Getting a serum right is mostly about two things: how much you use and when you put it on. Total Package Serum is simple on both counts once you know the maker’s actual directions, which are easy to miss in the sales-page noise.
The Total Package Serum is a lightweight Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and peptide serum from Sun Coast Sciences, built to sit early in your routine as a base layer. Knowing how to use Total Package Serum well comes down to a few basics: how to apply it, where it fits, what’s actually in the bottle, how long one lasts, and the side effects worth knowing.
For this we read the maker’s directions and ingredient list, plus dermatology guidance on routine order and Vitamin C safety. We didn’t apply the serum ourselves. Here’s the practical version.
How to use Total Package Serum, step by step
Start with clean skin, morning and night. Cleanse first so the actives land on bare skin rather than sitting on top of the day’s grime.
Use about four to five pumps. The maker’s directions describe a pump on the forehead, one or two across the smile lines and under the eyes, and a few more for the cheeks and mouth. That’s more than the “one to two pumps” some review blogs quote, so go by the four-to-five figure and adjust to what absorbs cleanly.
Pat, don’t drag. Press the serum in gently across the face and neck and let it sink in for a moment. Because it’s a thin, fast-absorbing base layer, it disappears quickly and won’t leave a film if you’ve used a sensible amount.
Do it twice a day. Morning and night is the routine the brand recommends, and consistency is what makes any Vitamin C and peptide serum show results over weeks rather than days.
Where it fits in your routine
Serum goes on before moisturizer, not after. The rule dermatologists use is thinnest to thickest: cleanse, then the Total Package Serum, then moisturizer to seal it in. In the morning, sunscreen always goes on last.
It plays well with other actives. Vitamin C and niacinamide can be layered together, despite the old myth that they cancel out, so applying this serum and then a niacinamide product is fine. If you use retinol, the common approach is Vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night, which keeps irritation down and lets each do its job.
The one habit that matters most in the morning is sunscreen. Antioxidant serums like this one work best under daily SPF, since that’s what protects the brightening you’re building.
The ingredients, and what each one does
The maker’s ingredient list explains why it’s pitched as an all-in-one. Here are the headliners, in plain terms.
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is the Vitamin C, a stable, gentle derivative aimed at brightening and antioxidant defense. Sodium hyaluronate is the hyaluronic acid, the hydrator that plumps the look of the skin’s surface.
Then the peptides: palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 (Matrixyl) and palmitoyl tripeptide-38 (Matrixyl Synthe’6) target the look of firmness and fine lines, and acetyl hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) is aimed at the look of expression lines. Our dermatology-evidence guide covers what each is actually shown to do.
Rounding out the list are soothing botanicals, aloe, shea butter, chamomile, green tea, and olive leaf extract, plus carbomer and arginine to texture and balance the formula. The preservatives are phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin, a standard, well-tolerated pairing in water-based serums.
How long a bottle lasts
A 30 mL bottle holds roughly 150 pumps. Do the math on the full routine and it’s revealing.
At four to five pumps twice a day, you’re using eight to ten pumps daily, so one bottle lasts about two to three weeks. Use one to two pumps per application instead and the same bottle stretches to a month or more.
That short runway at full use is exactly why the brand pushes multi-bottle bundles, and why the where to buy Total Package Serum guide is worth a look before you order a single bottle at the highest per-unit price.
Side effects and patch testing
For most people this is a low-irritation serum, but a quick patch test is still smart. The Vitamin C here is a stable derivative that sits near skin-friendly pH and doesn’t sting the way pure L-ascorbic acid can, and hyaluronic acid and peptides are generally gentle.
The realistic risks are mild: occasional redness, or a reaction to one of the botanical extracts or to phenoxyethanol if your skin is reactive. If you have sensitive skin, rosacea, eczema, or known fragrance or plant allergies, dab a little on your inner arm and wait 24 to 48 hours before using it on your face.
Introduce it on its own for a few days before stacking it with strong actives like retinol or exfoliating acids, so you can tell how your skin responds. The 365-day guarantee on the official store means you can take that slow start without pressure. Our full Total Package Serum review covers the formula, price, and guarantee in depth.
Check today's Total Package Serum price