The Best Vitamin C Serums For Glowy Skin, According To A Dermatologist

The best vitamin C serums are like a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice for your skin. The potent antioxidant hydrates, addresses hyperpigmentation and evens your complexion, leaving your skin bright and glowy (case in point: our best overall pick SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic, which does just that). “Antioxidants like vitamin C are super important for the skin,” says Dr. Rachel Pritzker, dermatologist at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery and Dermatology. “They eat up free radicals, which are the junk molecules caused by exposure to pollution and UV rays.” Not only do they help protect against environmental stressors and inhibit melanin production (pairing them with a good sunscreen helps too), vitamin C serums also work to hydrate (just as well as a hyaluronic acid serum) and stimulate collagen. Say it with us: fewer unsightly spots—more radiance.

The best vitamin C serums deliver on complexion-boosting benefits—and are totally worth the hype.

Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers

Whether you’ve got dry skin, acne-prone skin, significant hyperpigmentation (also read: dark spot correctors) or another issue you’re most focused on, there’s a version out there that will be the best fit for you. When putting together our list, we considered factors such as price point, effectiveness, ability to cater to different skin types and ease of use. Read on for our expert-approved picks for vitamin C serums.

Best Vitamin C Serum Overall

The Holy Grail That Will Keep The Compliments Coming

Editor’s Pick

Dermstore

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

Active ingredients: 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha-tocopherol, 0.5% ferulic acid | Additional benefits: Improves appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, brightens complexion, reduces free radical damage | Consistency: Oil | Cruelty-free: No

“This has been a gold standard in the industry for many years and still is a dermatology favorite,” says Pritzker. “Many companies are doing more research to back up the efficacy of their vitamin C formulations, but this was the first to show us great data.” SkinCeuticals’ version evens pigmentation and fights environmental aging using high concentrations of three dream team antioxidants: vitamin C (15% pure L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E (1% alpha tocopherol), and ferulic acid. They work in conjunction to minimizes dark spots, fight future UVA/UVB damage, alleviate inflammation and neutralize free radicals. The result? The word “youthful” will replace “tired” and “blotchy” when describing your skin.

Reviewers report this was a game changer for improving texture and reducing the appearance of dark patches and acne scars. One user raves about the product. “C E Ferulic should be a staple in everyone’s skincare regimen. Seriously, even if you use nothing else besides a cleanser, this stuff truly is the fountain of youth,” she says. “The potency of this antioxidant proprietary blend has been proven over and over again through peer-reviewed research articles published in medical journals. It truly helps with everything.” One thing to note: Some say this product has a somewhat stinky odor.

What you’ll love:

• Combats photoaging
• Stimulates collagen
• Evens skin tone

Keep in mind:

• Unpleasant smell
• Expensive

Best Vitamin C Serum For Acne-Prone Skin

Keep Breakouts At Bay With This Specialized Serum

La Roche-Posay

La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Serum

Active ingredients: 10% vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid | Additional benefits: Brightens skin, minimizes pores, hydrates and evens skin texture | Consistency: Serum | Cruelty-free: No

Wake up blah skin, achieve a more youthful-looking glow and target uneven texture with this pure 10% vitamin C serum. It also contains hyaluronic acid and salicylic acid, a known acne fighter that also helps exfoliate and minimize the appearance of pores. Some users don’t love the dropper and say it’s hard to use, and many report that it can sometimes pill under makeup.

What you’ll love:

• No sticky feel
• Works well on sensitive skin

Keep in mind:

• Dropper can be messy
• Not ideal for layering

Best Affordable Vitamin C Serum

A Wallet-Friendly Option That’s Effective

MOST POPULAR

ULTA Beauty

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

Active ingredients: L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C, squalane, hyaluronic acid | Additional benefits: Radiance-boosting, hydrating, smoothing | Consistency: Cream | Cruelty-free: Yes

Founded on the premise that good beauty products should be affordable, The Ordinary’s suspension offers high-impact ingredients at a low cost. With 23% L-ascorbic acid—paired with moisture-boosting hyaluronic acid—this product combats uneven tone, boosts radiance and gives an overall plumping effect. The texture, however, can be divisive. It’s somewhat watery but also has a gritty feel, almost like an exfoliant. The right play here may be to use this one before bed, because when I tried to wear it under makeup, it pilled. Some reviewers say that it tingles when first applied (although this didn’t happen to me), so it may not be ideal for sensitive skin.

What you’ll love:

• High concentration
• Low cost

Keep in mind:

• Texture may bother some users
• Not ideal under makeup

Best Vitamin C Serum For Combination Skin

A User-Friendly, Multitasking Serum That Makes Skin Radiant

Sunday Riley

Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Active ingredients: Glycolic acid, vitamin C | Additional benefits: Fights signs of aging, minimizes redness, supports natural skin turnover | Consistency: Cream | Cruelty-free: Yes

If your skin feels dull after a long winter, you’re not alone. This popular serum—which glides on like a light moisturizer—brightens skin, targets dark spots and reduces the appearance of fine lines. Its star ingredient is oil-soluble tetrahexyldecyl (THD) ascorbate, a type of vitamin C that absorbs quickly. Other standouts in this cruelty-free formulation: Phytosterols reduce signs of skin sensitivity—such as redness—and make skin supple, and saccharide isomerate acts as a pore minimizer. Think of this as an IRL smartphone filter: it evens tone, smooths skin and boosts radiance.

Unlike some funky vitamin C serums, this one has a subtle, refreshing citrusy scent that users, including myself, love. “I have very sensitive, acne prone skin that is super difficult to treat because most products cause a reaction on my face—and I love this,” says one reviewer. “I love the texture; it’s super hydrating and the glow is real. The smell is so pleasant; it smells like an orange dreamsicle, but it’s very light and doesn’t linger. Absolutely zero burn, sting, tingles or anything.” Some reviewers feel that while this serum brightened their skin immediately, it took time to see additional results.

What you’ll love:

• No greasy residue
• Cruelty-free

Keep in mind:

• Takes time to see results

Best Drugstore Vitamin C Serum

An Affordable Product That Helps Smooth Fine Lines

Amazon

L’Oréal Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Serum

Active ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, retinol, vitamin C | Additional benefits: Hydrating, wrinkle reducing | Consistency: Gel | Cruelty-free: No

This formulation features 10% pure vitamin C in conjunction with hydrating hyaluronic acid. Together, they work to reduce wrinkles, even skin tone and make dark spots and pores less noticeable. While some serums leave behind a greasy feel, I am a fan of this one’s powdery finish, which is similar to that of a primer. The lower concentration compared to some competitors’ is sort of a catch-22: It’s less potent than others with higher concentrations of vitamin C, but at the same time it may be better tolerated by new users or those with sensitive skin.

One user says, “I have seen amazing results: Fine lines disappear and dark spots and pores are clearer and much smaller. Just an overall transformation.” Fans also love that it does well underneath other skin products, including moisturizers, SPF and makeup, and it doesn’t have a smelly odor.

What you’ll love:

• Low cost
• Typically well-tolerated

Keep in mind:

• Lower concentration of vitamin C

Best Vitamin C Serum For Hyperpigmentation

A Potent, All-Star Illuminator

Dermstore

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

Active ingredients: 30% THD ascorbic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E | Additional benefits: Protects against blue light and urban dust, supports skin’s microbiome, brightens and evens skin tone, improves fine lines | Consistency: Cream | Cruelty-free: Yes

“This is one of my very favorite serums, and it’s a cult favorite,” says Pritzker. “It has 30% THD ascorbic acid which is not only some of the highest percentage on the market, but it’s extremely stable. The airless pump ensures that the vitamin C will not oxidize. It protects against blue light and urban dust and supports the skin’s microbiome.” Revision’s seemingly tireless serum brightens and evens skin tone, improves fine lines, helps correct damage and acts as armor to defend against future free-radical damage. Another plus: it’s a lightweight cream formula, which works well for all skin types, says Pritzker.

What you’ll love:

• High concentration of vitamin C
• Lightweight feel

Keep in mind:

• Expensive

Best Vitamin C Serum For Oily Skin

Achieve Noticeable Results With This Real Deal Serum

Cruelty-Free

Sephora

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright 15% Vitamin C Serum

Active ingredients: 15% vitamin C, 5% PHAs, hyaluronic acid | Additional benefits: Brightens skim, smooths texture, improves firmness and elasticity | Consistency: Serum | Cruelty-free: Yes

Many vitamin C serums require some time before you can see results, but this vegan and cruelty-free serum promises brighter, bouncier skin in just one week. It contains a core trifecta of hardworking ingredients: 15% vitamin C to improve elasticity and reduce the look of dark spots, pores and wrinkles; 5% PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) to exfoliate and even skin tone; and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin. And something else that’s fun: This serum boasts “banana powder-inspired pigments” that promise to instantly illuminate and color correct. So basically, it’s equal parts glowy concealer and a time machine for your skin. Reviewers love the smell, say it absorbs quickly and like that it wears well underneath other products. However, some report that it leaves behind a tacky feel.

What you’ll love:

• Promises results in as early as one week
• Multi-tasking formula also color corrects
• Targets hyperpigmentation and elasticity

Keep in mind:

• Can feel sticky

Best Vitamin C Serum For Sensitive Skin

An SPF-Infused Multitasker

Sephora

Supergoop Daily Dose Hydra-Ceramide Boost + SPF 40

Active ingredients: 10% vitamin C, 2% kakadu plum extract, 2% niacinamide | Additional benefits: UV protection, radiance-boosting, tone-evening, hydrating | Consistency: Serum | Cruelty-free: Yes

This SPF-meets-serum formulation is, as the name suggests, a combination of powerhouse SPF and toning vitamin C. This two-in-one product works double duty, saving you your beauty budget, time and valuable counter space. Non-comedogenic thanks to a slew of natural ingredients like ceramides (for moisture), squalene (for immediate hydration), hyaluronic acid (for long-term hydration) and kakadu plum (combats acne scars and brightens skin), this protective serum is also gentle enough for daily use even on sensitive skin types.

What you’ll love:

• Built-in UV protection
• Boosts radiance
• Combats acne scars

Keep in mind:

• Chemical SPF
• Matte finish

Best Vitamin C Serum For Darker Skin Tones

A Brightening Serum That Helps Fight Breakouts

Revolve

Hyper Skin Hyper Clear Brightening Clearing Vitamin C Serum

Active ingredients: Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, kojic acid | Additional benefits: Lightens dark spots, combats dullness, smooths texture | Consistency: Serum | Cruelty-free: Yes

Black-owned brand Hyper Skin’s Hyper Clear Serum is a vitamin C formula that caters to all skin types and tones, including melanated skin. Fruit enzymes and kojic acid tackle hyperpigmentation, while 15% vitamin C and vitamin E work together to brighten skin, target fine lines and smooth rough texture. Finally, anti-inflammatory turmeric and salicylic acid (less than 1%) work to heal and prevent future breakouts.

What you’ll love:

• Heals and prevents future breakouts
• Non-sticky
• Works on all skin tones

Keep in mind:

• A little goes a long way

Best Vitamin C Serum For Dry Skin

A High-Performance Oil With Intense Hydration Benefits

Sephora

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

Active ingredients: Vitamin C, sugarcane-derived squalane | Additional benefits: Hydrates and makes skin glow, improves loss of firmness and elasticity | Consistency: Oil | Cruelty-free: Yes

This is an oil, not a serum, but we felt it worth mentioning. From clean beauty brand Biossance, this product features THD ascorbate, the oil-soluble, stable form of vitamin C that is typically easier to tolerate than straight L-ascorbic acid. Its other star ingredients are sugarcane-derived squalane and chios crystal oil, which work to lock in moisture and increase skin firmness. One issue with many oils and serums is that they leave behind a greasy residue, but this hydrator seems to absorb in just a few minutes. Still, bear in mind, less is more—you only need a few drops to improve skin radiance. Unlike some other vitamin C products, this one has a nice, light rose smell, and it works well under makeup without pilling. Reviewers report that it fades acnes scars and spots and visibly brightens dull skin, leaving you with a youthful glow.

What you’ll love:

• Layers well under makeup
• Unlikely to cause irritation
• Oil-based for added moisture

Keep in mind:

• Some find it too greasy

Best Vegan Vitamin C Serum

Affordable And Vegan-Friendly Care For Your Complexion

Cruelty-Free

Amazon

TruSkin Vitamin C Serum

Active ingredients: Vitamin C, vitamin E, sodium ascorbyl phosphate | Additional benefits: Radiance-boosting, texture smoothing | Consistency: Oil | Cruelty-free: Yes

Resurrect your complexion with this high-performance blend—featuring vitamin C (sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble form), vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and anti-inflammatory MSM (methylsulfonylmethane). It promises to brighten, reduce hyperpigmentation and promote elasticity to revitalize tired-looking skin. In particular, its five-star reviewers (there are more than 65,000 of them) rave about its ability to reduce dark spots and redness, decrease breakouts and minimize pore size. One fan of the product says, “Since adding this vitamin C serum to my morning and evening skincare routine, I have noticed that my complexion appears clearer and brighter. Discolorations from the sun on my forehead have faded almost completely after four weeks.”

You just need three to five drops of this serum applied after cleansing, and it works well with or without makeup. Another standout feature for TruSkin: reviewers say this company’s customer service is unparalleled.

What you’ll love:

• Affordable
• Reduces dark spots
• Works well under makeup

Keep in mind:

• Some say it can cause dryness

Why Trust Forbes Vetted

As seasoned beauty reporters and skincare devotees ourselves, the Forbes Vetted team members who assembled, edited and continue to update this roundup know what it takes to find the best vitamin C serums for various skin types. Senior beauty editor Jane Sung has more than a decade of experience covering the beauty industry and conducting product testing and extensive research. We also enlisted the help of a dermatologist, Dr. Rachel Prizker for her take on key formulations, ingredients and the most important things to consider in this category. Having produced a variety of stories focused on skincare ingredients and topics, we also tapped into our deep market knowledge to highlight products and brands that offer innovative, effective formulas.

How We Chose The Best Vitamin C Serums Of 2022

We’ve done extensive research, getting staffer recommendations and sifting through reputable and expert-approved brands. We dug into key ingredients of our top picks to ensure the inclusion of formulas that cater to a variety of skin types and preferences. We’ve also tested many of these vitamin C serums ourselves, noting details for users to keep in mind, from fragrance to texture.

This article is routinely updated so that availability, prices and reviewer ratings stay relevant and up to date. We also re-evaluate our product picks to ensure that they’re still some of the best choices in their categories. This story was last updated in February 2023.

How To Choose A Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C is one of those antioxidants that’s especially compelling because it has so much potential to deliver complexion-enhancing results. There are many factors to consider when looking for the best vitamin C serum. “Choosing the right one can be tricky,” says Pritzker. “Beyond the efficacy of the [ingredient], it’s important to find a formula that works with your skin.”

Clinical Data

“There are many factors that go into formulating an effective vitamin C because it can be hard to stabilize,” says Pritzker. “These factors include pH, concentration and other ingredients. It’s important to make sure that the manufacturer has clinical data to back up its claims.”

Ingredients

Not all of them are created equal. Certain formulations offer higher concentrations, or they’re coupled with other star ingredients that give major benefits. Companies use various forms of vitamin C in their formulations, and the two most common are L-ascorbic acid and THD ascorbate. L-ascorbic acid is 100% pure vitamin C. It’s water-soluble, well-researched and effective, but extremely unstable. It begins to oxidize and change color over time and can be irritating to some people’s skin.

Tetrahexyldecyl (THD) ascorbate is stable and fat soluble, so it can be used in oil-based products. It tends to be well tolerated and permeates the skin easily. Separately, vitamin E and ferulic acid are ideal antioxidants to be paired with vitamin C, according to Pritzker. Hyaluronic acid and squalane can also be vehicles within various vitamin C serums as well.

Formulation

“Vitamin C products have different vehicles that may or may not agree with your skin. There are creams, serums, oils, and depending on these factors some skin types react differently than others,” says Pritzker. Serums, for their part, are typically characterized by highly concentrated ingredients that penetrate deep within the skin.

Packaging

Because vitamin C is often an unstable ingredient and can start to oxidize in the presence of light, heat and air, it’s a good idea to seek out serums with dark, opaque packaging. If the formula itself has turned brown, it has lost its potency.

Which Brand Of Vitamin C Serum Is Best?

When it comes to skincare, choosing a formula largely depends on your skin type, goals and budget. Luckily, the vitamin C serum category runs the gamut in ingredient concentration, price point and consistency. Identifying the right concentration for your skin type will determine how effective your serum will be, and starting slow could help ease your skin into this new regimen. Consider starting with a lower dose of 10% before increasing to 15% or 20%. Additionally, if you have normal or oily skin, consider using L-ascorbic acid, the most potent form of vitamin C—found in our best overall pick, SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic. However, if your skin is dry or sensitive, opt for magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble vitamin C, which can be less irritating.

Do Dermatologists Recommend Vitamin C Serum?

The results for vitamin C speak for themselves. “From clinical data as well as anecdotal evidence, we know that it works,” says Pritzker. “You can start to appreciate the results of a topical vitamin C in as little as a month.”

If your skin is dull or lackluster, vitamin C is the gold standard of brightening ingredients because of its ability to inhibit the production of pigmentation, even skin tone and fade dark spots. When applied topically, the potent antioxidant neutralizes free radical damage and protects the skin against UV light and other environmental aggressors. And while it’s best known for brightening, it also promotes the synthesis of collagen, the protein that builds your skin structure. This makes vitamin C instrumental in firming and preventing the loss of elasticity, as well as the healing of acne wounds.

What’s The Best Way To Use Vitamin C In Your Skincare Routine?

Experts recommend using it as a first step. “As with most actives, I recommend using a vitamin C after cleansing but before non-active topicals,” says Pritzker. “So you should use it before you moisturize and always before SPF, which you should be using every day. We typically recommend using it in the morning.”

It can also be used daily, “as long as it is tolerated well and not irritating the skin or causing an adverse reaction,” says Pritzker. However, if you’re new to the vitamin C serum scene, it may be best to start at a lower concentration or apply it less frequently because it can cause irritation. “You should not use vitamin C on compromised skin,” she says. You also need to be cautious using it with other actives, such as retinol.