Serums are essential in our daily skincare routine. Whether it’s a morning or nighttime routine, you need the best vitamin C serum to help you keep healthy and glowing skin.
However, it’s easier said than done when picking products, especially cosmetics, due to elemental factors, both external and internal.
Moreover, some products could be subpar in composition and quality. Due to the wide gap between what you want and what you can get, it is essential to get the best products the age of online stores have to offer.
Best Vitamin C Serums
The following serums are the top serums you can pick when you want the best serum for your skin. The list is gathered through e-commerce store sales data metrics and social media engagements.
1. Best Vitamin C Serum Recommended by Dermatologist
SkinCeuticals C+R Ferulic Vitamin C Serum
With active ingredients vitamin C and ferulic acid, this formula stands out at the top of dermatologists’ lists as one of the best serums in the market right now.
The serum contains 15% vitamin C and 0.5% of ferulic acid along with other protecting ingredients like vitamin E to treat hyperpigmentation. The serum also neutralizes the free radicals in your skin caused by sun rays, shielding you from external elements.
You should apply drops of the serum in the morning before you go out for the day.
2. Best Drugstore Vitamin C Serum
Paula’s Choice Boost C15
You will find the product as one of the most effective serums you can find anywhere. The serum formula contains 15% of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to brighten and soften your skin. The serum also improves your uneven skin tone, thereby improving your overall complexion.
Furthermore, the serum boosts and diminishes possible signs of aging. The vitamin C component is stabilized and would not irritate the skin. You can use the serum for your morning and evening skincare routine.
3. Best Vitamin C Serum for Sensitive Skin
Fluer & Bee Natural Vitamin C Serum
Packed with essential hydrating and brightening products, Fluer & Bee Natural Vitamin C Serum helps your skin stay hydrated, bright, and even-toned. The formula contains ferulic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which is a form of vitamin C, to improve your skin’s natural glow.
The serum also contains antioxidants to protect the skin against harmful sun rays and free radicals. Then it moisturizes your skin with ingredients like jojoba oil and aloe vera.
In addition, it does not contain harmful ingredients like parabens and sulfates. Your skin stays protected all the time.
4. Best Vitamin C Serum for Dry Skin
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum
This product is extra equipped with hyaluronic acid to soothe and plump your skin, bringing back its glow. The pure vitamin C formula also provides antioxidant protection to improve your skin’s overall complexion.
The serum also retains the ingredients on your skin with its essential ceramides components (1, 3, and 6 II). Besides this, the serum provides all the time protection and soothing relief. This makes it the complete serum for dry skin types.
5. Best Vitamin C Serum for Oily Skin
Obagi Professional Serum
Containing 20% vitamin C, the formula works well for normal to oily skin. The lightweight formula is rich in antioxidants that lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The serum is a go-to if you want to feel silky smooth and protected.
Furthermore, the formula easily absorbs into the skin without leaving any residues. It is the perfect skincare product for oily and combination skins that do not want their skin pores clogged with products.
Besides this, it can be applied both in your morning and nighttime routine.
6. Best Vitamin C Serum for Acne-Prone Skin
Essence of Arcadia’s Tea Tree Perfect Skin Facila Serum
This product works for acne-prone skin with its antioxidant properties and 20% vitamin C concentration. The serum also contains retinol, hyaluronic acid, and tea tree essential oil to improve your skin’s sebum secretion and hydration.
In addition, it boosts healthy and clear skin by cleaning out scars, blemishes, and uneven skin tone. You can use the serum for your morning and evening routine to smoothen your skin.
7. Best Vitamin C Serum for Hyperpigmentation
Mad Hippie Serum
This serum not only helps to brighten your skin but also brightens your skin. The serum contains gold-stabilized vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to lighten your skin pigmentation.
Furthermore, it provides a shield against sun damage with its vitamin E component, evening your skin tone in the process. People with hyperpigmentation can use this vegan serum to improve their skin shade.
8. Best Vitamin C Serum for Dark Spots
TruSkin Vitamin C Serum
This product also contains hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, aloe vera, witch hazel, and vitamin E to promote your skin’s brightened shade and hydration. The serum is also great for clearing dark spots from the skin.
It works by evening out your skin from beneath the epidermis, gradually fading the spots away. It also helps to treat fine lines and creases caused by sun damage.
Moreover, it does not contain synthetic components like parabens, phthalates, or sulfates. Your skin is safe and protected.
9. Best Vitamin C Serum for Dark Skin
Noche Y Dia Pure Vitamin C Serum
The formula helps to even your tone and reduce the hyperpigmentation caused by the overproduction of melanin. The serum contains bitter orange, lemon and kiwi extracts to improve your collagen production.
Furthermore, the serum has antioxidant properties that shield and tighten the skin’s pores. Moreover, the kiwi extract has omega-3 fatty acids which improve the skin-protecting lipids.
You can use the serum to seal moisture and even your dark skin tone.
10. Best Vitamin C Serum for Anti-aging
Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Skin Corrector
This helps your skin reduce aging effects and firm the skin. You need this serum if you want to plump your skin and reduce free radicals. With active ingredients, the serum also reduces fine lines and hydrates your skin.
You will see visible results in less than two weeks with your skin recovering its glow back. You can use the serum for both your morning and nighttime skincare routine.
11. Best Organic Vitamin C Serum
LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Serum
This serum for the face is fortified with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to help brighten and hydrate the skin. The serum is made from all-natural ingredients to improve your skin’s texture and color.
Asides from this, the serum helps to reduce your skin aging effects by filling up your skin from within, thereby making your skin look full and radiant.
The serum is a revitalizing product with non-comedogenic formula and is suited for all skin types. It is not brash and does not leave a lasting side effect. This makes it suitable for morning and night regimens.
How to Choose the Best Vitamin C Serum
Choosing serums, especially vitamin C ones means you have a goal you want to achieve. This goal should be targeted. Moreover, in other to do that you have to know how to pick the most suitable serum for you. Let the following guide will help you.
Packaging
Serums come in opaque bottles to avoid light penetration and oxidation. Nonetheless, you have to keep them in closed spaces to preserve their integrity.
Furthermore, you should get a serum that shuts tightly. Serums come with applicators or pump that also acts as a cap. The applicator should be air-tight to avoid air getting in and weakening the formula.
A damaged package or light-colored bottle is not in the best condition. If it is not opaque, do not buy.
Ingredient
The most active component in a vitamin C serum is L-ascorbic acid. The acid is what brightens the skin and provides a light film on the skin. L-ascorbic acid should be available in the best vitamin C serum. This means it can provide lightening and softening properties to your skin.
Additionally, your serum should have other components that help it soothe and reduce irritation on your skin. The active ingredients in the serum can be irritating. Therefore, other soothing ingredients need to be added to ease it, thereby protecting the skin.
Vitamin E and ferulic acid are great antioxidants that soothe and protect the skin while vitamin C lightens the skin.
Formula
The formula of your serum is also important. You should use water-based or lightweight formulas if you have oily skin. Meanwhile, dry skin should use oil-based formulas because they have a thicker texture.
Protection
The serum has to have antioxidants that would protect your skin from free radicals and external elements. Furthermore, the antioxidants should complement the active L-ascorbic acid in the serum. If you want to purchase a vitamin C serum, be sure it protects your skin.
Does Vitamin C Serum Have Side Effects?
Yes, it does. Vitamin C Serum has side effects that include irritation, redness, itchiness, and oily skin. This could happen if you have sensitive skin. Similarly, it could happen if the concentration or formula is not right for your skin.
To avoid this, you should patch-test the product on your skin. If your skin does not react after 72 hours, then the serum is safe to use. However, if you see red spots or experience itchiness, discontinue the product.
Some also experience breakout as a side effect. Most times, this happens if you are using the wrong formula. For instance, oily skin types should use water-based formulas. It should also be non-comedogenic. The serum will penetrate the skin with ease.
Oil-based serums on oily and acne-prone skin types will likely clog the pores, leading to more breakouts and spots on the face.
Additionally, you can experience side effects if you changed products or you are using a serum for the first time. This is due to your skin adjusting to the new formula. However, this will not last long. Your skin should be back to normal in a week or two. If this does not happen, discontinue the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will vitamin C serums brighten your skin?
Yes, it will. Vitamin C serums have L-ascorbic acid, which lightens or brightens the skin according to its concentration. It will also fade hyperpigmentation on the skin.
This helps to reduce the spots and patches on our faces caused by the sun’s UV radiation.
Should you use vitamin C serum before or after moisturizer?
Before moisturizer. Serums come before moisturizing. After applying the serum, let it dry for about three minutes before applying your moisturizing.
Good serums are fast-absorbing. Therefore, be wary if the serum does not dry fast enough.
How often should you apply vitamin C serum?
Once a day. Vitamin C serums are very concentrated, which means they should be applied once a day in either your morning or nighttime routine to treat your skin.
You should avoid overusing your serum. It could lead to irritation. Moreover, pairing your serum with other beneficial skincare products is ideal and organic. This helps in the natural glow of your skin.
Conclusion
So you know you need a serum but don’t which you should pick. The normal thing would be to go for the best serums in the market. However, you need to get the right one for your skin tone.
For instance, I would pick SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Combination because it is highly recommended by dermatologists and works well for most skin types.
However, if you have hyperpigmentation or dark spots, you should use TruSkin Vitamin C Serum for Face. They help in evening skin tone and improve overall complexion.
When picking your serum, always think of what it can do for you. Being specific about your goals is the only thing that would get you your desired result.
Thanks for reading.
You can get answers to your everyday skincare questions here on Serum101.