Oliveda Vitamin C Serum Review: Is It Worth It?

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If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I test a lot of skincare, especially Vitamin C serums. Brands send me products constantly, and I love trying them out. But despite testing at least 5 or 6 different Vitamin C serums over the last few years (my previous favorite was Beautycounter’s All Bright C Serum — until Beautycounter shut down), I keep coming back to the F83 HT + Vitamin C from Oliveda. Today, I’m sharing why it’s earned a permanent spot in my routine.

Why Should You Use a Vitamin C Serum?

Vitamin C is one of those powerhouse ingredients that just about everyone can benefit from. It helps protect your skin from free radicals (which lead to accelerated aging), boosts collagen production, and brightens pigmentation, so most people love it for tackling dullness, fine lines, sun damage, and loss of firmness. If you’re looking to even out your skin tone, soften the appearance of wrinkles, or just add some glow, vitamin C is one of the most effective ingredients to work into your skincare routine. And it’s not just for your face. I apply Vitamin C on my neck, chest (aka décolleté), and even the backs of my hands—anywhere that shows signs of aging or sun exposure.

The most common form of Vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid, and each skin care brand includes some variation of L-ascorbic acid in its vitamin C serum, along with other beneficial key ingredients. Oliveda’s formulation happens to be my favorite.

Oliveda Vitamin C Serum Review

Why I Like the Oliveda Vitamin C Serum Best

Let’s cut to the chase: I genuinely like using this one. That matters. Some Vitamin C serums are sticky, others pill under makeup, and a few just smell… odd.

The Oliveda Vitamin C Facial Serum has a silky texture that absorbs quickly and feels instantly hydrating, which I love, because my skin always leans dry. The hydration factor makes it feel more like a treatment than a typical serum. I’ve used plenty that felt like they just sat on the surface of my skin, but this one sinks in and leaves a glow without being greasy.

I also trust Oliveda’s ingredient standards. This brand makes its skincare products without water (it uses olive leaf cell elixir instead), which means you’re getting a much more potent product. It’s packed with antioxidants like camu camu and infused with its proprietary hydroxytyrosol elixir (made from the olive tree, or Olea Europaea), which sets its entire line apart. (Oliveda makes internal supplements where you can actually ingest the hydroxytyrosol elixir, which is insanely beneficial.)

Hydroxytyrosol is a SUPER powerful antioxidant on its own (it’s great for antioxidant protection, anti-inflammatory action, and support for collagen production), but when you pair it with ascorbic acid like in the Oliveda F83 serum, you get a game-changing Vitamin C serum that is 1300% more powerful than vitamin C alone.

What Makes It Different From Other Vitamin C Serums

I briefly mentioned that Oliveda doesn’t use water in any of their formulations. Instead, the base is made from the antioxidant-rich elixir of the olive tree’s leaves, aka hydroxytyrosol. (Read why Oliveda makes their products waterless in this review). In short, it means every ingredient in the bottle is active and there are no preservatives.

It also includes carrot elixir and kahai oil, which both help target firmness and elasticity. While most Vitamin C serums are all about brightening, this one also helps support your skin’s barrier and address early signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of tone—especially around the eye area and jawline.

If you have sensitive skin, that’s another plus. I’ve found this to be gentle enough to use daily, even when my skin is feeling more reactive. It doesn’t sting or tingle like some stronger Vitamin C formulas.

One thing to note: after a few months, the Vitamin C serum can lose some of its bright color (which comes from carrot extract), and the scent may shift slightly. I contacted Oliveda’s customer support, and they confirmed it doesn’t affect the performance or potency—it’s just a natural change over time due to the formula being so clean.

Pros

• Hydrating, not drying
• Gentle enough for sensitive skin
• Water-free formulation = more active ingredients
• Absorbs quickly, doesn’t pill under makeup
• Includes additional antioxidants like camu camu and kahai oil
• Smells fresh and herbal (not artificial or overly citrusy)
• Helps with pigmentation, fine lines, and dullness

Cons

• Slightly pricier than drugstore options
• Has a light herbal scent—not for you if you prefer unscented skincare
• Only available online or through Oliveda consultants (not in most stores)
• The serum can lose some of its bright color after a few months, and the scent may shift a bit, too—but I reached out to customer support and they confirmed it doesn’t affect the performance.

Before & After

When I look at old photos from before I added Oliveda’s F83 serum into my routine, I notice a few key things: less glow, more uneven tone around my cheeks and chin, and some faint sun spots that have since faded. I don’t have a dramatic “overnight” transformation photo, because that’s not how real skincare works. But with consistent use, this serum has helped me maintain a much more even, radiant complexion. I feel like my skin just looks so healthy and youthful overall, these days. (You can see my full skincare routine here.)

And let’s be honest: when I keep repurchasing something with my own money—despite being sent other options for free—it says a lot.

FAQ About Oliveda Vitamin C Serum

What step do I apply this?

Apply the Oliveda Vitamin C serum in the morning after cleansing and toner, but before moisturizer or facial oils. It layers really well under other products, and I follow it with their F59 Corrective Face Serum (reviewed here) mixed with the Corrective Kahai Elixir. Then, I follow it all with the F74 Regeneration Intense Cream. 

Is the Oliveda Vitamin C serum good for sensitive skin?

Yes! I have somewhat sensitive skin and haven’t experienced any irritation. It’s gentle, hydrating, and doesn’t have that sting some Vitamin C serums can cause.

Do I need to use it at night too?

Nope! You get the most benefit from Vitamin C during the day since it helps protect against free radicals and environmental stressors (like UV exposure and ozone damage–although you’ll still want to use a good SPF too!). I only use it in the morning to save a step (and money – here are a few more tips for saving money on Oliveda).

Where can I buy it?

It’s not sold in most stores, but you can order it online through Oliveda or a consultant (like me!). You can learn more about the Oliveda consultant side of things here. I recommend you snag a few other products when you place your order (especially this Oliveda lip balm). If you have any questions about your order, fill out my Skincare Survey and I’ll personally reply with product recommendations (or take Oliveda’s AI-generated skincare quiz!).