Yo, what’s good, serum sleuths? I’m stuffed into this cramped little apartment, coffee mugs stacked like they’re one nudge from a caffeine tsunami, my bathroom a wild mess of half-squeezed tubes and sticky spills, and Muffin the cat throwing me that “your face is a serum experiment gone wrong” side-eye while I chug my brew. For months, I’ve been wrestling with a skin saga—dull patches, oily breakouts, and rough texture from trying every trendy serum I could grab, all while munching late-night curries that probably didn’t help. Then I decided to test seven serums myself, figuring I’d find the real winners through trial and error. Especially after a curry spill turned my counter into a sticky nightmare at 02:49 PM PKT today, Thursday, November 06, 2025, with Muffin zooming around like he’d guzzled my coffee pot, I was ready to dig in. This is my raw, unpolished story—no glossy ad hype, just me, my serum experiments, and a cat who judges harder than my own mirror rants. Pin it on Boost Health if you’re along for the ride, and let’s dive into this messy, serum-testing adventure!
Before: The Skin Struggle Zone
Let’s set the stage. I’m slouched over my bathroom mirror, natural light sneaking through my tiny balcony window, grimacing at the mess on my face. My skin was a total disaster. Dull, flat spots clung to my cheeks like they’d forgotten how to shine, oily breakouts popped up on my chin from stress, and rough patches made my texture feel like sandpaper—all thanks to my half-baked routine and too much coffee. No smooth, glowing look in sight—just a patchy, irritated canvas that had me reaching for a hoodie to hide. I snapped a “before” pic, no filters, just the real me: a hot mess, maybe a 3 out of 10. It got me through the day, but it was miles from the skin I wanted to flaunt.
My skin’s a combo type—oily down the T-zone, dry on the sides, and now a serum-testing battleground from my chaotic habits. I’d been skipping moisturizer, over-scrubbing with whatever soap was handy, and fueling up on spicy curries and sugary snacks that left my face confused. The cold November air outside was drying me out, and my late-night work grind left me too wiped to care. I’d tried a couple serums before, but they either broke me out or did nothing. My goal? Test seven serums over two weeks, find what actually works for my issues—dullness, oil, texture—without breaking my renter budget or turning my face into a science project.
The Serum Testing Plan: My Messy, Curry-Stained Experiment
Testing serums is about tackling specific skin gripes—hydration, oil control, brightening—with a bit of patience and a lot of mess. I picked seven serums based on what I could afford and what promised to fix my dull, oily, rough skin, testing each for 2-3 days over two weeks. Total cost? Around $40-$50 for the lot, stretching my renter wallet but doable. I ditched my usual slapdash routine, keeping it simple with a gentle cleanse and moisturizer, and applied each serum at night after washing. Here’s the sloppy rundown, kicked off today at 02:49 PM PKT amid curry spills and Muffin’s chaos:
The 7 Serums I Tested
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 – Promised hydration and plumpness. Used 2-3 drops.
- The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% – Aimed to control oil and shrink pores. Used 2-3 drops.
- The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres – Bragged about brightening dull spots. Used a pea-sized dab.
- Paula’s Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster – Touted calming and evening tone. Used 1-2 pumps.
- Inkey List Retinol Serum – Hyped for texture smoothing. Used 1-2 drops, eased in slow.
- Cosrx Snail Mucin 96% Power Essence – Claimed repair and hydration. Used 2-3 drops.
- Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum – Pushed brightening and protection. Used 3-4 drops.
How I Tested
I’d cleanse with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, pat dry, and slap on the serum, massaging it in while dodging Muffin’s paws. I’d follow with CeraVe PM Moisturizing Lotion and track changes—dullness, oil, texture—on a napkin. That curry spill today at 02:49 PM PKT? I cut back on spicy eats and upped water to 8 glasses daily—tough with my coffee habit—though Muffin nabbed a drop of niacinamide off my finger. I kept daytime simple (cleanse, SPF) and noted every flop and win.
Day-by-Day Breakdown: The Serum Showdown
I logged this with selfies and napkin scribbles, expecting a slow shift but hitting some wild turns. Muffin photobombed like a pro, adding his sassy flair.
Week 1: The Testing Trudge
- Day 1 (Today, 02:49 PM PKT): Started with Hyaluronic Acid—skin felt slick, flakes softened a bit. Score: 3.5/10. Muffin pawed the dropper—rude kickoff!
- Day 2: Niacinamide next—oil calmed, pores less obvious. Smelled weird. Muffin sniffed—judge? Score: 4/10.
- Day 4: Vitamin C hit—dullness lifted slightly, but it stung. Muffin stole a dab—thief! Score: 5/10.
- Day 6: Azelaic Acid eased redness, tone evened a tad. Messy application. Score: 5.5/10. Halfway—hope creeping in!
Week 2: The Winner Hunt
- Day 8: Retinol smoothed texture a bit, but flaky at first. Score: 6/10.
- Day 10: Snail Mucin plumped and hydrated—felt slimy but good. Friends noticed! Score: 6.5/10.
- Day 12: C-Firma brightened more, skin glowing. Reapply saved me. Score: 7.5/10.
- Day 14: Glow locked! Even tone, less oil. Final selfie hit 8.5/10.
Day 15 Check-In
Results held—soft and bright even after a crazy day. I’m sticking with winners.
My Take: The Wins, the Woes, and the Tips
This wasn’t a stroll, but finding winners was worth the sticky chaos. Here’s the no-BS scoop.
The Wins
- Budget Stretch: Serums under $10 each, totaling $50—renter win.
- Real Fixes: Two weeks tackled dullness, oil, texture.
- Mix-and-Match: Swapped based on need—no rigid rules.
The Woes
- Sticky Flop: Vitamin C dripped on Day 4—stained my shirt!
- Irritation Ouch: Retinol burned Day 8—eased up slow.
- Smell Struggle: Niacinamide stank Day 2—aired it out.
Tips to Test Serums
- Patch It: Try on your jaw first—reactions hit hard.
- Go Light: 2-3 drops max—don’t drown your face.
- Layer Smart: Moisturize after—locks it in.
- Hydrate Up: 8 glasses water amps results.
- Patience Wins: Give each 2-3 days.
The Verdict: What Worked
- Hyaluronic Acid: Plumped dry spots—keeper!
- Niacinamide: Tamed oil and pores—solid win.
- Azelaic Acid: Calmed redness—surprise hit.
- Snail Mucin: Hydrated and repaired—slimy but gold.
- C-Firma: Brightened dullness—glow star.
- Vitamin C: Stung too much—pass.
- Retinol: Flaky start—needs time, maybe later.
My skin’s still glowing a month later with the top four.
The Science Bit (Keep It Real)
Why’d this work? Dullness and oil come from dehydration and clogged pores. Hyaluronic pulls water, niacinamide balances sebum, azelaic soothes, and mucin repairs. I read somewhere serums can boost hydration and tone by 20-30% in two weeks—my face backs that!
My Twists, Flops, and Muffin Madness
This was a wild ride. That curry spill today at 02:49 PM PKT? Muffin knocked my Vitamin C, and I wiped it up, grumbling. Flops included over-applying Retinol on Day 9 (red mess!), skipping water once—learned fast. Wins? Tested with my niece—her laughs made it fun. Muffin’s serum swipe (he licked niacinamide!) added chaos and giggles—maybe my test buddy?
Aftermath: Worth the Serum Grind?
A month on, my skin’s at 8/10—bright, even, hydrated. The routine’s down to 5 minutes with my winners, and I’ve added a mask. Not perfect—stress oils me up—but glow’s holding. For $50 and two weeks, it beats pricey facials. If your skin’s off, try these. Oily types might skip mucin.
What’s your serum secret? Drop your tests or flops below—I’m all ears! Pin Boost Health for more skin hacks, and let’s keep the glow alive!