14 Best Vitamin C Serums, Tested and Reviewed for 2023

If you’re new to the world of skincare ingredients, trying to figure out which ones are actually worth investing in requires some homework. However, if there’s one ingredient you should pay close attention to, it’s vitamin C. You’ll notice that many vitamin C serums are either housed in an orange bottle or are adorned with orange accents as a nod to one of its main claims: brighter, radiant-looking skin. Found in face masks, many moisturizers, and wrinkle creams galore, vitamin C serums firm, fade, and tighten the skin—it probably also files your taxes on time.

“Vitamin C is a topical antioxidant that has many beneficial properties,” says celebrity dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal. “It reduces hyperpigmentation and acts as a cofactor for many cellular processes to maintain naturally glowing skin. Most of all, it scavenges free radicals that we come in contact with every single day.”

Vitamin C also helps the skin look younger for longer. According to fellow dermatologist Dr. Omar Ibrahimi, “[it’s] a key molecule for optimizing skin health and is an important and necessary cofactor (supporting molecule) that is required for the production of collagen, which is our skin’s main building block and currency for youthful skin.”

Our top picks for vitamin C serums in 2023

Experts agree that everyone should use a vitamin C serum, but the strength often varies from person to person. Since “vitamin C can be irritating at concentrations at or above 20 percent,” says Dr. Lal says. He recommends picking up a 10 percent concentration, especially if you’re new to the ingredient.

No matter your tolerance, Dr. Ibrahimi says to look for vitamin C formulas with L-ascorbic acid, the true active form of vitamin C. “L-ascorbic acid is the best option for most, as it is the most bioactive vitamin C compound,” he says.

All that to say, if you’ve ever wanted clear, smooth skin–with maybe fewer fine lines–then this ingredient is calling your name. But which one is right for you? Don’t worry; we perused thousands of customer reviews (and our own personal stash) to find the 14 best vitamin C serums for glowing skin.