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The Best Vitamin C Serum

Last updated on September 9, 2020

We looked at the top 5 Vitamin C Serums and dug through the reviews from 15 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Vitamin C Serums.

Best Vitamin C Serum

Our Review Process

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Taking care of your skin is incredibly important. Not only is it your body’s largest organ, but it is the organ that comes into contact with the world every single day. It deserves to be treated with a bit of extra care.

With vitamin C serums, you will definitely be able to treat your skin well. Vitamin C is important for your skin because it neutralizes free radicals and aids your body’s natural regeneration process. It helps also helps inhibit the growth of dark spots while accelerating the body’s production of collagen and elastin. 

Looking into serums that work best for you is a worthwhile investment. Many people use vitamin C because they feel it helps their skin look and feel its best.

Try to avoid creams that have little bits of vitamin C and instead go right to the source with serums. Serums are more effective at sinking into the skin barrier. Also, when looking for serums with vitamin C , there are forms of this vitamin that you should know about.

Check the labels for L-ascorbic acid. This acid is considered the best vitamin C for your skin, especially if it contains 15% to 20%.

Another thing to pay attention to is the bottle or container that your serum comes in. Vitamin C tends to become more unstable when exposed to air and light, so look for containers that are in an airtight pump or opaque bottle and make sure to store it away from direct sun to preserve its potency. 

A great vitamin C serum to consider is the Amara Beauty’s hyaluronic acid and Vitamin D serum. It absorbs quickly with no greasy or sticky residue and leaves skin feeling fresh and soft. It has no parabens, dyes or fragrances and is also vegan and cruelty-free.

Another option is the Bronson vitamin C serum topical facial serum with hyaluronic acid. This serum can be used at any time of day to help cleanse, hydrate and moisturize your skin. The hyaluronic acid is easily absorbed into skin to help elevate the serum’s benefits.

Not only should you be considering vitamin C serums as an option for your skin, you should also make sure you’re engaging in general skincare. Make sure to use sunscreen and drink lots of water. It is also important to reduce the amount of time you are in a hot shower, as this will cause your skin to dry out.

Vitamin C can also be found in foods and supplements. Fruits and vegetables are a great way of boosting your vitamin C intake. Try incorporating more citrus fruits, such as oranges or grapefruit, into your diet.

Vegetables such as red and green peppers also have Vitamin C. Broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe, baked potatoes and tomatoes are good sources of vitamin C, too. There are a lot of foods to choose from to increase your intake. Most multivitamins have vitamin C as well, but is important to double-check the bottle if this is something that you are specifically looking for. 

Our Picks For The Top Vitamin C Serums

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Product Overview
Our Take
  Best Overall

Amara Beauty Face Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum

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Amara Beauty

Face Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum

This vitamin C serum is great for those who want a serum that is vegan and cruelty-free. It soaks into the skin without leaving a sticky residue and leaves your skin feeling soft and silky while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Overall Take

Soft Skin SerumA vegan and cruelty-free serum, this product will absorb quickly with no greasy residue.

  Runner Up

Bronson Topical Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Face Serum

Bronson

Topical Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Face Serum

Cleanse, hydrate and moisturize your way to better skin with this hyaluronic acid and Vitamin C face serum. It also includes aloe, jojoba and witch hazel for radiant skin.

Overall Take

Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin CWith hyaluronic acid and other useful ingredients, this Vitamin C serum cleanses, hydrates and moisturizes.

  Strong Contender

CeraVe Skin Brightening Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum

CeraVe

Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum

This serum is gentle on skin, has moisture-retaining ingredients, and helps improve skin tone, texture and hydration for a more radiant complexion. It is formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5.

Overall Take

Antioxidant Benefits This product is formulated with 10% L-ascorbic acid to help provide antioxidant protection and other benefits.

  Also Great

Mad Hippie All Natural Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Mad Hippie

All Natural Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This serum is great if you are looking for an all-natural and cruelty-free serum. It reduces discoloration and blemishes and is also GMO-free. It includes vitamin E and ferulic acid as well.

Overall Take

An All-Natural SerumAll-natural and cruelty-free, this vitamin C serum is safe to use and effective.

  Also Great

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension Serum

The Ordinary

Vitamin C Suspension Serum

This product helps with uneven skin tone, fine lines and wrinkles. It is good for normal, oily, combination and dry skin types.

Overall Take

High Stable SuspensionThis product is water- and silicone-free with a stable suspension of 23% pure L-ascorbic acid.

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12

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the vitamin c serums available to purchase.
5

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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15

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources.

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User Opinions Analyzed

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

CeraVe Skin Brightening Hyaluronic Acid & Vitamin C Serum

Our Total Score

9.6

Our Take

This serum is gentle on skin, has moisture-retaining ingredients, and helps improve skin tone, texture and hydration for a more radiant complexion. It is formulated with ceramides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5.

What to Look For

  • A little serum can go a long way. Try not to apply too much, as you do not want to use more than what you need.
  • Use your vitamin C serum in the morning. It should be applied before heading outside, along with a layer of sunscreen. Vitamin C serums do lose potency when in contact with the sun, so make sure yours absorbs into the skin fully before going out to begin your day.
  • Understand when to use your serum during your skincare routine. You will want to apply it to freshly cleansed skin before you moisturize.
  • Know what level of concentration of vitamin C is going to work with your skin. If you have sensitive or dry skin, try using serums with 5% or less, which will give you less irritation.
  • If you know that you have sensitive skin, try slowly introducing the serum into your skincare routine to see how your skin reacts.
  • Pay attention to the color of your serum. Your serum should be colorless or of a light straw color. If it is oxidized, it will become yellow or brown, and that means it will be less effective.
  • Ask your dermatologist about recommendations. Your doctor will know your skin the best and may have some options for you.
  • Avoid using exfoliating acids immediately after applying a vitamin C serum. Combining these two may be too harsh on your skin. If you do want to use exfoliating acids, use them at a different time of day: If you’re putting on vitamin C serum in the morning, save the exfoliation for the evening.

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