Scientists discover £3.99 skin serum outperforms £200 anti-ageing miracle cream – and have pictures to prove it

In a groundbreaking study comparing expensive and cheap anti-aging skin serums, a preparation sold for just €3.99 came out on top.

The trial, conducted by experts from the world-famous Mayo Clinic, was paid for by a company that makes expensive skin care products.

The scientists have been tasked with testing a luxury serum made with human platelet extract (HPE) – sourced from donor blood samples – which costs £200 for 15ml.

But when it went head-to-head with a widely available beauty product – a vitamin C serum – the researchers had to admit that the budget option was superior.

Versions of vitamin C serums can be purchased for as little as £3.99 – and Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets such as Tesco all sell options for under £20.

When applied to hands, the inexpensive product was more effective at reducing common signs of aging, including age spots, wrinkles and uneven skin tone.

After six months of daily use, the effects of vitamin C serum were significantly more noticeable.

Lead researcher, dermatologist Dr Saraya Wyles, added: ‘Both serums may work better than laser treatments for reducing age spots.’

The images above show the hands of a 55-year-old volunteer: she applied the expensive serum to her right hand (top row) and the budget serum to her left (bottom row). Photos were taken at the start of the trial, and at six, twelve and 26 weeks

The images above show the hands of a 59-year-old volunteer – as above, she applied the expensive serum to her right hand (top row) and the budget serum to her left (bottom row). The cheap product was better at reducing common signs of aging, including age spots and wrinkles

After 12 weeks, participants showed a reduction of around 32 percent on vitamin C. Revuele Vitamin C 15 Percent Serum is available online from £3.99

To test the serums, the research team recruited 60 participants – the majority women – with an average age of 52 years.

Each participant was instructed to apply HPE serum – Plated Skin Science Intense Serum – to their right hand twice daily.

They were instructed to apply vitamin C serum to their left hand.

During the trial, the researchers used SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, which contains 15 percent vitamin C and costs around £125 for 30ml.

However, there are some more price-conscious options with the same concentration of the key ingredient.

The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum, available in Boots, costs £15 for 30ml. Revuele Vitamin C 15 percent serum is available online from £3.99.

Instead of relying solely on before-and-after photos or the subjective opinions of participants, researchers used high-tech imaging technology to measure changes in the skin.

They tracked various signs of aging, including brown spots, wrinkles, skin clarity and evenness of color.

The researchers used SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, which cost around £125 for 30ml. However, there are more price-conscious options with the same concentration of the key ingredient

Another cheap option is The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C and EGF Serum, available in Boots, and costs £15 for 30ml

Evaluations took place at the beginning of the trial and after six, twelve and 26 weeks.

The results were “impressive” for both treatments, they said.

After twelve weeks, participants showed a reduction in brown spots of approximately 27 percent with HPE and a reduction of 32 percent with vitamin C.

Both treatments also improved wrinkles by about 15 to 17 percent.

These improvements exceeded those typically seen with more invasive treatments such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy, which showed only a 7.5 percent reduction in brown spots in previous studies.

Prices for IPL can range from £800 to £1,500 and even more for premium packages and additional services.

Brown spots, also called age spots, appear on the skin due to prolonged sun exposure.

Vitamin C works to reduce it by interfering with the action of tyrosinase, an enzyme responsible for the production of melanin, the substance that gives skin pigment.

It’s found in a wide range of skin care products, such as serums, cleansers, moisturizers and masks, but experts suggest that a concentration of between 10 and 20 percent vitamin C is most effective for reducing hyperpigmentation.