5Rank 05 of 10 · Vitamin C Serums
Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum
A 15% L-ascorbic acid serum with vitamin E and pine-bark extract, backed by brand-run tests on 21 to 52 women — but sold in a 20 ml bottle, which makes it pricier than it looks.
6.7BPR score
- €39Price
- 15% pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) — published by VichyForm of vitamin C and declared concentration
- 5 of 10in Vitamin C Serums
- 6.7BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
This suits someone who wants a fragrance-free, mid-strength pure vitamin C serum from a pharmacy brand and values at least some published test detail. Vichy's page states 15% pure vitamin C, and its INCI list is short: water, ascorbic acid, alcohol denat., dipropylene glycol, glycerin, laureth-23, neohesperidin dihydrochalcone, sodium hydroxide, tocopherol, hydrolysed hyaluronic acid and pine bark/bud extract. No parfum.
Vichy publishes more test detail than most rivals here: +40% brightness, +58% evenness and +100% radiance in 40 women over three months, and +83% antioxidant protection in 21 women (sebum test). These are brand-run tests without a published protocol or control group, so they show what Vichy measured, not independent proof.
Two caveats. The pack is 20 ml at €38.90 on Notino.de, which equals about €58 per 30 ml. And the Notino listing (named LiftActiv Supreme) carries an older ingredient list with carnosine, Haematococcus extract and phenoxyethanol, so the version in stock may differ from the current Vichy formula. pH is not published. The 4.0/5 Notino average is from four reviews.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Vitamin C form
- Ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid)
- Declared concentration
- 15%
- Pack size
- 20 ml
- Price (Notino.de)
- €38.90
- Price per 30 ml
- €58.35
- Vitamin E
- Tocopherol (% not published)
- Ferulic acid
- No
- Other actives
- Hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, pine bark/bud extract
- Fragrance
- Not on manufacturer INCI
- Alcohol denat.
- Yes (3rd ingredient)
- Brand tests
- 40 women, 3 months; 21 women (antioxidant)
- pH
- Not published
- Notino rating
- 4.0/5 (4 reviews)
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- 15% ascorbic acid, second in Vichy's INCI list
- No fragrance on the manufacturer's ingredient list
- Contains tocopherol (vitamin E) and pine bark extract
- Brand tests name participant numbers and durations (21–40 women, up to 3 months)
Worth knowing
- Only 20 ml — about €58 per 30 ml
- Alcohol denat. third in INCI
- Retailer listing shows an older INCI; stock may vary
- pH not published
- Only four Notino reviews
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Vitamin C Serums.
| Product | Score | Form of vitamin C and declared concentration | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revitalift Clinical Vitamin C SerumTop score | 7.5 | 12% ascorbic acid (L-ascorbic acid) — percentage stated in the Notino.de listing; L'Oréal's own page could not be opened | €18 |
| LiftActiv Vitamin C SerumThis product | 6.7 | 15% pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) — published by Vichy | €39 |
| Category average10 products analysed | 6.7 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Vichy serum more expensive than it looks?
It comes in 20 ml rather than 30 ml. At €38.90 that is about €58.35 per 30 ml.
Are Vichy's percentages from independent trials?
No. They are brand-run tests (for example 40 women over three months). Vichy does not publish a full protocol or control group.
From the same ranking
Other products in Vitamin C Serums.
The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
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