The 13 Best Vitamin C Serums, According to Experts
Photo-Illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Retailers
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As a shopping editor who covers beauty, I’ve had many conversations with dermatologists and aestheticians about skin-care routines. The one thing they always recommend? Vitamin C. Despite the serum formulas smelling like hot dogs, the antioxidant is pretty much an all-in-one, targeting hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and sun damage. However, there’s a lot to consider when trying them out. Since nobody wants to mess up their skin barrier, we reached out to Dr. Angela Lamb, M.D., Dr. Dusan Sajic, M.D. Ph.D., and Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, M.D. F.A.A.D. to help you pick the right vitamin C serum for your face.
What should you be looking for in a vitamin C serum?
Before you beeline to the cute packaging, you need to look at the ingredients list. There are many forms of vitamin C. The most effective one? L-ascorbic acid, specifically between 10–20 percentage because L-ascorbic can be irritating and unstable.
Another form of vitamin C is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. Dr. Ciraldo favors this one since it’s more stable and less irritating than L-ascorbic acid. Plus, it’s beneficial for fine lines and collagen. She recommends seeking out a percentage of 2 to 3. Last but not least, we have ascorbyl glucoside, which is another more stable, less irritating form of vitamin C that’s easily absorbed into the skin.
(Don’t worry about taking notes. We have plenty of recommendations below.)
Does the packaging of my vitamin C serum matter?
Yes. Vitamin C is sensitive to light and air and, if packaged improperly, could cause it to oxidize faster and in turn be less effective. The rule of thumb all of our experts agree on is that your vitamin C serum should be in a dark or tinted bottle with a dropper to keep the light and air out.
Where should I store my vitamin C serum?
Since it’s such a sensitive ingredient, you’re going to want to avoid the aesthetic sunlit beauty shelves. (Sorry!) “It is important to store it in a dark, cool place, away from sunlight and heat,” Dr. Sajic explains. If you have or have been looking for an excuse to get a skin-care fridge, Dr. Lamb says that’s also a good option if you want to be extra cautious.
How often should I use a vitamin C serum?
You can use vitamin C daily, just not immediately. Start using it a few times a week in the morning (after you cleanse and before you moisturize), depending on your skin’s tolerance and serum concentration. And as usual, always wear sunscreen after you’re done.
What ingredients shouldn’t be mixed with vitamin C?
The most important question of them all. We’d all like to fast-forward to the part where we have smooth and clear skin, but piling on ingredients on ingredients will have the opposite effect. Here’s the tl;dr on the ingredients you should avoid when using your vitamin C serum:
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Retinol: If you’re using retinol and vitamin C as part of your nightly routine, Dr. Lamb recommends alternating nights or using your vitamin C serum in the morning only.
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Exfoliants: These are your alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and your beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). “Avoid using vitamin C with benzoyl peroxide, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid, as they can cause irritation,” Dr. Sajic explains. Simply switch up the days you’re using your products to obtain maximum results.
The Best Vitamin C Serums
Mục lục
The Cult Favorite
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
$182
$182
The pricey cult-favorite serum comes highly recommended by derms, Cut staffers, and pretty much everyone else. This is a powerful combo of ingredients, which we guess contributes to the price tag. It has 15 percent L-ascorbic acid and a blend of additional antioxidants that help protect, smooth, and brighten.
$182
at SkinCeuticals
$182
at Dermstore
The Best for Targeting Hyperpigmentation
Hyper Skin Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin-C Serum
$58
$58
As someone who’s had many not-so-great experiences with vitamin C serums, this one is one of my favorites. Along with 15 percent vitamin C, it also features kojic acid, a favorite for fading dark spots.
$58
at Sephora
The Affordable Favorite
Maelove Glow Maker
$30
$30
Another Cut favorite we’ve raved about before. This has a similar ingredient list to the Skinceuticals product above: 15 percent L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, at a fraction of the price.
$30
at Maelove
The DIY Version
The Safe One
Veracity Brightening Support
$55
$55
Ascorbyl glucoside is the key ingredient in this favorite from Dr. Lamb. “The formula is boosted by garland lily extract, which protects the skin from UV and blue light, and it also contains hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate for radiant luminous skin,” she explains. “It also excludes all endocrine-disrupting ingredients and therefore is safe to use when pregnant or breastfeeding.”
$55
at Saks Fifth Avenue
$55
at Veracity
The Collagen-Boosting One
VivierSkin C E Peptides
$186
$186
Featuring a low but not too low percentage of L-ascorbic acid (10 percent), this recommendation from Dr. Sajic is on the gentler side — but reviewers also love the collagen-boosting peptides that help smooth skin.
$186
at VivierSkin
The Moisturizing One
The Best for Mature Skin
A Good Nonirritating Option
The Beauty-Editor Favorite
The One Worth Saving Up For
The Exfoliating One
The Brightening Booster
Our Experts
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