The 10 Best Vitamin C Serums Are Responsible for My Ridiculously Bright, Even Skin
Get that glow, guaranteed.
Classics are classics for a reason, and vitamin C is a certified must-have for both your skin and your body. We can't produce the essential nutrient on our own, so making sure we're reaching the right levels (hit up the farmers market, baby!) is important for our health and—when a vitamin C serum comes into play—for our glow. The antioxidant helps your skin fight off environmental stressors, smooth texture, target fine lines, fight acne, and generally brighten, fading scars and dark marks in the process.
“I’m obsessed with vitamin C,” Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale, shares. “It’s cosmetically elegant, it rarely irritates the skin, it doesn’t interact with other topicals, and it makes everyone look really, really good."
Typically safe for most skin types (if you have very sensitive skin, this may not be the right option for you) and extremely well-researched, the ingredient can be found in a number of formats, from pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic Acid) to derivatives like sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which is beloved for acne-prone skin, or tetrahexyldecyl (THD) ascorbate, which is oil-soluble.
“Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants available to treat the skin,” adds board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD. "It acts like a fire extinguisher to put out the inflammation and damage caused by free radicals.”
While today's formulas are as elegant as Dr. Gohara claims, the ingredient is finicky when bottled up. It goes bad quickly, so finding a vitamin C serum you love enough to use every day is the trick. Ahead, discover 10 of the best formulas on the market, from options you can mix yourself for optimal freshness to drugstore picks that won't break the bank.
All-Time MVPs
There's no doubt that some great vitamin C creams exist, but I've always preferred the ingredient in serum form for my morning skincare routine. It sinks in quickly and makes me feel brightened up and ready to face the day.
A new(er) addition to my routine, Youth To The People's lovely vitamin C serum feels so nice on the skin. Tone and brightness aside, the hydration levels here are impressive. It was inspired by longevity research and thus pairs its chosen vitamin C derivative—THD ascorbate—with an N.A.D.+ complex to fight visible signs of aging and fatigue.
I discovered this serum during a Credo pillage with my mom a few years ago, and we've both been obsessed ever since. Doubling as a makeup primer, it features three forms of shelf-stable vitamin C. Each was chosen for a specific reason, and the fact that they differ in solubility, stability, and skin affinity is part of the charm.
Feeling Luxe
While a great vitamin C can stand on its own, there's something to be said for skincare brands that take the ingredient to new heights, whether that means pairing it with powerhouse peptides or crafting an intriguing brand story.
As founder Amy Peterson explains on her brand's website, The Preservationist is about more than indulgence (though it really is luxe). The youth-boosting serum features two potent forms of vitamin C, plus niacinamide, ceramides, squalane, exosomes, and a unique peptide blend to repair and preserve skin in just one step.
French Farmacie's vitamin C serum joined the club last winter, proving that a touch of brightness isn't just reserved for the summer solstice. Alongside the vitamin C derivatives present in the formula, it does its work thanks to a bioactive silk peptide that's been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and acne spots, visibly brighten, soothe, and calm the look of redness.
Mix It Up
Vitamin C tends to oxidize quickly, which renders the ingredient inactive. For peak potency, these products have a DIY component that uses a two-part system to maximize freshness. It's your turn to play cosmetic chemist.
What do you get when you mix powdered, 10 percent pure vitamin C (precisely dosed with a special dispenser, mind you) and beautifully hydrating hyaluronic acid? A massively impactful serum at peak potency that really works.
Another vitamin C and hyaluronic acid DIY duo comes courtesy of Goop. (And this time, you only have to mix things up one time.) It features three different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid, each able to penetrate different layers of the skin, plus more antioxidant power courtesy of the superfruit Australian kakadu plum.
Drugstore Favorites
While all of the options on this list are worth the (sometimes hefty) price, you don't need to hand over a handful of cash for a great vitamin C serum. In fact, there are excellent options available in the aisles of your favorite drugstore.
Ringing up under $20, this impressive serum is formulated with 15 percent vitamin C, 1 percent vitamin E, and 0.5 percent ferulic acid—plus bisabolol for a little extra calming power. It doesn't feel greasy on the skin and absorbs fast, so it can be on its way, brightening, evening out your skin tone, and making sure you're all set with a gorgeous (and affordable) glow.
Impressive ingredient list, impressive price point. You have it all going for you, Naturium. This vitamin C serum is formulated with highly stabilized L-ascorbic acid and a sodium ascorbyl phosphate complex, plus moisture-locking glycerin and a bioactive fruit blend for additional protection against environmental stressors.
The Classics
There are a couple of vitamin C serums on the market that, when I think "vitamin C serums," my mind immediately turns to. As I said, classics are classics for a reason! New or old, there's a reason the skincare world is obsessed with these options.
Launched in 2005 (!), this fast-absorbing vitamin C serum paved the way for so many others and still more than manages to hold its own. It features a combination of ferulic acid and pure vitamin C and E that work in synergy to provide all skin types with a crème de la crème experience.
Another of my routine staples, Alastin's vitamin C has been proven to help reduce the effects of free radicals in the skin by up to 74 percent. It features sodium ascorbate, a proprietary encapsulated form of vitamin C—plus 14 other antioxidants to further protect your skin against environmental stressors while preserving elastin.
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Meet the Experts
As the Director of Cosmetic and Clinical Research at Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Dermatology, Dr. Zeichner has a broad interest in medical and cosmetic dermatology as well as clinical research. His specialty is the treatment of acne, as well as the cosmetic rejuvenation of the aging face. Dr. Zeichner treats general skin conditions, including eczema, rosecea, psoriasis, and skin cancer. In addition, he is well-versed in the use of Botox and dermal fillers, as well as lasers and chemical peels.
Dr. Mona Gohara did her dermatology training at Yale, where she served as Chief Resident. She continues to hold a faculty appointment in Yale’s Department of Dermatology, where she is also the Associate Director of Community Engagement.
Mona and her husband Kiran, have two teenage sons, Kiran, and Jai. Besides mothering and doctoring, Mona spends time educating the public on skin health, skin cancer, skin of color, and sun protection. She has done this through writing, lecturing on the local, national, and international level, and by engaging popular media.
