1.5 years of consistent use | Dry/Combination Skin | Focus : Well-Aging, Hydration, Acne-Prevention, Redness Reduction

I started using Geek & Gorgeous about 1.5 years ago, and the products reviewed here were used throughout that time. I've completely finished all of them and in some cases, gone through multiple bottles.

101 C-Glow

15% Vitamin C serum (ascorbic acid) with ferulic acid and vitamin E. Fungal acne-safe.

Shelf life : 3 months (longer if refrigerated) | Size : 30ml

Packaging :

 Tinted glass dropper bottle. Not ideal for ascorbic acid. They sell smaller refillable bottles meant to help with oxidation, which I used as a decent workaround, but an airless pump would be better.

Experience :

One of the best affordable Vitamin C serums I’ve tried. It arrived fresh, no yellowing or oxidized smell, and remained stable for months. That said, it occasionally stung and I didn’t notice major improvements in my skin. I've since found gentler Vitamin C options for my sensitive skin, so I likely won’t repurchase.

101 Stress Less

0.5% beta-glucan + madecassoside serum with sugar molecules. Fungal acne-safe.

Shelf life : 6 months | Size : 30ml

Packaging :

 Same tinted dropper bottle (with the same travel issues as the dropper popped out and spilled serum everywhere).

Experience :

This serum felt nice but didn’t do much for my skin. Slightly hydrating but thicker than their other serums, so I needed more product per use. Toward the end, it thickened to a thin gel. Won’t repurchase.

101 B-Bomb

10% niacinamide serum with zinc and sarcosine. Fungal acne-safe.

Shelf life : 6 months | Size : 30ml

Packaging :

 Same tinted dropper (same cons).

Experience :

Beautifully formulated, no pilling at all and wears perfectly under makeup. Out of all the 101 products, this made the biggest difference for me: it visibly reduced redness and helped prevent breakouts. Best niacinamide serum I've tried! I’m on my third bottle with another one in backup. Would love a jumbo 60ml size someday!

101 aPAD

20% azeclair (azelaic acid derivative) serum with allantoin. Fungal acne-safe.

Shelf life : 6 months | Size : 30ml

Packaging : Same as the others.

Experience :

Another elegant formula spreads easily and layers well. I’m on my third bottle with a backup ready, but I plan to try "true" azelaic acid next to compare. While aPAD helped even out my complexion, the effect wasn’t quite as dramatic as B-Bomb. Plus, PAD isn’t as thoroughly studied as standard azelaic acid, so I'm curious to see how the results stack up.

101 HA 5 Rich

Hydrating serum with 5 forms of hyaluronic acid, tremella mushroom extract, and panthenol. Fungal acne-safe.

Shelf life : 6 months | Size : 30ml

Packaging : Same as the other serums.

Experience :

A good hydrating serum, cosmetically elegant, light, and smooth. Slightly better than The Ordinary’s HA serum, in my opinion. Still, I prefer using hydrating toners like Hada Labo's lotions, so I won’t repurchase.

Overall Thoughts

Geek & Gorgeous is a fantastic, affordable brand that clearly knows what they’re doing. Shipping is impressively fast and professional. None of the non-acid products irritated me or caused breakouts.

Main Cons :

- Shelf life : Too short across the range. I'd love to see them reformulate with stronger preservatives and extend shelf life to at least 10 months.

- Packaging : The dropper bottles are functional but not ideal. I'd happily pay a bit more for airless pumps and I think many others would too.

Wishlist :

- Refillable/jumbo sizes (especially for star products like B-Bomb and aPAD).

- An ethylated ascorbic acid serum, a form of Vitamin C I’m excited about and would trust them to formulate well.

I’m excited to try their Jelly Joker cleanser next!

Feel free to ask if you have any questions! :)

If you haven't read my part 1, come to see it :

https://olive-talk.com/talk/r/2ldwq9f/geek-gorgeous-part-1-core-hydration-and-exfoliation-staples