No matter which skin issues you’re currently bemoaning, chances are your routine could benefit from the best vitamin C serums. The antiaging antioxidant is one of the few skin-care ingredients dermatologists will back for its noticeable brightening, protective, and firming properties, as well as its ability to boost collagen production—which has a plumping effect.
“Vitamin C is an antioxidant,” says Kenneth Howe, MD, of Wexler Dermatology in New York City. “When ultraviolet light penetrates your skin, it causes lasting damage by producing free radicals. Vitamin C can prevent that damage by ‘quenching’ the free radicals as they form.” It also inhibits a key enzyme in melanin production, so it can improve pigmentation like dark spots. too. The end-result? A more radiant complexion and smoother skin texture over time.
How to use vitamin C in your routine
A vitamin C product can help slow or undo signs of aging—80% of which are caused by sun damage, research shows. There’s just one caveat: “It has to be present within the deeper layers of your skin in order to do that.”
Derms will often tell you to get your daily dose of vitamin C in serum form when adding it to your skin-care routine. “Serums typically have the highest concentration of active ingredients,” says Dr. Howe. In order to get maximum results, though, you’ll need these highly concentrated actives to be properly formulated. You might have heard experts debating the merits of various forms of the power ingredient.
Here’s one to memorize: L-ascorbic acid. “It’s a pure form of vitamin C,” says NYC dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. “It’s typically highly unstable, so it must be adequately protected from sunlight and capped at an acidic pH.” Howe’s preferred form is also L-ascorbic acid, which he says penetrates more deeply than other forms, making it more likely to reach the layers of skin where you actually need it to work. Another popular one? Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which tends to be more stable than its counterparts.
What to look for in a vitamin C serum
You’ll also want to consider its concentration. “You should look for serums that contain 10% to 20% vitamin C,” says dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, cofounder of New York City practice LM Medical. “Less than 10% is not as effective, and over 20% causes more skin irritation.” A supporting cast of characters can also boost its efficacy. “Vitamin E stabilizes vitamin C for maximum skin protection, and ferulic acid helps lower the pH level of vitamin C so your skin can use the vitamins easily,” she says.
How to store vitamin C serum
Vitamin C is notoriously unstable, so it can oxidize with light and heat. “Look for darkly tinted glass bottles with airless delivery, as air causes vitamin C to degrade,” says Rabach.
It seems like a lot to remember, so we did the heavy lifting of finding out in which skin-care products those multiple factors intersect. Ahead, the 24 best vitamin C serums (or serum-like lotions, to use the term more generously) that meet this stringent list of criteria, according to derms, editors, and our Glamour Beauty Awards judges.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Oprah Daily
There are a whole lot of serums out there, from eyelash serum to
hyaluronic acid serum to anti-aging face serum. But what if you only have room in your
makeup bag for one? Experts say to go with a vitamin C serum—because it really works. “Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights fine lines by stimulating collagen, brightens your complexion by blocking excess pigment creation, and protects your skin from damaging free radical and other environmental
stressors,” says Michelle Henry, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Skin & Aesthetic Surgery of Manhattan. “As we age, though, the skin’s natural levels of antioxidant
vitamin C decrease, which is why it’s so important to add it to your skincare routine.” The one downside? Compared to most products, it often costs more per ounce.
1
Best for Sensitive Skin
Super Glow Glossier
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2
Best Vegan Vitamin C Serum
C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum Drunk Elephant
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3
Best Serum With Hyaluronic Acid
C serum 22 serumtologie
Read More
4
Best Vitamin C Serum on Amazon
Vitamin C Serum TruSkin Naturals
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5
Most Affordable Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% The Ordinary
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To make sure you get the best return on your investment, here are a few things to keep in mind: Skip creams spiked with vitamin C and instead choose a serum, which is more effective at penetrating the skin barrier, says Brooke Jackson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Skin Wellness Dermatology Associates. Additionally, there are several forms of vitamin C—and not all are created equal, says Henry. Check the label for L-ascorbic acid, which is considered to be the vitamin C that’s best for skin. (Even better: if it contains 15 to 20 percent L-ascorbic acid, which is the most effective.) “Vitamin C is notoriously unstable—especially when it’s exposed to air and light,” says Jackson. “So it’s best to pick a formula that comes in an airtight pump or opaque bottle, and keep it away from direct sunlight.” Plus, once you begin to see the results of a good vitamin C serum, you can use less primer, less foundation, and less highlighter, ultimately saving you money.
So, which ones are worth it? Dermatologists say these face-brightening-and-tightening formulas—suitable for a wide range of skin problems, including acne, hyperpigmentation, oiliness, dryness, and sensitivity—are the best vitamin C serums money can buy.
1
Best for Sensitive Skin
Glossier
Super Glow
2
Best Vegan Vitamin C Serum
Drunk Elephant
C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
3
Best Serum With Hyaluronic Acid
serumtologie
C serum 22
4
Best Vitamin C Serum on Amazon
TruSkin Naturals
Vitamin C Serum
5
Most Affordable Vitamin C Serum
The Ordinary
Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
6
Best Vitamin C Serum for Sensitive Skin
CeraVe
Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
7
Best Vitamin C Serum for Hyperpigmentation
Hyper Skin
Hyper Even
8
Best Vitamin C Serum at Sephora
Tatcha
Violet-C Brightening Serum
9
Best Vitamin C Serum with Aloe
Derma E
Vitamin C Concentrated Serum
10
Best Scented Vitamin C Serum
OLEHENRIKSEN
Truth Serum
11
Best Serum for Oily Skin
Vichy
LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector
12
Best Vitamin C Serum for Dull Skin
The Body Shop
Vitamin C Skin Boost Instant Smoother
13
Best Vitamin C Serum for Dark Skin
BeautyStat
Universal C Skin Refiner
14
Best Brightening Vitamin C Serum
Murad
Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum
15
Best Vitamin C Serum with Natural Ingredients
Ursa Major
Brighten Up Vitamin C Serum
16
Best Vitamin C Serum for Skin Over 50
Juice Beauty
GREEN APPLE Age Defy Serum
17
Best Individually Packaged Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum
18
Best Vitamin C Serum for Dry Skin
Paula's Choice
Resist Super Antioxidant Serum
19
Best Pore-Minimizing Vitamin C Serum
Kiehl's
Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum
20
Best Vitamin C Serum for Redness
SUNDAY RILEY
C.E.O. Vitamin C Brightening Serum
21
Best Vitamin C Serum for All Skin
Obagi
Professional-C Vitamin C Serum
22
Best Vitamin C Serum with Squalane
Biossance
Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
23
Most Expensive Vitamin C Serum
SkinCeuticals
C E Ferulic
24
Vitamin C Serum From a Black-Owned Brand
ROSEN
Bright Citrus Serum
25
Best Vitamin C Serum with Turmeric
Herbivore
Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum
26
Best Botanical Vitamin C Serum
MARA
Chlorella + Reishi Sea Vitamin C Serum
27
Best Vitamin C Serum for Boosting Elasticity
iNNBEAUTY PROJECT
Green Machine Serum
28
Best Affordable Serum for Dark Spots
Olay
Tone Perfection Serum
29
Best Drugstore Vitamin C Serum
L'Oréal Paris
10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
30
Oprah Daily Reader Favorite
Protocol
Vitamin C Superserum
31
Quick Facts on Vitamin C Serums
What vitamin C does:
- Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights fine lines by stimulating collagen
- It brightens your complexion by blocking excess pigment creation
- It protects your skin from damaging environmental stressors
Why you should use vitamin C:
- The aging process reduces the skin's natural levels of antioxidants, leaving skin with more lines and less glow as you get older
- Regularly using vitamin C will improve the look of your skin overall, so you can save money on primer, foundation, concealer, and highlighter
What to look for in a vitamin C serum:
- Skip creams spiked with vitamin C and instead choose a serum, which will more effectively penetrate the skin barrier
- L-ascorbic acid is a more potent form of vitamin C, so check the ingredient label for that specifically
- Vitamin C is unstable, especially when exposed to air and light, so pick a formula that comes in an airtight pump or opaque bottle, and keep it away from direct sunlight
How to use vitamin C serums:
- Apply vitamin C serums after cleansing, but before moisturizing, for optimal results
Cassie Hurwitz Assistant Editor Cassie Hurwitz (she/her) is an assistant editor at Oprah Daily, where she covers everything from culture to entertainment to lifestyle.