Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but I usually use 4-5 drops to cover my face with the serums. It feels nice, but I'm likely going overboard and wasting? I used the facelift sample, and went through it way fast. It was making my face were taut, somewhat uncomfortably so, so I kept putting on more hoping it will make it better. Prolly shouldn't have Just got around using the original DMAE sample, and it's doing the same thing. My skin is a bit dehydrated, and when I smear 4-5 drops of it on, my face turns into the surface of a drum. The lifting effect I take it, but maybe a bit too much? Should I cut down with the drops and use something more hydrating over it once it's dry (like the oatmeal, or my moisturizer) or more water spritzing when I apply it? At night I put a bit of oil on my face too, but I can't really do that during the day.

I sooo hear you on that. I tip the bottle onto my fingertips and draw out a 'stripe' from the tip of my finger to the first joint, the length of the fingerprint (does that make sense?). I use at least three of those at night and easily five of those in the morning because of dehydration. That's if I'm using the Green Tea & Aloe Serum - the one I find the most hydrating. With the VitC serum, add another two fingerful's easily. It is awesome, but for chronic dehydration I need the extra amount. (I didn't take to the Rose, and haven't tried the Oatmeal yet).

I get the 'skin tight like a drum' effect from the Oil Control Serum if I don't use anything else underneath. That's not meant to be lifting but it does tighten that way when under-hydrated.

I haven't used the DMAE serum yet, but I say the above because it sounds like you are having the same partial problems I am trying to balance enough hydration without using way too much serum. I guess it's finding the right one. I'd love a mega-serum with the hydration of the GT&A but with the radiance goodies of the VitC.

It may be because I'm ancient (actually, I don't have wrinkles though, and plan to keep it that way as long as possible, at least without resorting to botox, surgery, etc), but my face does get a little tight from the DMAE. Not much. I only use a few drops of that on dry skin, give it time to dry and do its magic for a bit, then spritz hydrosol and either mix a hydrating serum with carrier oil, and apply that to damp skin or do hydrosol (distilled water works just fine, too) then hydrating serum, then more hydrosol and a layer of cream after that.

I bet the problem is that your skin is dehydrated, even if it's greasy. I don't think I've ever seen anybody whose skin wasn't - that may be what's causing the uncomfortably tight feeling. Hydrosol is mostly water, so I think that's why it helps a bit on the moisture front with the serums to help hydration. For actives - the Vit C, the DMAE, the AHA and BHA toners, etc., I'd apply to dry skin and let them work for a while, but definitely follow them up with water and serum at the very least after they've had a bit of time to work.

Also check your facial cleanser for oil-stripping ingredients, as that can knock your skin out-of-balance, too.

Yeah, I'm definitely dehydrated. I use my own mix of honey cleanser for the most part or OCM, so they don't strip, my face is nice and soft after washing and stays like that if I don't put anything on. I guess I'll be cutting back a bit on the mega serum, and then follow up with more hydrosol and the oatmeal one, or even just aloe gel and my moisturizers. Thanks!

The Vitamin C serums don't have a ton of humectant in them...there's sodium PCA which does a little but nothing like aloe, or glycerin or the oat extract that's in the oat serum. The C's are designed to be used pretty sparingly, just to go on and soak in- without something with a humectant, or a moisturizer on top if you're dehydrated they'll feel tight. Pretty much anything on top should work just fine even if it's something simple like aloe gel.