Welcome to the Serious skin care review. Okay, so Serious Skin Care. The name sounds like they’re really serious about skincare, right? But then you realize this is yet another multi-level marketing company, and things start to smell a bit familiar.

If you’ve never heard of this brand, don’t worry – you’re not alone. Serious Skin Care is one of those lesser-known players in the MLM skincare world, operating quietly while giants like Rodan + Fields and Nu Skin get all the attention. But just because it’s not as loud doesn’t mean it’s not worth looking into.

So what’s the deal with Serious Skin Care? Is it actually serious about helping your skin, or is it just another way to drain your wallet while promising you can “be your own boss”? Let’s dig into this thing properly.

What Exactly Is Serious Skin Care?

Serious Skin Care is a skincare company that sells its products primarily through home shopping networks like HSN (Home Shopping Network) and QVC. Yeah, you read that right – this isn’t your typical MLM where consultants are constantly messaging you on Facebook trying to recruit you into their downline.

The company was founded back in 1999 by a woman named Jennifer Flavin-Stallone. Yes, that Stallone – she’s married to Sylvester Stallone. The brand started with the idea of creating high-quality skincare products without the department store markup.

Here’s where it gets interesting though. While Serious Skin Care does have some MLM elements (more on that later), it’s not as aggressively MLM as something like Mary Kay or Arbonne. You can actually just buy the products directly from HSN or their website without having to sign up as a distributor or deal with a pushy consultant.

The product line includes all the usual suspects: cleansers, moisturizers, serums, eye creams, and various treatment products. They claim to use quality ingredients and offer “clinical results” without the clinical price tag.

The Product Line – What Are You Actually Getting?

Let’s talk about what they’re selling, because that’s what really matters at the end of the day.

Cleansers and Toners

They’ve got several cleansing options ranging from gentle daily cleansers to more intensive treatment cleansers. The Glycolic Cleanser is one of their more popular products – it’s supposed to exfoliate while it cleans. Glycolic acid is a legit ingredient that actually does help with exfoliation, so that’s not just marketing fluff.

There’s also the Reverse Lift Glycolic Cleanser which promises to “reverse the signs of aging.” Bit of a bold claim there, but okay.

Serums and Treatments

This is where they really push the anti-aging angle. The C3 Vitamin C Serum is a big one for them. Vitamin C is genuinely good for skin – it’s an antioxidant that can help with brightening and collagen production. Whether their specific formulation is better than what you can get elsewhere is debatable.

The Reverse Lift Glycolic Acid Peel is another product they push hard. It’s a 20% glycolic acid treatment, which is actually pretty strong. You’d normally pay quite a bit for that concentration at a dermatologist’s office, so if their product actually delivers, that could be decent value.

They also have the Insta-Tox line, which is supposed to give you immediate wrinkle-reducing results. Spoiler alert: anything that promises “instant” results is probably using temporary tightening ingredients that wash off. Not necessarily bad, but don’t expect permanent changes.

Moisturizers and Eye Creams

The A-Lift Face & Neck Firming Cream is one of their bestsellers. It contains peptides and retinol, both of which are actual anti-aging ingredients backed by science. So at least they’re not just throwing random stuff in a jar.

Their eye creams follow the same pattern – targeting puffiness, dark circles, and wrinkles with a combo of peptides, caffeine, and hydrating ingredients.

The Ingredient Situation

Here’s the thing about Serious Skin Care products: the ingredients aren’t bad. They actually use some decent active ingredients like glycolic acid, vitamin C, retinol, and peptides. These are all scientifically proven to do something for your skin.

But – and this is important – the concentration and formulation matter a lot. Just because a product contains vitamin C doesn’t mean it has enough of it or the right form of it to actually work. And Serious Skin Care isn’t super transparent about their exact concentrations.

The Pricing – Is It Actually Affordable?

So they market themselves as being more affordable than department store brands. Let’s check if that’s actually true.

A typical cleanser runs about $25-35. Their serums are usually $40-60. Moisturizers range from $40 up to $80 or more for the “premium” ones.

Is that affordable? Well, compared to La Mer or SK-II, sure. But compared to CeraVe or The Ordinary? Not even close.

You can get products with similar ingredients from brands like The Ordinary for literally $7-15. Yeah, they might not have the fancy packaging or the HSN host hyping them up, but chemically speaking, you’re often getting similar stuff.

The argument Serious Skin Care makes is that their formulations are superior and their concentrations are higher. Maybe that’s true, maybe it’s not. Without seeing lab results, it’s hard to say.

The MLM Angle – How Deep Does It Go?

Okay, so here’s where things get a bit murky. Serious Skin Care does have a consultant program, but it’s not as front-and-center as with traditional MLMs.

From what I can tell, you can sign up to be a “Skincare Specialist” and earn commissions on sales. But the company seems to make more money through direct sales via HSN and QVC rather than through a massive network of consultants.

This is actually… kind of refreshing? Like, you’re not constantly being recruited or seeing “join my team!” posts all over social media. If you just want to buy the products, you can do that without any weird pressure.

But make no mistake – there is still a multi-level component. Consultants can build downlines and earn from their recruits’ sales. It’s just not as aggressive or visible as other MLMs.

The compensation plan isn’t super transparent on their website, which is a bit of a red flag. Traditional MLMs usually have elaborate compensation plans with ranks like “Diamond Executive Director” or whatever. Serious Skin Care seems to keep things more low-key.

What Real Users Are Actually Saying

So here’s where we get to the good stuff – what are actual customers saying when they’re not being pitched to on HSN?

The Trustpilot Situation (It’s Weird)

Here’s where things get interesting right off the bat. Serious Skin Care’s Trustpilot presence is basically non-existent, with only 2 reviews total on their official page seriousskincare.com Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.seriousskincare.com. Two. For a company that’s been around since 1999 and sells on major shopping networks.

That’s either a sign that not many people think to leave reviews there, or… well, it’s just odd for a skincare company this established.

The reviews that do exist paint very different pictures. One customer praised the products enthusiastically, saying they could see and feel a difference in their skin immediately seriousskincare.com Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.seriousskincare.com. Sounds great, right?

But then there’s this: Another reviewer reported being charged $9.99 monthly since July 2022 without having any account with the company, and when they contacted Serious Skin Care, they were told the money couldn’t be returned because there was no account on file seriousskincare.com Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of www.seriousskincare.com.

That’s genuinely concerning. How does a company charge someone for months without an account existing? That’s the kind of thing that makes you nervous about entering your credit card info.

Reviews.io – More Data, Mixed Results

Moving over to Reviews.io, there’s actually more to work with. Serious Skincare has 232 reviews with an average score of 3.75 stars, with 127 customers rating them as good Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com.

So… solidly average. Not amazing, not terrible. The 3.75 star rating is pretty much the definition of “fine.”

The Insta-Tox Obsession

One thing becomes crystal clear when reading through reviews: people are absolutely fixated on their Insta-Tox product. This is the temporary wrinkle-reducer that promises instant results.

Multiple reviewers described seeing results within 2 minutes, with one saying their eye puffiness reduced and lines from nose to mouth disappeared, creating a tightening sensation that lasted all day Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com.

Another person mentioned switching from Plexaderm (a similar product) because it stopped working for them. They’re now on auto-delivery for Insta-Tox and described themselves as “a very active senior” who wants their looks to match their energy Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com.

That’s actually kind of wholesome.

But here’s the reality check – all these Insta-Tox reviews describe temporary results. The product tightens your skin temporarily, which is exactly what it’s designed to do. It’s not fixing wrinkles; it’s creating a temporary tightening effect. One reviewer specifically noted that while it tightened the skin, when they smiled or moved their face, it wrinkled in a different way Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com.

So yeah, it works, but you need to understand what you’re getting – a temporary cosmetic effect, not actual anti-aging treatment.

The Learning Curve Issue

Multiple people mentioned that Insta-Tox takes practice to apply correctly. Reviewers noted it takes a few attempts until you get it right, and some said they smooth out patches but not everywhere, indicating they still haven’t mastered the application Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com.

This is pretty typical for these tightening products. They’re not as simple as slapping them on and going. You need to figure out the right amount, where to apply it, and how to let it dry without making facial expressions.

The Long-Term Users

What’s interesting is finding people who’ve stuck with the brand for years. One reviewer mentioned being 83 years old and seeing changes after just 2 weeks of use Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com. Another customer said they’ve been using Jennifer’s products for years and always order extra Insta-Tox to have on hand Serious Skincare Reviews – Read 232 Genuine Customer Reviews | seriousskincare.com.

When a skincare brand has loyal customers who keep coming back for years, that usually means something is working for them. Whether it’s the products themselves or just that they found a routine that works doesn’t really matter – consistency matters more than specific brands anyway.

BBB Reviews: Where Things Get Messy

The Better Business Bureau reviews and complaints paint a more concerning picture. One satisfied customer on BBB mentioned purchasing a 4-piece Vitamin C kit from QVC and experiencing brighter skin, with their 60+ year old skin loving the products Serious Skin Care | BBB Reviews | Better Business Bureau.

But then there are complaints that really raise eyebrows.

The Subscription Problem

This seems to be the biggest issue people have. Multiple customers complained about being automatically enrolled in subscriptions without realizing it, with one person stating they ordered one tube but kept receiving shipments and being billed $39 each time Serious Skin Care | BBB Reviews | Better Business Bureau.

One BBB complaint described ordering products and then receiving shipments they didn’t order, with the company continuing to charge them despite cancellation requests Serious Skin Care | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau. Another customer reported being charged $9.99 monthly and having difficulty getting refunds Serious Skin Care | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau.

The pattern here is pretty clear: the subscription system is either deliberately confusing or poorly designed. Either way, it’s causing problems for customers.

To be fair, the company did respond to complaints acknowledging they needed to make the wording clearer about subscription versus one-time purchases Serious Skin Care | BBB Reviews | Better Business Bureau. But the fact that so many people are getting caught in unwanted subscriptions suggests the problem hasn’t been fully fixed.

Customer Service Issues

Several BBB complaints mentioned difficulty reaching customer service or getting issues resolved, with one person saying they had to leave voicemails and file bank fraud claims because products kept arriving after cancellation Serious Skin Care | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau.

Another complaint described being told they had to email their cancellation request rather than being able to cancel over the phone, and then receiving no response to their email while charges continued Serious Skin Care | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau.

When customer service makes it harder to cancel than to buy, that’s a red flag.

The Positive Side

It’s worth noting that many of the BBB complaints show the company eventually responding and offering refunds Serious Skin Care | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau. They do seem to try to make things right when issues are escalated, which is better than some companies.

But the fact that it takes BBB complaints to get resolution isn’t exactly reassuring.

MakeupAlley – The Long-Time Fan Perspective

MakeupAlley has 1,276 reviews of 150 Serious Skincare products Serious Skincare reviews, photos and discussion – MakeupAlley, which gives us a decent sample size to work with.

What’s interesting here is that you see reviews from people who’ve been using the brand for literally decades. One reviewer mentioned using Serious Skin Care exclusively for approximately 24 years Serious Skincare reviews, photos and discussion – MakeupAlley.

That’s serious brand loyalty (pun intended).

But you also see a lot of reviews for discontinued products, which suggests the company has gone through multiple reformulations and product changes over the years. That’s not necessarily bad – companies evolve – but it does mean that reviews from years ago might not reflect current formulations.

The Dermatology Review Weighs In

The Dermatology Review notes that Serious Skin Care reviews on their site are pretty negative, though they point out there aren’t many customer reviews and some products don’t have any reviews yet Serious Skin Care Review – The Dermatology Review.

One complaint they highlighted involved a customer who said the company wouldn’t reimburse them after they requested to stop receiving products, only offering a partial refund of $17 when they’d been charged over $90 Serious Skin Care Review – The Dermatology Review.

Again, we’re seeing this pattern of subscription issues and refund problems.

Red Flags and Things That Make You Go “Hmm”

Let’s talk about some concerns that keep popping up.

The Clinical Claims

They throw around terms like “clinical results” and “clinically tested” but don’t really provide the actual clinical studies. Who did the testing? How many people? What were the exact results? This info is usually absent.

When a skincare company has actual solid clinical data, they usually shout it from the rooftops. The fact that Serious Skin Care doesn’t provide detailed study results is suspicious.

The “Natural” Marketing

They market some products as being “naturally derived” or having “botanical ingredients.” But so does pretty much every skincare company now. This is just standard marketing language that doesn’t really mean much.

Natural doesn’t automatically mean better. Poison ivy is natural. Lead is natural. You get the point.

The Subscription Trap

Based on the reviews and complaints, it seems way too easy to accidentally sign up for auto-delivery subscriptions. And then it’s apparently difficult to cancel them.

This is a business model that relies on people forgetting to cancel or having trouble canceling. That’s not exactly customer-friendly.

The MLM Structure (Even If Subtle)

Even though it’s not as aggressive as some MLMs, the fact that there is a multi-level component at all is worth noting. MLMs have a questionable track record when it comes to actually benefiting the people selling the products.

The vast majority of people who join MLMs don’t make significant money. The FTC has released data showing that in most MLMs, over 99% of participants lose money or make less than minimum wage.

Now, Serious Skin Care seems to be less focused on recruitment than product sales, which is better. But it’s still something to be aware of.

The HSN/QVC Factor

Selling through home shopping networks isn’t necessarily bad, but it does rely heavily on impulse buying and emotional selling tactics. Those hosts are really good at making you feel like you absolutely need something RIGHT NOW before the special offer ends.

This creates a sense of urgency that might make you buy something you don’t actually need or haven’t properly researched.

Comparing to Other Brands

How does Serious Skin Care stack up against other options?

Versus Department Store Brands (Estée Lauder, Clinique, etc.)

Serious Skin Care is cheaper than most high-end department store brands. The ingredient quality seems comparable in many cases. So if you’re choosing between a $90 Estée Lauder serum and a $50 Serious Skin Care serum with similar ingredients, the Serious Skin Care might be a better value.

Versus Drugstore Brands (CeraVe, Neutrogena, etc.)

This is where Serious Skin Care doesn’t look as good. Drugstore brands have really stepped up their game in recent years. CeraVe, for example, has products formulated with dermatologists that contain excellent ingredients for a fraction of the price.

A CeraVe moisturizer with ceramides and hyaluronic acid might cost $15-20 and last months. A comparable Serious Skin Care product might be $50-70.

Versus The Ordinary and Other Budget “Active” Brands

The Ordinary has basically disrupted the entire skincare industry by selling products with high concentrations of active ingredients for dirt cheap. Their vitamin C serums are $7-15. Their retinol products are similar prices.

Serious Skin Care can’t really compete on price with The Ordinary. Their argument would have to be that their formulations are superior in some way, but again, without transparent clinical data, that’s hard to verify.

Versus Other MLM Skincare (Rodan + Fields, Arbonne, etc.)

Compared to other MLM skincare brands, Serious Skin Care is actually less annoying because you can just buy the products without dealing with consultants. The prices are roughly similar.

Ingredient-wise, they’re all in the same ballpark – using legitimate ingredients but nothing revolutionary. If you’re going to buy MLM skincare, Serious Skin Care is probably one of the less painful options.

Who Is This Actually For?

Let’s be real about who might actually benefit from Serious Skin Care products.

You might like it if:

• You’re already a fan of HSN/QVC shopping and enjoy that experience
• You want products with active ingredients but find The Ordinary too confusing or basic
• You’re okay with mid-range pricing (not drugstore, not luxury)
• You don’t want to deal with MLM consultants but don’t mind buying from an MLM-adjacent company
• You’ve tried their products before and found ones that work for your skin

You probably won’t like it if:

• You’re on a tight budget and want the cheapest effective options
• You want complete transparency about ingredient concentrations and clinical testing
• You’re opposed to MLM companies on principle
• You already have a skincare routine that works and you’re not looking to switch
• You prefer buying from traditional retailers or dermatologist-recommended brands
• You’re worried about accidentally getting locked into subscription services

The Bottom Line – Is It Worth It?

So after all this, what’s the verdict on Serious Skin Care?

It’s… fine. Not amazing, not terrible. Just fine.

The products contain legitimate active ingredients that can actually benefit your skin. The pricing is mid-range – not the cheapest, but not luxury either. The MLM structure is there but not as aggressive as some companies.

But – and this is important – the user reviews reveal some concerning patterns. The subscription issues are real and they’re widespread. Too many people are getting charged for products they didn’t order or having trouble canceling. That’s not okay.

If you happen to find a product that works really well for your skin and you’re very careful about avoiding subscription traps, then sure, it might work for you. But if you’re just getting into skincare or looking for the best value, there are probably better options out there.

The biggest issue is that Serious Skin Care doesn’t really offer anything unique or revolutionary. Everything they sell, you can find similar versions of from other brands, often at better prices or with more transparency and fewer subscription headaches.

The celebrity connection (Jennifer Flavin-Stallone) adds some glamour but doesn’t necessarily make the products better. The HSN/QVC platform gives them visibility but also relies on impulse-buying tactics that might not serve customers well.

What About Making Money Selling It?

As for the MLM component – even though it’s less prominent than other companies, it’s still there. If you’re thinking about becoming a consultant to make money, really do your research first. The odds of making significant income through MLM are very low, and you’d likely be better off putting that time and energy into something else.

The fact that Serious Skin Care doesn’t heavily promote its MLM side might actually mean there’s even less opportunity for consultants than with more aggressive MLMs. At least with companies like Mary Kay or Arbonne, the MLM structure is clear and central. With Serious Skin Care, it seems like an afterthought, which probably means even less support and infrastructure for people trying to make money that way.

Final Thoughts

Serious Skin Care is an okay skincare brand that happens to have MLM ties and some concerning business practices around subscriptions. The products aren’t bad, but they’re not revolutionary either. The pricing is reasonable compared to luxury brands but high compared to effective drugstore or budget options.

The user reviews paint a picture of products that work for some people (especially the Insta-Tox for temporary results) but a company that has serious issues with customer service and subscription management. That’s a problem that goes beyond whether the moisturizer is effective.

If you love shopping on HSN and you find products that work for your skin, great. But be very careful about subscription options and read the fine print. Consider taking screenshots of your order to prove what you actually purchased.

And if someone tries to recruit you to sell Serious Skin Care, think really carefully about whether that’s actually a good use of your time and money. The products might be fine, but that doesn’t mean the business opportunity is.

At the end of the day, good skincare is about finding what works for your specific skin, not about brand names or marketing hype. Whether that’s a $7 serum from The Ordinary or a $50 serum from Serious Skin Care doesn’t matter as much as whether it actually helps your skin without causing problems or billing headaches.

Do your research, patch test new products, watch out for subscription traps, and don’t let fancy marketing or celebrity endorsements make you spend more than you’re comfortable with. Your skin deserves good care, but your wallet deserves respect too – and you definitely don’t deserve to be charged for products you didn’t order.