Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is a longstanding favorite of health professionals. When consumed in food or drink form, it can protect your entire body’s cells from damage; when applied topically, the best vitamin C serums deliver that protection directly to your skin cells. Research shows topical vitamin C can help prevent signs of aging, hyperpigmentation and cancer-causing UV damage.
To help you find the best vitamin C serum for your skin type and learn more about who best benefits from it, we spoke with three board-certified dermatologists and compiled a list of their recommendations to shop. We’re also highlighting effective products that have been tested by NBC Select staff.
SKIP AHEAD The best vitamin C serums | Benefits of vitamin C for skin | How to shop for vitamin C skin care products
How we picked the best vitamin C serums
You can find vitamin C in various skin care products, but our experts recommend working serums into your routine. “Serums are lightweight and easier to layer with moisturizers, sunscreens, and cosmetic products,” says Dr. Erum Ilyas, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology group in Pennsylvania. For a vitamin C serum to be effective, dermatologists say there are a few key things to consider:
- Type of vitamin C: According to our experts, the type of vitamin C will also determine how effective it is. Pure vitamin C, known as L ascorbic acid, is the most effective antioxidant when formulated correctly. But this is also the most irritating form, making it less than ideal for sensitive skin. Other forms of vitamin C are slightly less effective but gentler, including sodium ascorbyl palmitate (a fat-soluble molecule often found in creamier skin care products), and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (an oil-based form of vitamin C that penetrates skin deeply and is less irritating). Vitamin C products must be formulated at a low pH level (between 2.5 and 3.5) to effectively penetrate the skin, which some brands will list on the packaging. (Products with a low pH level are slightly acidic, which is one reason vitamin C can irritate. If you have sensitive skin, introduce a low-pH product slowly.)
- Concentration: Most vitamin C serums on the market are formulated with a concentration between 10% and 20%. “Beyond that, it’s just irritating and not necessarily more effective,” says Dr. Carmen Castilla, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group in Manhattan.
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The best vitamin C serums in 2024
To get the antioxidant benefits of vitamin C in your skin care routine, our experts recommend looking for a serum with a concentration between 10% and 20%. Below, they share their favorite formulas for all skin types, alongside other options tested by NBC Select staff.
Best overall vitamin C serum: Skinceuticals CE Ferulic
- Ferulic acid makes it potent
- Recommended by derms
- Smells like bacon water
All of our experts recommend Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, a serum containing 15% L-ascorbic acid. It’s often referred to as the gold standard in vitamin C serums by dermatologists. “It probably has the most evidence behind it,” says Castilla, referring to the clinical studies conducted by the brand that show a 41% reduction in oxidative damage in the skin. It’s also one of the more stable formulas on the market, thanks to the inclusion of vitamin E and ferulic acid, according to Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York. “This combination makes vitamin C more potent,” says Ilyas, and helps prevent the L-ascorbic acid from oxidizing before it can reach your skin.
Lindsay Schneider, NBC Select commerce editor, says that when using this serum, she genuinely feels like it makes her skin look healthier, brighter and better. Zoe Malin, NBC Select associate updates editor, agrees. “This serum is very lightweight and it absorbs into my skin quickly,” says Malin. “That lets me move forward with the rest of my morning skin care routine a minute or two after I apply it.”
The one caveat our experts call out is the packaging: the dropper bottle means this serum is exposed to more air. According to the brand, however, the formula should remain stable and effective for up to six months after it’s opened.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Ferulic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C
Best budget-friendly vitamin C serum: CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
- Budget friendly
- Closed packaging
- Includes ceramides
- A bit small
For an affordable alternative, all three of our experts also recommend this drugstore serum. In addition to 10% L-ascorbic acid, CeraVe’s serum also has ceramides, which strengthen and support the skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid, a humectant that helps skin attract and retain moisture. Castilla particularly likes its packaging: “It’s in a squirty bottle, which is a little bit better at preventing oxidation,” she says.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Sensitive, acne-prone | Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin C
Best acne-fighting vitamin C serum: La Roche Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
- Extra exfoliation
- Good for fading spots
- Not for sensitive skin
Another dermatologist-recommended drugstore vitamin C serum, this 10% L-ascorbic acid formula also has salicylic acid. This can be a pro or a con, depending on your skin type, according to our experts. If your skin can tolerate it, the exfoliative benefits of salicylic acid can work together with vitamin C to fade dark spots faster, says Ilyas. If your skin is sensitive, however, the combination may be too irritating, according to Shah.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Not for sensitive | Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, vitamin C
Best vitamin C serum for acne scars: Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Corrector
- Good for hyperpigmentation
- Targets acne scars
- Includes salicylic acid
- Not great for sensitive skin
Shah also likes the vitamin C and salicylic acid combo found in this Kiehl’s formula, which specifically aims to target dark spots, acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It has a stabilized form of vitamin C called 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, which is more easily absorbed by the skin, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health. You can use it both morning and night after cleansing.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo | Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, vitamin C (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid)
Best vitamin C serum for oily skin: U Beauty Resurfacing Compound
- Gentler vitamin C
- Helps with collagen production
- Good for oily skin
U Beauty’s resurfacing compound is a serum that combines retinol, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid with vitamin C to target hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and uneven skin texture, according to the brand. It uses a gentler, more stable form of vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate or SAP. “Its penetration [into the skin] isn’t as good as L-ascorbic acid, but SAP has been shown to help with collagen production and it can also be a little bit better for oily acne prone skin types,” says Castilla. Apply the resurfacing compound on dry skin right after cleansing and massage into skin before layering on other products.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo, mature | Key ingredients: Retinol, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C
Best vitamin C serum for dry skin: Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum
- Little to no smell
- Hydrates moisture barrier
- On the expensive side
NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez is a huge fan of this serum, which she says has a creamy, lotion-like consistency that she loves for her dry skin. “This is by far my absolute favorite vitamin C option I’ve tried,” she says. Along with the 15% THD ascorbate (vitamin C) it uses to fight dark spots and signs of aging, this serum also uses glycolic acid and saccharide isomerate extract to gently exfoliate while strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier, according to the brand. The packaging is designed with a pump for easier application — plus, Alvarez loves that it doesn’t have any off-putting smells, unlike other serums she’s tried.
Formula: Creamy serum | Skin type: All | Key ingredients: Saccharide isomerate extract, glycolic acid, vitamin C (THD ascorbate)
Best vitamin C serum for sensitive skin: Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
- Lower price point
- Includes vitamin E
- Hydrating
Mad Hippie’s vitamin C serum also uses sodium ascorbyl phosphate, but comes at a much lower price point. “This one is really good for addressing hyperpigmentation,” says Castilla. Like the top-rated (and much more expensive) Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum, Mad Hippie’s version also pairs brightening vitamin C with stabilizing vitamin E and ferulic acid; when combined, research shows this trio of antioxidants can double a serum’s ability to protect skin against sun damage. To top things off, it also hydrating thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid and aloe, according to the brand.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo | Key ingredients: Vitamin E, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, aloe
Best vitamin C serum for redness: The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C + EGF Serum
- Lower price point
- Plant-derived peptide
- Not great for sensitive skin
You should use this stabilized vitamin C serum (which is converted to its active, i.e. strongest, free-radical neutralizing form once applied, says Shah) after cleansing and before moisturizer and SPF, according to the brand. In addition to the 15% ascorbyl glucoside (vitamin C), Shah likes that it has a plant-derived peptide designed to support skin elasticity.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo | Key ingredients: Probiotics, vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside)
Best anti-aging vitamin C serum: Dr. Loretta Anti-Aging Repair Serum
- Packaging is opaque
- Helps collagen production
- A bit expensive
This formula has tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a powerful but less irritating form of vitamin C, which penetrates more deeply into skin than L-ascorbic acid. “It also has glycolipids, which are helpful for collagen production,” says Castilla. (Collagen is the most plentiful protein in your body and is responsible for giving strength, structure and elasticity to your skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic.) As a bonus, this serum comes in an opaque, pump bottle to help reduce oxidation and maintain the formula’s effectiveness.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo | Key ingredients: Glycolipids, vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate)
Best vitamin C lotion: Revision Skincare Vitamin C Lotion
- Good for acne-prone skin
- Hydrating and moisturizing
- A bit expensive
Shah recommends this serum-moisturizer hybrid, formulated with 15 percent tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. This stable lotion comes in a squeeze bottle and is formulated with squalane, an oil with anti-inflammatory benefits, making it particularly good for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. It comes in two concentrations: 15% and 30%. If vitamin C is a new addition to your skin care routine or your skin gets irritated easily, start with a lower concentration and make sure your skin can tolerate it before trying a formula with 30% vitamin C.
Formula: Serum-moisturizer | Skin type: Acne-prone | Key ingredients: Squalane, vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate)
Best vitamin C serum for beginners: Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster
- Can mix with moisturizer
- Includes ferulic acid
You can use this 15% L-ascorbic acid formula, which comes recommended by Castilla, on its own as serum, or as a brightening booster by adding a few drops to your favorite moisturizer, according to the brand. Like many of the other serums recommended by our experts, it’s formulated with stabilizing antioxidants ferulic acid and vitamin C.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo | Key ingredients: Ferulic acid, vitamin C
Most versatile vitamin C serum: 107 Beauty Soseo Vinbiome Vitamin C Serum
- Targets redness
- Supports skin's microbiome
This multitasking serum, which comes recommended by Shah, targets pigmentation, redness, and skin elasticity. Formulated with 15% ethel ascorbic acid, a stabilized form of vitamin C, it also includes probiotics, which studies show support skin health by protecting the skin microbiome and boosting skin’s immune response.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: Combo, dry | Key ingredients: Probiotics, vitamin C (ethel ascorbic acid)
Best vitamin C serum with niacinamide: Summer Fridays CC Me Serum
- Pump bottle
- Rich, lightweight texture
- Easy to spread over skin
- Takes a minute to settle
“I love this serum because it has a rich texture, yet isn’t heavy at all,” says Malin. “It spreads so well on my skin, and the pump bottle makes it easy to control how much serum I’m using at one time.” The serum is formulated with two types of vitamin C — ascorbyl glucoside and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid — as well as niacinamide (vitamin B3), an ingredient that brightens the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. The serum also contains squalane to boost hydration.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: All, combo, dry, oily | Key ingredients: Vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid), niacinamide, squalane
Best hydrating vitamin C serum: Mara Chlorella + Reishi Sea Vitamin C Serum
- Long-lasting
- Smells fresh
- Helps fade dark spots
- Slightly oily feel
Since a small drop of this serum is enough to cover your face, Malin says one bottle lasted her about 10 months, making the higher price point worth it in the long run. “It has a luxurious texture and over time, I noticed that my skin tone looked more even and dark spots from acne scars faded, making them easier to cover with concealer,” she says. The serum is hydrating thanks to a proprietary type of algae, which stimulates natural hyaluronic acid synthesis, according to the brand. It’s made with THD ascorbate and 14 vitamin c-rich botanicals like fruits and spices, as well as adaptogens like reishi, chlorella and ginseng, which reduce puffiness and inflammation.
Formula: Serum | Skin type: All, combo, dry, oily | Key ingredients: Vitamin C (THD ascorbate), adaptogens
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What are the benefits of vitamin C for your skin?
When used as a consistent part of your skin care routine, vitamin C can have many benefits. Below, we summarized the most convincing benefits, according to our experts:
- Vitamin C helps protect your skin from sun and other harmful substances. “The most convincing evidence we have for vitamin C [in skin care] is the prevention of free radical damage,” says Castilla. In scientific terms, free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron, making them unstable and capable of damaging cells. Antioxidants like vitamin C neutralize those radicals by donating an electron, according to Castilla. Sunlight is a common source of free radical exposure as is the pollution your skin is exposed to every day, says Shah. That exposure can “accelerate skin damage and aging through what we call oxidative stress,” she says. Vitamin C protects skin, preventing the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
- It’s effective at reducing hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C can also protect your skin from unwanted dark spots. “It inhibits an enzyme called tyrosinase in the skin to reduce hyperpigmentation,” says Ilyas. It works best as a treatment for dark spots caused by sun damage and conditions like melasma, she adds. “Not all pigment is the same and I do not always find that acne scars respond consistently as well to vitamin C,” she says.
- Vitamin C can help reduce redness. Inflammation is often the culprit behind skin redness and dryness. Vitamin C can help treat these issues by inhibiting a pro-inflammatory signaling molecule, says Castilla.
- It can boost your skin’s collagen production. Your skin needs vitamin C to produce collagen, the primary building block for skin and other connective tissues, that’s responsible for skin elasticity and firmness. “Collagen hydroxylase, an enzyme in the skin that is responsible for collagen formation, is dependent on Vitamin C to function,” says Ilyas.
How to shop for a vitamin C serum
Not all vitamin C skin care products are created equally. You’ll often see vitamin C skin care products in acid form — at specific concentrations, though, it can be irritating, especially for sensitive skin. Vitamin C is also a highly unstable ingredient, according to experts — the same chemical properties that allow it to work as an active antioxidant in your body also make it susceptible to oxidation, which will make it inactive in your skin. That’s why our experts recommend using it in the form of a serum, as they are lightweight and easy to layer with other products.
To get the most out of your serum, they recommend understanding the type and concentration of vitamin C in any formula, being mindful of how packaging can impact a serum’s effectiveness, and looking for companion ingredients that support the skin barrier.
Type of vitamin C
You’ll commonly find vitamin C incorporated into a topical product in two ways: in its active form as L-ascorbic acid, or in an inactive form that needs to convert into L-ascorbic acid on the skin, says Shah.
In controlled settings, L-ascorbic acid is the most effective, says Castilla, but in reality the effectiveness of a vitamin C serum may depend on a variety of factors, including your skin type. “L-ascorbic acid can be very unstable so whatever bottle that you get, you have to use it very quickly or it will oxidize,” she says. “Secondly, it has to be formulated at a low pH, meaning it’s very acidic and it can be very irritating for a lot of skin types, especially rosacea-prone skin types.”
Other types of vitamin C — such as 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate — are more stable. Shah particularly likes tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate since it converts to L-ascorbic acid really well and also penetrates the skin really well, she says.
Concentration
The dermatologists we spoke to recommend looking for products with a concentration of vitamin C between 10% and 20%. “Beyond 20%, it’s just irritating and not necessarily more effective,” says Castilla.
Packaging
Exposure to light and air are disastrous for the unstable molecules found in vitamin C serums, according to our experts. “What vitamin C does for free radicals is contribute electrons to the free radicals [to stabilize them],” says Castilla. “Once that happens, then the vitamin C is no longer active.”When vitamin C molecules are exposed to oxygen, “it loses those electrons and it becomes an inactive form of vitamin C,” she explains.
Packaging and the way you store your serum are key to its effectiveness. Ilyas recommends serums in opaque or amber colored glass bottles, which block light exposure. And while many top vitamin C serums come in a glass bottle with a dropper, Castilla says those with airless pump bottles will stay active longer. Store your serum away from the sun and don’t hoard it — this unstable ingredient is best used quickly.
Companion ingredients
“Many worthy topical vitamin C-containing serums will often be combined with ferulic acid and vitamin E because this combination can increase the effectiveness of vitamin C,” says Ilyas.
Castilla also recommends pairing your vitamin C with sunscreen. “Sunscreens help block free radical damage, but not all of it,” she says. “Pairing sunscreen with a vitamin C doesn’t improve the UVA/UVB protection, but [the vitamin C] protects against the free radicals that are being produced.”
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Carmen Castilla, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist at the New York Dermatology Group in Manhattan specializing in both medical and cosmetic dermatology.
- Dr. Sejal Shah, M.D., FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Smarter Skin Dermatology in New York. She specializes in cosmetic dermatology and treating skin of color.
- Dr. Erum Ilyas, M.D., FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology group in Pennsylvania. Her expertise includes pediatric and medical dermatology and skin cancer treatment.
Why trust NBC Select?
Macaela MacKenzie is a journalist and former Glamour editor who has covered beauty and wellness treatments for over a decade. For this article, MacKenzie spoke to three dermatologists about the best ways to prevent and treat melasma and highlighted their top skin care picks and the rationale behind them.
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