Okay, let's talk about this Elizabeth Arden day serum that everyone seems to be obsessing over. I've been seeing it everywhere - TikTok, Instagram, even my mom asked me about it last week. So naturally, I had to try it myself because, well, I'm that person who falls for skincare hype way too easily.
Let's Be Real - What's Everyone Actually Saying?
Before I even opened the bottle, I went down a serious rabbit hole reading what people were saying online. The reviews are honestly all over the place, which made me even more curious.
On TikTok, there are these crazy before-and-after videos where people look like they got a whole new face in two weeks. But then I scrolled through the comments and found people saying things like "mine did nothing" or "broke me out so bad." Classic internet, right?
The Instagram posts are a little more balanced, but you can tell when someone's being sponsored versus when they're just sharing their honest experience. The sponsored posts are all glowy and perfect, while the regular users are posting stuff like "day and still waiting for magic to happen."
What really caught my attention were the Reddit threads. Those people don't hold back. There's this one thread with like comments where users are breaking down everything - the texture, the smell, how it plays with other products, even how long it takes to see results. That's where I found the most realistic expectations.
My 30-Day Challenge - Here's What Actually Happened
I decided to document everything because if I'm going to spend this much money on a serum, I'm going to be thorough about it. Fair warning - I took way too many selfies during this process.
Week One: Not going to lie, I was expecting some kind of immediate glow-up. That didn't happen. The serum itself has this slightly sticky texture that takes a minute to sink in. It doesn't smell like much, which I actually appreciated because I hate when skincare products smell like a garden exploded.
My skin felt more hydrated by day three, but visually? Nothing dramatic. I did notice my makeup went on smoother, which was a nice bonus I wasn't expecting.
Week Two: This is where things got interesting, but not in a good way initially. My skin started purging - and nobody warned me about this part. I got these tiny bumps around my chin area that made me panic and almost quit the whole thing.
But I did my research and found out this is pretty normal when you introduce new active ingredients. Still annoying though.
Week Three: The purging stopped, thank goodness. My skin started looking more even, and I swear the texture was getting smoother. My boyfriend even commented that my skin looked different, and he usually doesn't notice anything.
Week Four: Okay, this is when I started to see why people get excited about this stuff. My skin had this subtle glow that looked natural but definitely wasn't there before. The fine lines around my eyes seemed less noticeable, and my overall complexion looked more radiant.
But here's the thing - it wasn't the dramatic transformation you see in those viral videos. It was more like my skin but better, if that makes sense.
The Good, The Bad, and The Overhyped
Let me break down what actually impressed me versus what made me roll my eyes.
What genuinely worked:
First, the hydration factor is real. My skin felt more plump and moisturized throughout the day, even in the middle of winter when everything usually gets dry and flaky.
Second, it made my other skincare products work better somehow. My night cream absorbed better, and my SPF didn't pill up as much in the morning.
Third, the subtle glow is actually sustainable. It's not like those face masks that make you look amazing for two hours and then leave you worse than before.
What disappointed me:
The price-to-amount ratio is pretty brutal. You're getting a small bottle for quite a bit of money, and I go through it faster than I'd like.
Also, some of the marketing claims are definitely exaggerated. They talk about "instant radiance" and "immediate visible results," but in reality, you need to give it at least two weeks to see anything meaningful.
The overhyped part:
Those dramatic before-and-after photos you see on social media? Most of them are either using filters, different lighting, or the person changed multiple things in their routine at the same time. This serum is good, but it's not performing miracles.
Price Check - Are You Getting Ripped Off?
Let's talk money because that's what we're all thinking about, right? This serum costs around $ for fl oz, which breaks down to about $2. per day if you use it as directed.
I compared it to some other popular serums, and honestly, it's right in the middle price-wise. It's more expensive than drugstore options like CeraVe or Neutrogena, but cheaper than luxury brands like La Mer or SK-II.
Here's where you can save some money: Ulta and Sephora both run sales on Elizabeth Arden products pretty regularly. I've seen it marked down 20-30% during their bigger sales events. Also, if you're not picky about packaging, sometimes you can find it cheaper on authorized online retailers.
One thing to watch out for - there are fake versions floating around on discount websites. The real deal has specific packaging details and batch codes you can verify on Elizabeth Arden's website.
Is it worth the price? That depends on your budget and what you're looking for. If you're used to spending $10- on skincare, this might feel like a lot. But if you're already investing in good skincare, it's reasonably priced for what you get.
Bottom Line - Should You Actually Buy This?
After using this for over a month and then some, here's my honest take: it's a solid product that does what it claims, just not as dramatically as the marketing suggests.
You should probably try it if you're looking for better skin hydration, want something that plays well with other products, and don't mind spending a bit more on skincare. It's especially good if you're in your twenties or thirties and starting to think more seriously about prevention.
Skip it if you're expecting overnight transformation, you're on a tight budget, or you already have a routine that's working well for you. There's nothing revolutionary here that you can't get from other products.
For college students or anyone watching their money closely, I'd honestly recommend trying some of the drugstore alternatives first. CeraVe has a vitamin C serum that's about $ and gives you similar hydration benefits. The Ordinary has several options under $ that target specific concerns.
But if you've got the disposable income and you're curious, go for it. Just manage your expectations and give it at least a month before deciding if it's working for you.
The real question isn't whether this serum is good - it is. The question is whether it's worth the hype and the price point for your specific situation. For me, it earned a permanent spot in my routine, but I'm not going around telling everyone they need to drop everything and buy it immediately.
Your skin, your money, your choice. But now at least you know what you're getting into.
