SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum

Q: What is SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum?

A luxury antioxidant serum with a lipid-soluble form of vitamin C (THD ascorbate) combined with approximately 19 other antioxidants, formulated as a creamy yellow serum in an airless pump.

Q: Is SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum worth it?

Mostly yes. 10 of the 11 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 86%.

Q: What is SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum's Guru Score?

SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum holds a Guru Score of 86%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 11 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

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Dr. Mamina

282k subs

✓Yay

"Another high-end favorite is the SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced. In addition to vitamin C, it has 18 other antioxidants in it. So it has amazing free radical fighting power."

All 2 takes from Dr. Mamina

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"Another high-end favorite is the SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced. In addition to vitamin C, it has 18 other antioxidants in it. So it has amazing free radical fighting power."

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"I'm also a big fan of the SkinBetter Alto Advanced."

208SkinDoc

2.10M subs

✓Yay

"It has vitamin C, but it also has a complex of 20 different antioxidants in it, so you're getting a whole range of additional ingredients to help fight free radicals. To be frank with you, this is the one that I use every single day. It comes in an airless pump and you get about 150 days of use out of it, so even though it comes in at like 190 or 210 dollars, you do get a long time of use out of that."

All 6 takes from 208SkinDoc

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"The advanced Alto defense and repair has like 20 antioxidants and there's something about that 20th one, it's like they're super special antioxidant. I was using that one and I just ran out of it and I haven't picked up a new one yet."

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"This is a pretty expensive product, I think it's like $190, but you get about five months of use out of it since one pump covers the whole face. It has to be purchased through a physician, either at their office or through an authorized link."

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"It has 20 different antioxidants in it, so it not only helps to protect against free radicals in a much more comprehensive way, but it has ingredients to help repair any damage that has been done before. SkinBetter Science has great clinicals on before and afters. This is going to last you about 5 months even though it comes in at about 195 dollars. I use this every single morning."

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"If you're looking for an antioxidant serum, I recommend the Alto Defense Serum from SkinBetter Science. It's really effective, with over twenty types of antioxidants. It is going to be a little bit more expensive, however it lasts a long time. These fifty milliliter bottles will last about five months, so the price gets a little more reasonable when you think about it on a month by month basis."

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"The antioxidant serum I'm using most frequently now is the Alto Defense and Repair Serum from SkinBetter Science. It's a more premium price point so it costs more, but the bottle lasts me about five months so I get a lot of mileage out of it."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

151k subs

✓Yay

"We actually carry this one in my clinic. I treat a lot of rosacea patients with pulse dye laser and rosacea patients tend to have very sensitive skin so they can't use a lot of vitamin C serums because they can be a little bit harsh, especially L-ascorbic acid, but this SkinBetter Alto Advanced is very gentle. This advanced serum offers that comprehensive antioxidant protection by defending the skin from both external environmental stressors but also the internal oxidative damage."

All 5 takes from Dr. Aleksandra Brown

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"This is a really potent antioxidant. It has that THD vitamin C which is lipid soluble, really good for sensitive skin, as well as a complex of other antioxidants to keep the inflammation in base. For my patients who are coming in to do PDL laser, which I love, it's my favorite laser, I do it several times every single day, I always tell them that if you're investing in the laser you need to protect that investment and every PDL laser patient should be doing a vitamin C for sure."

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"This advanced serum offers comprehensive antioxidant protection by defending the skin from both external environmental stressors but also internal oxidative damage. Unlike traditional vitamin C serums, this formula contains 19 powerful antioxidants including vitamin C, vitamin E, and a proprietary botanical blend to brighten and reduce redness and improve overall skin texture."

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"I treat a lot of rosacea patients and I do a lot of pulse style laser, which is a laser that helps with the rosacea redness. All of my pulse style laser patients are encouraged to start vitamin C and sunscreen, and very often I hear 'I cannot tolerate vitamin C,' and I have them start SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced and they do just fine. So it's really not that you can't tolerate the ingredient, you just haven't found the right type."

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"This is really nice. They do have the regular Alto and then Alto Advanced. It is tinted, it's very tinted so I don't know that if you have super fair skin that you would love the look of this but honestly blends in really nice. You use very little of it. One pump is really all you need to cover your entire face. If you're going to use neck and chest you can use a second pump. Vitamin C can be used morning and evening."

Dr. Jenny Liu

323k subs

✓Yay

"This is another one that many dermatologists and plastic surgeons rave about. It has a lot of different antioxidants. I think 19 combinations of different antioxidants that provides free radical protection, damage from free radicals, helps to brighten the skin, support collagen, improves uneven skin tone, and it's a yellow creamy serum, so really great for dry skin and sensitive skin."

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"I absolutely love the rich creamy texture that the serum has and is really lovely for those with dry skin or to use in the winter time or those with sensitive skin and have a hard time tolerating traditional pure vitamin C serum and a watery serum. This is one I highly highly recommend checking out."

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"The first one is from SkinBetter Science, their Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum. This is not any cheaper than SkinCeuticals, but certainly is a lovely creamy serum with THD ascorbate, vitamin E, and 17 other antioxidants that have a lot of great clinical studies behind it. It's one that I really love and enjoy. The texture is so elegant, it's so amazing. But certainly the price point is not for everyone."

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"What I love about this serum is the texture and lack of weird odor. It's really just the texture and spreadability. I [...] take two pumps which is actually not a lot and it just spreads so nicely on my skin and I'm able to cover my face and neck. It's rich and soothing and hydrating. There's actually quite a bit of publications around the efficacy of this product and I've been loving it myself. I really have been enjoying it."

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"I honestly really love this for my sensitive skin and rosacea patients and friends. Even though C through L leg is my holy grail, there's some people that just can't tolerate the pure vitamin C, and for those individuals this is kind of like my alternative that I really highly recommend. It doesn't have as many studies, but certainly it's up there when it comes to the amount of clinical studies that do exist regarding vitamin C and antioxidant benefits."

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"SkinBetter Ultra Defense is more expensive, but it has great clinical data as well."

Tea with MD

115k subs

✓Yay

"This is an absolute Holy Grail product for me and probably one of my top three products of all time that I use every single day. This has THD ascorbate vitamin E but also 17 other antioxidants. I really think of this as more than just a vitamin C because it really takes kind of a holistic approach to treating your skin."

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"The skinbetter science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum has THD ascorbate, which is a very nonirritating lipid soluble form of vitamin C and this is my personal favorite. It goes on like a lightweight serum so it's hydrating enough that I don't have to use an additional serum or moisturizer in the morning."

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"My go-to, my Holy Grail vitamin C is still the SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced serum. This is my favorite because the form of vitamin C is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which is a lipid soluble, very stabilized form of vitamin C that does not have to be at a low acidic pH the way that L-ascorbic acid vitamin C's do. This product comes in a serum which is really nice because it's a little bit moisturizing."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"This is hands down the most expensive product on the list at 170 bucks. [...] It is really nice, it's just an antioxidant serum. [...] In this one we've got superoxide dismutase, we've got ceramides, fatty acids, vitamin E, and hob esters. It's really nice with no scent to it."

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"The skin better Alto defense repair serum's great"

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"I mean it's expensive, but as you saw, one and a half pumps was enough to cover my whole face and it absorbs pretty nicely. I think it sets to a nice natural finish that doesn't look sticky. It's a little tacky but it doesn't look greasy at the end of the day. It looks nice and it really works well under, and it's played well under pretty much most moisturizer and sunscreens I've tried with. [...] It is a little bit pricey, [...] but the ingredient list in here is really impressive."

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Dr. Whitney Bowe

74k subs

✓Yay

"It's a lipid loving, very stable form of vitamin C that I find is much better tolerated by my patients who have sensitive skin. Now they don't disclose exactly what percent of the THD they're using in the formulation, it's listed about 11th on the ingredient list, and it is underneath some other ingredients that are typically used at about a 1 to 2% concentration."

Dr. Shereene Idriss

1.73M subs

✓Mixed

"Skin Better Science has their Alto defense serum, it's the red one. I have the blue one. It has tetrahexaldate and vitamin E but it's 200 bucks. I use it twice a day and it's also my moisturizer. I use four drops of this all over my face, extra for under my eyes. If you have a lot on your chest you can use it on your chest as well."

Dr Alexis Stephens

582k subs

✓Yay

"Some of the products that I really love and use in my everyday routine are the SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum. [...] This is a powerhouse of an antioxidant serum. It actually has 19 antioxidants in there. THD is just one of them. This product is beautiful but expensive."

Dr. Daniel Sugai

722k subs

✓Yay

"Skin Better Science Alto, this one has 19 antioxidants so great. My patients love it actually. I carry this in my office just because it's so awesome."

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All 10 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai

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"The SkinBetter Science Alto does not have ascorbic acid per se but it has a derivative of ascorbic acid that's quite stable."

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"SkinBetter Science Alto, this has 19 antioxidants. It does have vitamin C but other things like coffee in it and this is my favorite antioxidant serum. It is a higher price point like Skinceutical C E Ferulic, but it's backed by a lot of science. SkinBetter Science is also backed by a lot of science. They work with dermatologists who run clinical trials on behalf of them and so I really believe in this brand."

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"Skin Better Science Alto, this one has 19 antioxidants so great. My patients love it actually. I carry this in my office just because it's so awesome."

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"SkinBetter Science Alto has just a ton of antioxidants packed in, which I'm liking. After this you can go ahead and put a moisturizer on or a sunscreen just slap your sunscreen right over it because usually I'm in a rush getting out."

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"You can apply this to damp skin in the morning after you cleanse, and bring it down to the neck, chest, and decollete area to help fight free radical damage and photoaging effects where you get red, whites, and browns and wrinkling. It's a lightweight, liquidy serum that you can apply with a pea-size amount using circular motions or tapping."

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"In the morning routine you can add on their Alto which has 19 antioxidants so this is you know you if you like vitamin C serums"

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"SkinBetter Science makes a nice vitamin C serum whereas it's more of an antioxidant serum. There's 19 antioxidants in the Alto. You have the Intensive Alto or the advanced therapy Alto and both are great. This one you can do morning at night. I like to just do my vitamin C serums in the morning before my sunscreen."

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"You have a lot of goodies in here. Usually I say don't go crazy with your ingredient list or multiple products, but it just works really well. This is the same price point as Skinceuticals C E Ferulic, and it's backed by science. I have dermatology colleagues that do the clinical trials for this brand; it's an impressive one. Alto has a very nice texture and a pump, just a twist top pump, and it's very lightweight."

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"SkinBetter Science Alto which has 19 antioxidants including vitamin C. I have incorporated it into my routine and I find it to be a great serum."

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"SkinBetter Science Alto has 19 antioxidants, and if you're an advanced user without sensitive skin, you can layer it with a retinoid. I can layer say SkinBetter Science Alto and then your retinoid right after that and a moisturizer and they don't interact, they can layer up just fine and you get that extra glow up the next day. My only thing is I don't do that every day because you're playing with fire if you mix these two great ingredients together."

Dr. Sam Ellis

898k subs

✓Yay

"My absolute favorite vitamin C product that utilizes a vitamin C derivative is the SkinBetter Science Alto Advanced Defense and Repair Serum. The reason I love this antioxidant serum so much and why I think it's sort of worth that higher price point is because this not only includes that vitamin C derivative THD ascorbate but also so many other incredible antioxidants."