Revive dull or pigmented skin for sunny season with the 9 best Vitamin C serums on the market
These brightening, collagen-boosting powerhouses are the best of what Vit C has to offer
Sennen Prickett
Vitamin C serums should be in pretty much everyone's routine, thanks to their ability to brighten dull skin, prevent pigmentation, stimulate collagen and protect from environmental damage.
While you might rely on one of the best hyaluronic acid serums for hydration, or the best niacinamide serum to condition the skin, vitamin C serums are the ultimate multitaskers. Dermatologist, Dr Elif Benar explains: "As one of the most potent antioxidants, vitamin C has multiple benefits. They include fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, brightening the skin, and helping to increase collagen production for an overall healthier complexion."
Best Vitamin C serum deals
The best Vitamin C serums, as tested by our Beauty Editors
RRP: £50 Vitamin C: 10% Key ingredients: Lactic acid, alpha-arbutin
If you haven't heard of Farmacy, this Vitamin C serum would be a perfect product to get to know the brand. Why? Because unless you are on a very tight budget, there's very little not to adore here. It contains 10% ascorbic acid, the most stable and powerful form of Vit C, and combines it with gentle exfoliant lactic acid plus alpha arbutin, another antioxidant, for extra skin-protecting powers. It also has a waterless base, which means that precious vitamin C won't be prematurely destabilised by the oxygen in H2O, while the airless pump bottle boosts this protection further. The texture of this oil-free serum is one of the things we loved most. One pump was easily enough for our face and neck, it sank in swiftly and played well with our moisturiser. Essentially, this works as hard as possible for a topical product and more than lives up to its brightening promises - so it gets top marks from us.
Buy if: You want an oil-free, ultra-stable formula, with a good vitamin C concentration that brightens and refines texture
Avoid if: We couldn’t find any reasons why you wouldn’t want to give this one a try
RRP: £16 Vitamin C: 15% Key ingredients: Ferulic acid
You didn't hear it from us, but the ingredients list of this extremely well-priced buy isn't a million miles away from a certain luxury number you'll also find on this list. This means it combines a high level of Vitamin C with ferulic acid, another antioxidant known to help Vitamin C work even better, and Vitamin E. The similarities end when it comes to texture, as we found this serum has a thicker feel and is slightly oilier than its £150+ counterpart, which is more watery and easily absorbed - but it still sank in well on our tester's combination skin. We liked this product's packaging, a twist-up pipette that keeps the formula safe from light and air, which prevents oxidation and dispenses the perfect amount for the face and neck. One gripe - once we had used over two-thirds, it was tricky to pick up any serum with the pipette, so we ended up having to pour out probably a bit too much on each go. But honestly, for this formula at this price you really can't complain.
Buy if: You're looking for a seriously formulated Vitamin C serum at an excellent price
Avoid if: You prefer lighter textures or have very oily skin
RRP: £165 Vitamin C: 15% Key ingredients: Ferulic acid, Vitamin E
CE Ferulic is on practically every list of best Vitamin C serums, and with good reason. SkinCeuticals are pioneers of antioxidant skincare, and this is their hero product. In fact, the only thing keeping it off the top of this list is the price, which will be prohibitive to some. Budgets aside, if you can afford to buy this, you should. It combines 15% gold standard stable Vitamin C with Vitamin E plus ferulic acid, another antioxidant that's known to boost the power and stability of Vit C when combined. You'll spot this trio of ingredients together a few times in this list, but just know that these guys did it first. Texture-wise, this is loose and watery, so it should be pressed into the skin rather than massaged. Due to this very light feel, this is one of our favourite Vit C serums for layering. It sinks into skin instantly, and you can top it with any other products, no problem.
Buy if: You want an incredibly effective Vit C with added antioxidants and a light texture that's easy to layer
Avoid if: You don’t want to spend over £100
RRP: £31.99 Vitamin C: 12% Key ingredients: Salicylic acid, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin E
This packs a very respectable amount of skincare activity into a modest price tag - and unusually for Vit C is particularly well suited to combination or oily skin types. Oil-clearing salicylic acid helps clear pores, hydrators hyaluronic acid and glycerin provide an instant plumping effect, while antioxidant Vitamins C and E are more of a long game. It’s thicker than most other products on this list, more of a velvety gel than the thin fluid you might expect from a Vitamin C serum. This does make it easier and, in many ways, more pleasant to massage in. Unusually at this price, the 12% Vitamin C included is ultra-stable L-ascorbic acid, kept in peak condition by the tinted pipette packaging. It does start to oxidise after a few weeks of use, so you will notice the formula taking on an orangey hue, but this is the case for almost all Vit C serums - usually costing three times what this does - so we can't grumble.
Buy if: You want a formula with pore-clearing salicylic acid, at an affordable price
Avoid if: You want to avoid silicones
RRP: £39 Vitamin C: 7% Key ingredients: Vitamin E, Jojoba oil
This was one of the serums we, as a team, all agreed on. We're big fans of this brand for their high-tech formulas and affordable pricing. A gentle yet effective concentration of Vit C (7%) combined with Vitamin E for extra antioxidant powers and jojoba seed oil gives the serum a lovely, plumping, and juicy feel. Despite the richer texture, this sank in well and left our skin feeling comfortable, plump and perfectly smooth. Expect an instant dewy glow and results on skin tone within a few weeks. It also smells lovely and fresh due to natural citrus oils, and the tinted dropper keeps the ingredients super stable. You really can't go wrong with this one.
Buy if: You want a fuss-free one and done serum to use in the mornings.
Avoid if: You have very oily or breakout-prone skin then oil-based products won't be for you
RRP: £9.50 Vitamin C: 1% Key ingredients: Glycerin, Squalane, Hyaluronic acid
Anyone with very sensitive skin who has tried and failed to use Vitamin C serums in the past may finally find a formula they can get on with here. Yes the very low % of Vit C does mean you won't get the powerful bang for your buck of other formulas on this list, but it is encapsulated for stability, and your skin will get a little kiss of antioxidant benefits along with lots of hydrating and skin conditioning ones, for a very pleasing price point. Due to its largely hydrator based ingredient list, this looks more like a creamy fluid than a typical Vit C serum, it also feels pleasant - unusually so - to apply and leaves skin with a soft feeling and plump sheen that's beautifully flattering.
Buy if: More powerful Vitamin C serums tend to irritate or cause breakouts
Avoid if: You want maximum potency and don't have reactive skin
RRP: £45 Vitamin C: 10% Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid
If you have sensitive skin, this is the antioxidant serum for you. La Roche-Posay is known for ultra-gentle skincare that, crucially, doesn't compromise on real results. In our opinion, the brand's serums are the best La Roche-Posay products in their roster. A clear and non-sticky formula, this sinks nicely into the skin thanks to comfort-boosting HA and sits nicely under a moisturiser and SPF. A 10% concentration of Vitamin C is a nice sweet spot for the active ingredient, too. Not too delicate, not too harsh. This is the best Vitamin C for cautious first-timers, it's one we mention most often to those trying to introduce the ingredient into their routine. A brilliant, frill-free buy that's not intimidating (or wildly expensive).
Buy if: You have sensitive skin and need a formula gentle enough for daily use
Avoid if: You have dry skin
RRP: £49.25 Vitamin C: 10% Key features: Blended with nourishing squalene
California-based brand, Biossance, formulates all its products around a bio-engineered, non-animal-derived form of squalene - an oil that's a molecular match for our skin's own natural oils. In real-world terms, this means everything has a plush and nourishing texture that's so perfect on naturally dry skin types or ones that get dehydrated. This texture is quite hard to find in Vitamin C serums, which tend to err more on the watery-light side or have slippier textures due to the inclusion of silicone-based ingredients. Beautiful feel and nourishing properties aside, this does double duty with a reassuringly high 10% vitamin C content, but also white shitake - a natural form of kojic acid, which is also known to brighten the skin.
Buy if: You have very dry skin and prefer rich textures
Avoid if: You prefer not to use oils on your skin
RRP: £35.99 Vitamin C: 10% Key ingredients: Peptides, antioxidants
We were excited to try this brand's Vitamin C serum since we heard Sarah Jessica Parker is a fan of RoC Skincare. Clinically proven and dermatologically tested, this serum promises to brighten dull skin, and after testing, we can agree that it did. This formula contains 10% potent Vitamin C in its most stable form, so it helps to even skin tone and boost radiance. With the help of peptides and an antioxidant blend, it is gentle enough to use every day. We were pleasantly surprised to see that this Vit C serum brightened our skin just as much as some of the more expensive serums on this list, and for £35.99 (which is quite affordable for this type of serum), we would recommend it to anyone wanting to try the antioxidant for the first time.
Buy if: You're starting with Vit C and want a hard-working, gentle blend at a reasonable price.
Avoid if: You're looking for something with a higher concentration.
How we tested the best Vitamin C serums
A selection of Vitamin C serums that we tested for this guide
As we say, the w&h beauty team are Vitamin C obsessives, so many of the products that made this guide, including SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic, Medik8 C-Tetra and The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C and EGF are old favorites that we have used - and loved - for years.
Any new products that we tested specifically for this guide were worn daily for a minimum of four weeks, as this is typically how long a Vit C serum needs to make a visible difference to skin tone and texture (although some results can appear more quickly) We also assessed each serum on:
- Ease of application
- Feel on the skin
- Value for money
- Packaging
- Texture
- Other included ingredients
How to choose a Vitamin C serum
How do you pick the right option for you? we've enlisted the help of dermatologists, Dr Elif Benar, and Dr Salomé Metreveli to provide their expert thoughts.
- Packaging matters: Vitamin C is a famously unstable ingredient. It is incredibly sensitive to light and air and must be kept protected from both as far as possible in order to remain active and effective. Avoid jars and opt for pipette applicators, or even better - light-shielding airtight bottles.
- Save the date: Because of its unstable nature, even the best Vitamin C serums can go out of date much quicker than the rest of your best skincare products. Check the little symbol on the packaging of a jar with a number on it. 6 means it'll last 6 months, 12 is a year, and so on. In general, most Vitamin C serums have a 6-12 month shelf life.
- Check the concentration: Not all serums are created equal - the concentration of the active ingredient will impact how effective it is, and how quickly it'll get to work. "In general, you’d use a minimum of 5%, and a maximum of 20-30%" says Dr Metreveli.
- Beginners should ease in: Don't jump straight into 20% concentrations if your skin's not used to active ingredients, warns Dr Metreveli. "Those with more sensitive skin should start on a lower percentage, and gradually work their way up once the skin begins to tolerate it."
Your Vitamin C FAQs, answered
Why use a Vitamin C serum?
Why a serum over a cream, or infused in your best cleanser? To cut to the chase, serums' concentrated formulas are the best way to treat any skincare concerns. Their light, liquid consistency means they sink deeper into the skin than even your best face moisturiser, and get to work much quicker. We're always wary of all-singing, all-dancing cleansers infused with hyped-up ingredients like retinol and acids. Really, these don't sit on your skin for long enough to get to work, washing those active ingredients (and to be frank your cash), down the plughole.
If you're wondering how to apply serum, it's always onto clean skin after cleansing, before your moisturiser.
What does a vitamin C serum do to the face?
After using the best Vitamin C serums, you'll notice your face looking brighter. It's also one of the best hyperpigmentation treatments that you can safely do at home. How does all of this brightening, protecting magic work exactly?
Skincare expert Fiona Brackenbury explains, "Vitamin C is an antioxidant powerhouse that prevents cellular damage from UV rays and pollution, which are the top two most damaging elements which our skin comes into contact with daily."
She continues, "If that wasn’t enough to make you reach for a vitamin C serum, it's also essential for collagen production. We lose 1.5% a year after the age of 30 and this reduction speeds up during menopause where we can lose a whopping 30% of our collagen."
Is it okay to use a vitamin C serum every day?
In theory, yes! If you don't notice any sensitivity or irritation from using it, it's safe to use your Vitamin C serum daily. For me personally, I alternate between Vitamin C and HA serums daily but feel free to pick what works best for you.
Brackenbury agrees, "Vitamin C is best used daily as you don’t want to miss out on the antioxidant protection, however, I would always caveat that with saying to listen to your skin and consider any stress, medication, menopause or sun exposure that may cause your skin to be more sensitive."
Who should not use a vitamin C serum?
Really, everyone can use the best Vitamin C serums - there's really no downside to using one. I've you're not sure whether Vitamin C can be bad for the skin, the short answer is no, it's usually not - if it's in date and the right concentration for your skin type.
Easily-irritated skin should proceed with caution, as you would when you're introducing any new product to your skincare routine for sensitive skin.
"Every skin is different and unique and has a sweet spot for skincare actives", says Brackenbury. "If you have sensitive skin or have never used a vitamin C before, vitamin C derivatives such as tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate will be easier for you to tolerate." If you'd rather avoid Vit C altogether, niacinamide is often touted as a gentler alternative, and does offer some of the same antioxidant and brightening benefits (hence the longstanding niacinamide vs vitamin C skincare debate)
What is the best Vitamin C serum?
The answer to this question is dependent on your personal preferences, your own skin type and its needs. We hailed Farmacy Beauty's oil-free 10% Waterless Vitamin-C Serum as best overall formula, which is great for those who are new to vitamin C. Whilst, L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Clinical 12% Pure Vitamin C Serum's is a quality formula for those seeking a budget-friendly option.
We also have to give honourable mentions to other products we tested that didn't quite make the cut. Firstly, Gatineau's Radiance Enhancing Vitamin C Serum is a stellar option for those wanting to unlock an immediate glow. Not to mention, Tatcha's Brightening Serum, which is perfect for those with sensitive and blemish-prone skin types.
