This serum is one of my new favorites for a true glow — for less than $40

After more than five years professionally testing beauty products, I’ve developed a finely tuned radar for spotting what works, what’s overhyped and what quietly earns its place on my top shelf.

The skincare space is saturated with flashy serums, buzzy ingredients and empty promises, sure, but every once in a while, something comes along that skips the fluff and gets straight to performance. That’s exactly what happened with Maelove’s The Glow Maker.

This little serum has completely disrupted my vitamin C rotation (and that’s saying something, considering how many serums I’ve trialed in the name of research, curiosity and glowing skin).

Maelove The Glow Maker Serum

Let’s talk texture. The Glow Maker is so fluid and lightweight, it feels more like an essence than your typical vitamin C concoction. The second it hits my skin, it absorbs like a dream without any sticky aftermath or pilling when I follow up with moisturizer or SPF. It has this refined, elegant slip to it that makes application feel less like a step and more like a ritual.

I genuinely look forward to using it each morning, which is a rare thing to say about a product with ascorbic acid front and center. I love how the formula is lightweight yet blends well. It feels soft to the touch and elevated — like it’s a $100-plus serum…but not.

Size: 1 fluid ounce | Key ingredients: Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E

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And yet, this thing works. Not in the showy, overly dramatic way that some products try to prove their worth with overnight peeling or stinging — which, by the way, I’ve grown weary of — but in a steady, almost sneaky way. Two weeks in, I noticed my complexion looking more alive, more even. A little extra clarity here, a subtle brightening around my cheeks there and a certain smoothness to my overall texture that made my no-makeup days feel surprisingly confident. It’s the kind of shift that makes people ask, “What are you using?” Which, by the way, is always the mark of a product pulling its weight.

What I truly appreciate about The Glow Maker is how intelligently it’s formulated. This isn’t just a vitamin C serum for the sake of ticking a trend box. Its 15% L-ascorbic acid content is stabilized with ferulic acid and vitamin E, aka a dream team trio for maximizing efficacy and antioxidant protection. All the while, hyaluronic acid adds hydration without heaviness.

But what really impresses me are the calming extras: aloe, magnolia, grape seed extract. They’re subtle, yes, but they do something special. There’s a softness to how this formula behaves on the skin that many vitamin C serums just don’t achieve. It feels like someone behind the scenes actually understands what it’s like to deal with real skin: sometimes sensitive, sometimes reactive, always needing balance.

As someone who’s handled a rotating cast of actives and hero ingredients over the years, I’ve seen my share of overly ambitious formulas that overwhelm more than they deliver. The Glow Maker is different. It respects the skin barrier. It doesn’t shout with aggressive claims; it just shows up and delivers. It’s addicting, and I keep using it morning after morning.

I will say: while I haven’t experienced any irritation personally, those with ultra-sensitive skin might want to patch test or ease into it. Even with all the thoughtful additions, L-ascorbic acid at this percentage is still active and potent. Also, as with any pure vitamin C, there’s the usual caveat about oxidation. If you’re not using it consistently or storing it in a cool, dark space, it might darken over time. I haven’t seen mine turn yet, but I’m also borderline obsessive about closing the bottle tightly and keeping it away from sunlight. This is a small price to pay for a serum that does this much heavy lifting.

After speaking with Korean beauty products of her heritage, which only ticks off extra points in my book!)

Even rarer? This serum clocks in at a price point that doesn’t feel like you’re paying for celebrity endorsements or frosted glass packaging alone. Listen, I’ve used vitamin C serums that have surpassed the $100-mark, but this one is refreshingly accessible — and still holds its own against the pricier heavy-hitters in my stash.

The bottom line

So here’s the deal: foundation. The result? Bright, hydrated, clear-looking skin that gets a little better every day.

If you’ve been burned by unstable, overly sticky, or harsh vitamin C serums in the past, this might be Amazon serum that’s waiting for you to toss it inside your cart. It’s truly one of my favorites that beauty editors honor.