Vitamin C serums contain antioxidants that can protect the skin from environmental damage, says David Petrillo, a Nevada-based beauty chemist. He adds that they can promote a brighter complexion by stimulating collagen production and reducing the appearance of fine lines and dark spots. When added to a morning regimen, they can also boost the effectiveness and strength of other products, such as sunscreen and retinol serums. Generally, vitamin C is safe for all skin types and is known to help with skin conditions such as acne and rosacea.
To help you find the right product for your skin, we tested 34 vitamin C serums at home. We assessed them for six weeks based on ease of use, absorption, value, and how they improved skin texture and firmness. At the end of the testing period, we recorded our thoughts and test results to narrow down our list. Finally, a dermatologist from our Medical Expert Board reviewed this article for medical accuracy.
How Vitamin C Serums Work
- Mamina Turegano, MD, FAAD, a triple board-certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist says vitamin C serums build collagen and help with hyperpigmentation. She adds that it works by binding to free radicals (unstable molecules that can damage skin and cause collagen breakdown) to prevent the damage they can cause. It also works on the skin’s surface by evening out skin tone. Geeta Yadav, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology, says vitamin C serums are generally good for all skin types and recommends daily use.
Picking the Right Vitamin C Serum Potency
Vitamin C has a lot of benefits, but it can also irritate sensitive skin since it’s an unstable antioxidant. Adrienne O’Connell, DO, Medical Director and President of Laguna Beach Aesthetics, suggests that if you have sensitive skin, start with a lower potency to prevent potential irritation. Petrillo says this is also a good idea for people with melanated skin or who want to gauge how their skin will react to a vitamin C serum. Performing a patch test is a good way to determine a product’s compatibility with your skin.
What Healthcare Providers Want You to Know
- Best practices: Turegano recommends using vitamin C serums in the morning, including a thin layer to your neck and décolletage. Yadav adds that using it in the morning will best protect your skin during the day since you’re most exposed to free radicals. Turegano reminds us that if you use retinol serums, it’s best to use those at night and not in the morning when applying your vitamin C serum.
- Stable vitamin C form: Turegano recommends purchasing serums with either of the following two forms of vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid (which is the purest form of vitamin C) and tetrahexyldecyl (THD) ascorbate (which is more stable and penetrates the skin deeper). She adds that if you have sensitive skin or you’re prone to hyperpigmentation, you should look for lower percentages of L-ascorbic acid (under 15%) or stick to THD ascorbate.
- Antioxidant boosters: Given vitamin C’s instability, Petrillo says it’s important to pair it with other antioxidants to boost its stability. Yadav says to look for vitamin E and ferulic acid. When combined, vitamin E strengthens the efficacy of vitamin C, and ferulic acid is incredibly potent and effective at stabilizing vitamin C.
- Natural extracts: Petrillo says that natural extracts like aloe vera or green tea extract can soothe and calm the skin. Natural ingredients that benefit the skin are good to look for. Petrillo warns that it’s best to avoid artificial fragrances, essential oils, colors, or high alcohol content when looking for a good vitamin C serum.
When to See a Healthcare Professional
Petrillo advises that if you live with skin conditions, you should consult a dermatologist to ensure you use the correct amount or formulation of vitamin C. It’s also important to note that some skin conditions, like eczema, can flare up after using vitamin C.
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Fragrance free
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Made for sensitive skin
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Tube-shaped package
Key Specs
Benefits: Anti-aging, brightening, moisturizing, firming | Skin type: Sensitive | Dosage: 10% | Size: 1.92 fl oz
Why We Recommend It
Easy to use, affordable, and fragrance-free, L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Vitamin C Serum is our pick for the best overall vitamin C serum. An ideal serum contains 10 to 20% vitamin C. Anything under 10% isn’t very effective, and the efficacy tapers off over 20%, according to O’Connell. Made with sensitive skin in mind, this serum’s potency sits at the lower end of the spectrum (10%), which makes it good for first-timers who are curious but intimidated by the strength of other options. It’s also affordable and available at most drugstores and online retailers.
The first time we used the paste-like formula, it absorbed seamlessly. It made our skin softer and gave it a pleasing sheen. After testing, we saw an undeniable difference in our skin. It felt firmer and plumper, our complexion improved, and we looked more “awake” with a youthful, brighter glow. Something else that made this product stand out was that it came in a tube instead of the traditional bottle. It was easy to apply and dispensed the perfect amount of product. The overall accessibility, user-friendly design, and effectiveness make this product something we highly recommend.
Keep in Mind
We’d want this formula to be a little thinner if we could change anything. The thicker consistency made it a little harder to spread and took some getting used to. If the texture of this serum isn’t for you, BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner Vitamin C Treatment is another great option with a silkier consistency. It performed well on sensitive skin despite having a slightly higher potency (20% L-absorbic acid). Although our skin looked brighter and felt tighter after use, we saw no major difference in skin texture or fine lines. It’s also a bit pricier than other picks.
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Absorbs quickly
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Lightweight oil formula
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Plumps skin
Key Specs
Benefits: Brightening, firming, hydrating, plumping | Skin type: All skin types | Dosage: Not listed | Size: 1 fl oz, 0.4 fl oz
Why We Recommend It
We can’t remember the last time we received as many compliments as we did after using Biossance Squalene and Vitamin C Rose Oil. This vegan vitamin C serum visibly brightens and hydrates skin. It contains sugarcane-derived squalene (an antioxidant and emollient that helps with water retention) and uses tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD) for vitamin C. Turegano recommends THD for people with sensitive skin since it can be gentler than L-ascorbic acid (another common form of vitamin C). After six weeks of testing, we can confirm that this product gave us plumper and more hydrated skin.
The dropper became one of our favorite perks because it pulled the perfect amount of serum every time. Our skin quickly absorbed the lightweight oil, giving us a luminous glow. Our editor who tested this product sometimes skipped using foundation and concealer because her skin looked plump and healthy. A little of this product went a long way, and at the end of testing, we still had half a bottle left. At that rate, this product would last us three months before we’d have to purchase it again.
Keep in Mind
If you live in a more humid climate, other options on this list may be better for you. During the hot summer months, we experienced a few breakouts, primarily on muggier days.
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Travel sized
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Long-lasting hydration
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Affordable
Key Specs
Benefits: Brightening, hydrating | Skin type: All | Dosage: 20% | Size: 1 fl oz, 2 fl oz
Why We Recommend It
TruSkin Vitamin C Face Serum hydrated our skin, gave us a youthful glow, and kept our pores clean. The editor who tested this serum has acne-prone skin and loved that she didn’t experience any breakouts. It also faded her acne scars slightly, contributing to a brighter, more glowy complexion.
We love that the formula has aloe, a great ingredient for retaining skin moisture. Petrillo also likes this product because it hydrates the skin with hyaluronic acid and has a 20% vitamin C content in the form of sodium ascorbyl phosphate (which can be gentler for the skin). We found that we could use this vitamin C serum without a moisturizer and still have supple, soft skin. It even kept our skin moisturized after a 13-hour flight. All in all, this option is an easy-to-use confidence booster.
Keep in Mind
We appreciated the added hydration from this serum, however, in the six weeks we tested this product, we saw no improvement or change in our skin texture. If that’s your priority, there may be other options on this list better suited to you.
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Vegan and cruelty free
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Lightweight
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Non-irritating
Key Specs
Benefits: Brightening, hydrating, firming | Skin type: Normal, dry, combination, oily | Dosage: 15% | Size: 1 fl oz
Why We Recommend It
The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright 15% Vitamin C Serum fights hyperpigmentation by brightening your complexion and evening skin tone. While we did notice smoother skin after testing, we were most impressed by how much it boosted our skin’s natural radiance. The formula’s vitamin C and hyaluronic acid pair together to provide strong antioxidant and moisturizing benefits for the skin, according to O’Connell. She says that the duo can also improve elasticity, decrease the appearance of fine lines, and brighten the skin.
The lightweight, non-irritating formula absorbed quickly and left our skin feeling clean and refreshed. We also maintained a bright, dewy, and hydrated face as the day continued. Plus, the travel-size bottle was compact enough to take wherever we went. The pump made controlling how much product we used easy, so we never worried about using too much. A bonus: The serum is vegan and cruelty-free, so you can feel good about using it.
Keep in Mind
While we liked the natural orange fragrance, this option may not be best for you if you’re sensitive to citrus scents.
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Precise dropper
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Smooths skin
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Improves fine lines
Key Specs
Benefits: Brightening, smoothing, firming | Skin type: All skin types | Dosage: 15% | Size: 1 fl oz
Why We Recommend It
We know the price point of SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum may be steep for some, so we wanted to ensure this serum delivers. Petrillo, Yadav, and Turegano all mentioned this serum when asked for their product recommendations. Petrillo says it’s well known for its vitamin C, E, and ferulic acid combination. Turegano adds that the patented formula is highly effective because the antioxidants (vitamin E and ferulic acid) support the effects of vitamin C. With three experts suggesting this product, we put it to the test. After six weeks of using this vitamin C serum, we looked in the mirror to find it delivers. Our skin was smoother, brighter, and softer.
This serum has a liquid consistency, and the dropper easily controlled how much we used. It absorbed into our skin quickly and gave it a radiant finish. The editor who tested this had already been using vitamin C serums for eight years, so she was familiar with its effects on the skin. After using SkinCeuticals’ vitamin C serum, she saw a big difference in two areas that past products hadn’t improved: skin texture and fine lines. This serum gave us softer, smoother skin and the glowy, bright look that vitamin C serums are known for. SkinCeuticals says that this product lightens lines, firms skin, and brightens your complexion, and we can confirm that’s true.
Keep in Mind
There’s no added scent, but the natural fragrance wasn’t pleasant in our opinion. The good news is that the scent goes away immediately after application. And the improvements to our skin were so impressive that we didn’t mind the unpleasant smell during those first few seconds of usage.
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Key Specs
Benefits: Brightening, smoothing | Skin type: All skin types | Dosage: Not listed | Size: 1.0 fl oz
Why We Recommend It
Our pick for the best vegan vitamin C serum is Klur’s Brilliant Light. This cruelty-free serum is a great option for people who prioritize clean beauty. We love that this product emphasizes skin protection through its impressive ingredient list. Yadav reminds us that vitamin C protects the skin against free radical damage from UV rays. Squalene assists its defensive properties, while aloe heals and restores. Rosehip and vitamin E serve as antioxidant boosters, which Petrillo says strengthens vitamin C’s benefits. The serum also includes vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, and jojoba oil, which hydrate the skin. To top it off, the serum’s amber glass bottle protects the formula from UV lights and maintains its potency.
We found this product easy to use during testing. While the instructions suggest three to four pumps, one pump gave us plenty to cover our face. It absorbed quickly and felt similar to a face mask while damp. The editor who tried it saw that their mature skin felt firmer, softer, smoother, and more hydrated. The bottle is fairly small, but a little bit of this product goes a long way, so you shouldn’t need to re-purchase frequently.
Keep in Mind
We think this option has a lot of value, but we don’t believe the value matches the price point. We wish it were a little more affordable.
How We Tested Vitamin C Serums
After consulting experts and dermatologists regarding what to look for in vitamin C serums, we tested 34 products over six weeks to find the best ones for healthier skin. We prioritized options that were easy to use and provided visible, measurable results. We selected our top picks based on the following criteria:
- Ease of use: To determine how easy each product was to use, we analyzed the packaging’s casing and dropper, looking for sturdiness, functionality, and whether the dropper distributed the product as intended. We also looked for seamless application and even distribution in the consistency.
- Absorption: We timed how long the vitamin C serum took to absorb into our skin using a timer. The ideal time that would have garnered top marks was 30 seconds and under, with the best being under 15 seconds. We applied our moisturizers and sunscreens afterward to ensure everything layered nicely.
- Texture: When the six-week test concluded, we compared our skin’s texture before and after. Ideally, it felt softer and smoother at the end of the testing period.
- Brightening: We looked for a visible difference in the brightness of our skin. Radiant, brighter, noticeable glowing skin was rated favorably.
- Firming: We gauged how much tighter our skin felt after using the vitamin C serum. We also noted whether it reduced the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and made our skin feel more taut and firm.
- Value: Finally, we compared the above to the price point to see if the value matched the financial cost of the product.
Our Experts
We consulted the following experts during the research and writing of this article:
- Adrienne O’Connell, DO, Medical Director and President of Laguna Beach Aesthetics
- David Petrillo, a certified beauty chemist in Nevada and CEO of the Perfect Image skincare line
- Mamina Turegano, MD, FAAD, a triple board-certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist
- Geeta Yadav, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology
Why Trust Verywell Health
Brittany Johnson is a health, media, and culture journalist who moonlights as a children’s author and comedy writer. She’s worked for Verywell Health for over a year as a writer and is proud of the work her team puts out. After researching and writing this article, she’s excited to try our best overall vitamin C serum pick, along with our best pick for brightening to help with acne scarring and hyperpigmentation.
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