After ten years of hiding my skin under make-up, one appointment changed how I look at skincare. Here is what she told me.

For years I hid my face under make-up. Dark spots on my cheeks, my forehead, even my hands. I spent hundreds of euros on creams that promised everything and did nothing.

Last spring I finally booked an appointment with a dermatologist. What she told me changed the way I look at skincare completely.

According to her, the problem isn't that you use too little product. It's that most vitamin C breaks down before it does anything. Stable vitamin C is rare, and it's the only kind that works.

She recommended a serum made in the Netherlands, with 15% stabilised vitamin C and niacinamide.

I used it every morning for four weeks. After two weeks my colleagues asked if I had been on holiday. After four weeks I stopped wearing foundation.

The brand is currently offering a discount for new customers, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I don't know how long it lasts, so if you're curious, don't wait too long.