The 9 best Vitamin C serums for delivering a youthful, radiant complexion

Working to brighten, protect and even your skin tone, our beauty editors declare these vitamin C serums a worthy investment to your routine

Collage of the best vitamin C serums on a pale orange background (L-R) from Paula's Choice, SkinCeuticals, Farmacy Beauty, Medik8, L'Oréal Paris and La Roche-Posay
(Image credit: Future/Brands)

Vitamin C serums have a prized spot in many beauty editor's skincare arsenals, thanks to their ability to brighten, boost radiance and even skin tone - think hyperpigmentation and dark spots.

While you might rely on one of the best hyaluronic acid serums for a boost of hydration, or the best niacinamide serum works to improve the texture of your skin, the best vitamin C serum harnesses stellar brightening and skin tone-evening powers. Dermatologist, Dr Elif Benar explains: "As one of the most potent antioxidants for the skin, 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."

But, the benefits of this powerhouse skincare ingredient don't stop there, Dr Benar continues: "In addition, Vitamin C's anti-pigmentary and brightening effects will help with discolouration problems such as hyperpigmentation caused by acne." If any of the skin concerns mentioned feel relatable, let us introduce our beauty editors' 9 tried and tested vitamin C serums - to suit every skin type and budget.

Best Vitamin C serum deals

Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%
Get 30% off now
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester CCC + Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%: was £139 now £97.30 at Sephora UK

Save 30% on the vitamin C serum we dubbed the best for brightening the complexion, Perricone MD's Vitamin C Ester Complex.

L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Clinical 12% Pure Vitamin C Serum
Get 50% off now
L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Clinical 12% Pure Vitamin C Serum: was £31.99 now £15.99 at Boots.com

Enjoy a huge half price saving on L'Oréal Paris' Revitalift Clinical 12% Pure Vitamin C Serum, meaning you can snap up a bottle for less than £16.

RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum
Get 50% off now
RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum: was £33.99 now £16.99 at Boots.com

Nab a 50% discount on RoC's Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum, which we hailed the most gentle formula for daily use - making it a great option for vitamin C newbies.

The best Vitamin C serums, as tested by our Beauty Editors


How we tested the best Vitamin C serums

A selection of vitamin c serums that we tested for this guide

A selection of Vitamin C serums that we tested for this guide

(Image credit: Fiona McKim)

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.

Fiona McKim
Beauty Editor, womanandhome.com

As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim loves to share her 15+ years of industry intel on womanandhome.com and Instagram (@fionamckim if you like hair experiments and cute shih-tzus). After interning at ELLE, Fiona joined woman&home as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013 under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her to understand ingredients and take a cynical approach to marketing claims. She has since covered every corner of the industry, interviewing dermatologists and celebrities from Davina McCall to Dame Joan Collins, reporting backstage at London Fashion Week and judging the w&h Beauty Awards.

With contributions from