, soften, and moisturize the skin. It's an exfoliating serum that can help with all sorts of skin conditions and has been proven to work for many people to help fade scars, lighten and even skin tone, and brighten skin.
The best thing is, it's not one of those gimmicky products without scientific research to back up it's claims. The ingredients in the product makes sense, with vitamin E included to work together to the vitamin c and increase it's effectiveness. The vitamin c (L-Ascorbic Acid) included in this has been proven to improve/heal scarring and counter aging. However O.S.T C20 is fairly famous for being unstable, meaning after opening, this needs to be used up asap.
Ingredients
Ingredients: Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethanol, Sodium Lactate, Butylene Glycol, Glucose, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Xanthan, PEG-180, Gluconolactone, Beta-Glucan, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil,Zinc PCA, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Ubiquinone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
Because the main ingredient in the product (other than fancy water) is Ascorbic Acid, or L-Ascorbic Acid that, in this product, is highly unstable, this product has to be finished within a short time of opening. It also has to be kept in low temperature in a cool, dark space and moved minimally to reduce oxidizing.
Vitamin C in skincare is a powerful antioxidant that can fade hyperpigmentation, increase photoprotection, and stimulate collagen production. It's basically a magic active that is mildly exfoliating.
Another ingredient, as I mentioned earlier is the Vitamin E, which on it's own blocks free radicals from the body, which plays a large part in the aging process. It works in synergy with vitamin c and improves it's effectiveness.
There's also niacinamide, which helps brighten complexion. There's been debates that this particular ingredient doesn't play well with Vitamin C. KindofStephen debunked that with a really amazingly research piece. Basically, there's no proof that their benefits would be disabled if they're used together, like in this particular product.
Sodium hyaluronate is added as a hydrating ingredient in this otherwise fairly drying product, but I don't believe it's present in high enough concentrations to help, since this is still fairly drying. This could be caused by Ethanol, which is an alcohol that can be potentially be an irritant. Alcohol generally helps product absorb better and I generally don't mind when it's added to skincare products since my skin is fairly oily and the alcohol helps it stay matte and less greasy.
Another ingredient, as I mentioned earlier is the Vitamin E, which on it's own blocks free radicals from the body, which plays a large part in the aging process. It works in synergy with vitamin c and improves it's effectiveness.
There's also niacinamide, which helps brighten complexion. There's been debates that this particular ingredient doesn't play well with Vitamin C. KindofStephen debunked that with a really amazingly research piece. Basically, there's no proof that their benefits would be disabled if they're used together, like in this particular product.
Sodium hyaluronate is added as a hydrating ingredient in this otherwise fairly drying product, but I don't believe it's present in high enough concentrations to help, since this is still fairly drying. This could be caused by Ethanol, which is an alcohol that can be potentially be an irritant. Alcohol generally helps product absorb better and I generally don't mind when it's added to skincare products since my skin is fairly oily and the alcohol helps it stay matte and less greasy.
Texture and Directions
The liquid in the dropper bottle is clear and only slightly yellowish. It smells a little fruity but the smell is almost indiscernible unless I'm sniffing this directly. The thing feels and spreads like water and absorbs very easily. However, it does leave a somewhat sticky residue when compared to the O.S.T. C21.5. I didn't mind the stickiness though, since I had to apply my other moisturizers over this after the wait time anyways.
Since it is pH sensitive, I'm careful to apply a pH adjusting toner prior to application. You could also wait 20 minutes for your skin's pH to decrease. Likewise, if your cleanser has a low pH already, you wouldn't need an additional pH adjusting toner or wait.
After applying the serum, I wait 20 minutes before moving on with my routine, such as adding more actives or just going straight to my hydrating lotion. There are, of course, other ways to use it. If the vitamin c is too harsh on it's own, you can mix this together with a toner, and apply it there without bothering with wait times and whatnot.
Instructions says to apply this on areas with tired and stressed skin or to mix this with a hydrating toner. Also, do be sure to apply sunblock when going outside, which is a must regardless. Always wear sunscreen. :) It doesn't matter how well your skincare routine is if you ignore sunscreen.
I use this product at night and every other day. Do take note that this is an exfoliating product, so if you're new to actives, best introduce it slowly.
Instructions says to apply this on areas with tired and stressed skin or to mix this with a hydrating toner. Also, do be sure to apply sunblock when going outside, which is a must regardless. Always wear sunscreen. :) It doesn't matter how well your skincare routine is if you ignore sunscreen.
I use this product at night and every other day. Do take note that this is an exfoliating product, so if you're new to actives, best introduce it slowly.
Performance
It's only been a few weeks since I started using this but I've actually been using the OST. C20 for the better part of the year, so opening the package was purely for my own satisfaction of wanting to make sure that the Tia'm My Signature C Source and O.S.T. C20 was exactly the same. Spoiler alert: It was. I'm actually really glad!
Like the O.S.T. C21.5, this didn't show me a result immediately. It does, however, seem to be doing a better job than the O.S.T. C21.5 at brightening, which is a good thing, but the improvement was sloooowwww, like, it took months for the effect to finally be noticeable and by the time it was noticeable, I almost missed it if not for the fact that it's made my pimples and pimple scars more jarring.
There's an odd pale patch of skin on the side of my cheek that only appears when I get too tanned. It helped either a) even out the skin tone and make it disappear, or b) keep my skin tone bright enough that the white patch is no longer noticeable. Either way, I'm really glad it's finally gone! That annoying discoloration has been there since I was in high school, which feels like a lifetime away.
It stings a little when my skin is sensitive, which happens when I use a cleanser that's too stripping and that, in turn, tells me to stop using the cleanser. I really like that it does that, since I generally like the squeaky-clean feeling and this tells me, 'No. That's not right. Stop it."
What it doesn't do for me is fade pimple scars, which, I mentioned, is a problem because as it brightens my skin, it makes the scars more clear. >< Still, I will continue to use the Tia'm My Signature C Source Serum for the anti-aging effect and find something else for fading acne scars. :) It does work, but just really slowly and you've got to be patient to see effects from this and use this diligently and it's not a fix-all. At least it wasn't for me. I was really happy with what's it's achieved and will repurchase once I'm finished with my bottle. YMMV.
Like the O.S.T. C21.5, this didn't show me a result immediately. It does, however, seem to be doing a better job than the O.S.T. C21.5 at brightening, which is a good thing, but the improvement was sloooowwww, like, it took months for the effect to finally be noticeable and by the time it was noticeable, I almost missed it if not for the fact that it's made my pimples and pimple scars more jarring.
There's an odd pale patch of skin on the side of my cheek that only appears when I get too tanned. It helped either a) even out the skin tone and make it disappear, or b) keep my skin tone bright enough that the white patch is no longer noticeable. Either way, I'm really glad it's finally gone! That annoying discoloration has been there since I was in high school, which feels like a lifetime away.
It stings a little when my skin is sensitive, which happens when I use a cleanser that's too stripping and that, in turn, tells me to stop using the cleanser. I really like that it does that, since I generally like the squeaky-clean feeling and this tells me, 'No. That's not right. Stop it."
What it doesn't do for me is fade pimple scars, which, I mentioned, is a problem because as it brightens my skin, it makes the scars more clear. >< Still, I will continue to use the Tia'm My Signature C Source Serum for the anti-aging effect and find something else for fading acne scars. :) It does work, but just really slowly and you've got to be patient to see effects from this and use this diligently and it's not a fix-all. At least it wasn't for me. I was really happy with what's it's achieved and will repurchase once I'm finished with my bottle. YMMV.
Price: $14.40 (RM60)
(Use affiliated coupon at checkout C10T190S3 for 8% off)
Verdict: 8/10
Repurchase: Yeah.
I also do quick, short reviews on my instagram so if you're up for it, do follow me here too! :D https://www.instagram.com/peachy_amy/
And Like my Facebook page? :D https://www.facebook.com/MalaysianBeautyHaul/
I also do quick, short reviews on my instagram so if you're up for it, do follow me here too! :D https://www.instagram.com/peachy_amy/
And Like my Facebook page? :D https://www.facebook.com/MalaysianBeautyHaul/
