2024's "5 Best" Vitamin C Serums On The Market
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly - We've Got You Covered!
Vitamin C serums are seemingly everywhere these days, and for a good reason—this powerhouse antioxidant and skin brightener are what makes Vitamin C one of the most effective skincare ingredients out there.
So, as we always do with the hottest skincare trends, we’ve reviewed a multitude of Vitamin C Serum skincare products and our team has selected the best for you to try out!
Vitamin C Serum online searches and sales keep growing each year, and we get it. Everyone interested in achieving a younger and healthier look wants to get their hands on effective skincare with ingredients that actually work. However, Vitamin C is known to be notoriously fickle or unstable if not infused into skincare correctly. It can deteriorate over time or in the presence of light and heat.
Our research team has tested hundreds of Vitamin C serums on the market to help you find the best product for you. Our team considered many factors besides the efficiency of the formulas. They also took into consideration business ethics, quality, results, and value. Keep scrolling down to find out what brands ranked with the “Top 5” Vitamin C Serums.
But first, what is Vitamin C?
Our skin has many functions as the largest organ in the body, and its appearance is generally a reflection of the health of its underlying structures. Constantly in contact with the external environment, our skin is consistently exposed to more pollutants than most other organs, so it’s no wonder that we’re seeing those early signs of aging sooner here too. Although you can take vitamin C orally through foods or supplements—the vitamin cannot penetrate your outermost skin layer (the stratum corneum) because there are few capillaries near this area where nutrient delivery happens—so applying topical forms of C directly to your face may be the best way to make sure you’re getting all those beneficial properties.
Vitamin C plays an influential role in collagen production which leads to fuller-looking skin, but it also helps reduce wrinkle depth while fighting inflammation—making it ideal for anyone who struggles with acne or rosacea.
Choosing the Right Skincare
Choosing the right skincare products can be difficult. Many of us are tempted to choose the cheapest option available, despite knowing that this may come at the expense of effectiveness. Yet, the reason some products are more expensive than others is they are significantly higher in quality. Although they require you to spend a bit more, you are likely to see better results and receive more of the expected benefits of the products you are using.
Choosing from an overwhelming amount of brands and products out there can feel difficult at times – which is why we have researched what each has on offer, tested, and narrowed down our choices for this ultimate list of five highly rated products.
The Good - What to Look For
With so many options available on the market, finding the right skin care can be tricky. After researching extensively to figure out what criteria you should look for when buying a new product, these are the three things we found:
- Active Ingredients – It's no surprise that choosing between beauty products can feel overwhelming sometimes due to marketing tricks that may lead people astray from what their actual needs might be. Active ingredients have been scientifically proven to actually do what they claim and are made with active compounds which work towards improving the overall skin condition of whatever problem it targets (i.e aging). When looking at labels next time, check if there are any 'active' ingredients in them as this will assure you're getting something useful instead of something useless.
- High Potency – Everything in a skincare product formula should contribute to its overall purpose. A good quality skincare product will have an optimal ingredient amount - strong enough to combat the target skin concern, yet gentle enough that it does not irritate sensitive skin types (e.g., dry patches)
- Purity – not all products are made the same way. Most of the time, active ingredients can be naturally sourced and well-researched formulas exist; but if they were creating a synthetic process or hazardous method, these same ingredients may cause harm to someone's health and put people at risk.
The Bad - What to Avoid
Here are some useful things to avoid when purchasing a Vitamin C Serum to ensure maximum results:
- Low Potency – Those who religiously read labels know there may be anywhere from one or two hard-to-pronounce ingredients in skin care products. Every additional ingredient dilutes the potency and effectiveness of the key ingredients which generally makes all the difference to the skin's health. Products with high potency start strong so that they have a greater chance of doing what it was originally designed to do - taking good care of your skin.
- Unnecessary Ingredients – whether these are called fillers, carriers, or bulking agents, these will decrease the overall potency of key ingredients and reduce the overall efficacy.
- Tested on animals – animal cruelty should never be tolerated because they matter too.
- Fragranced –while scents can make a lovely addition to an experience with a particular product, fragrance refers to a dark hole of possibly toxic ingredients that there is little regulation over.
- Excessively expensive –though it is natural to assume on appearance alone that more expensive products include an increased concentration of high-quality ingredients that are safe for use by all skin types, it is always imperative to look past the sticker price and see if this claim rings true or if there may be factors like marketing, packaging, or proprietary ingredients which can contribute to the excessive cost.
The System - Our 10-Step, Research-Backed Ranking Method
There is so much more to choosing a Vitamin C Serum than just taking marketing and labels at face value. That simply isn’t enough. Instead, we choose to test and compare each Vitamin C Serum against our 10-point ranking system:
- 1The purity and quality of ingredients and sourcing
- 2 The presence or lack of artificial fillers, preservatives, and additives.
- 3 Regulated manufacturing facilities and high-quality processes.
- 4The information behind the product - science, research, and development.
- 5 levels of Active Ingredients, availability, digestibility, and absorption.
- 6 Manufacturer governing bodies registrations and certifications.
- 7 Third-party testing to determine validity and accuracy of label information.
- 8 Filtering customer reviews to remove paid/fake reviews to highlight truthful customer experience.
- 9 Price and value for money.
- 10 Return and money-back guarantee policies.
The Guide - How We Evaluated the Top 5
- 20 hours of research went into this list.
- 5 experts analyzed and evaluated each product.
- 60 Customer Experience Interviews.
The skin care products you’ll find below are carefully selected after painstaking work from our team, who reviewed them extensively in terms of quality, efficacy, user feedback, and value.
TOP 5 VITAMIN C SERUMS IN 2024
#1 Habitual Skin
Triple Vitamin C Serum
Overall Rating (4.9)
4.9/5
- Quality Rating: 10/10
- Expert Rating: 9.9/10
- Users Rating: 9.8/10
Habitual Skin Triple Vitamin C Serum is a potent serum with the power to give you healthier, more youthful-looking skin. Habitual Skin’s formulation helps improve the appearance of photoaging which includes redness, pigmentation, wrinkles, age spots, and acne in addition to dryness.
A perfectly balanced blend of a few simple ingredients, with Vitamin C from Kakadu Plum Extract at the top of the list which works together with Ferulic Acid to stabilize the formula, is the secret behind Habitual Skin’s Triple Vitamin C Serum. This potent and clinically proven serum improves the overall look of the skin.
Our panel of experts also praised the high levels of antioxidants used and the effects of this product, which shield your skin against the after-effects of free radicals found in the environment. Their antioxidants have been highlighted through research studies for their ability to protect against environmental stressors like pollution or ultraviolet light from the sun. In addition, it is very lightweight and blends perfectly with sunscreen and makeup foundation, making it an easy antioxidant booster addition to your routine every day.
Habitual Skin delivers an impressive serum that is proven to be effective thanks to its C-packed formula. With its stable and tested combination of high-potency, active ingredients, not only does this product awaken your skin but also shields you from free radicals while lightening up pigmentation as well. We are amazed by Habitual Skin’s intelligent ingredient choices and natural base for all those looking out for something more than just “another” vitamin c serum on the market!
The Desirables
- Reverses the appearance of redness, pigmentation, wrinkles, age spots, fine lines, and signs of aged skin.
- Provides antioxidant protection against free radicals and the effects of oxidative stress.
- Optimum hydration of the skin thanks to the inclusion of Hylauronic Acid.
- Helps the skin's elasticity, achieving firmness.
- Scientifically designed with the top-recommended dermatologic ingredients to fight signs of aging.
- Uses a combination of Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid to stabilize its serum formula and protect it against degradation.
- Incentivizes healthy skin cells to achieve a revitalized and youthful look without discoloration and age spots.
- Clinically tested cruelty-free and vegan formula developed by chemists meeting the highest standards.
- Free of parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, and harmful chemicals.
- Free worldwide shipping with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Undesirables
- Currently, it is only available for purchase on the official company website.
- Stock issues may occur due to the high demand for the product.
The Final Word
Of every vitamin C serum we put up against our 10-point ranking system, Habitual Skin’s Triple Vitamin C Serum was by far the highest quality product that delivered the most optimal results.
Scientifically designed with the top-recommended dermatologic ingredients to provide antioxidant protection against environmental harm and fight the signs of aging – our testers not only saw but felt real results from using this cruelty-free, vegan formula.
The addition of auxiliary skin-enhancing ingredients optimizes Habitual Skin’s Triple Vitamin C Serum’s ability to visibly revitalize the appearance of skin and achieve a more youthful-looking result.
Habitual Skin offer free shipping on all orders which allows customers to spend more money on the actual products. They also offer a 90-day money-back guarantee which gives customers significantly longer than other brands to trial products and determine if they achieve real results. This clearly demonstrates that they believe in their product and its ability to produce true, high-quality skin benefits.
Why Habitual Skin Is Our #1 Pick
After evaluating ingredients, reputability, customer service, and experience across numerous brands of vitamin C products, it is clear that Habitual Skin’s Triple Vitamin C Serum is the superior product on the market.
The combination of Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid ensures a stabilized formula that protects their product from degradation, meaning consumers don’t have to worry about having to use the product quickly or replacing it before they’ve used all the contents.
The inclusion of Hyaluronic Acid and exclusion of parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrance, enables the vitamin C properties to flourish by creating a hydrated skin environment that is free from harmful chemicals.
Testers saw a significant reduction in the appearance of skin blemishes such as hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles; and felt an increase in the firmness of their skin.
Alongside these core reasons for why Habitual Skin’s Triple Vitamin C Serum stood out from the rest of the brands, they frequently provide their customers with special offers that allow their buyers to capitalize on what they spend.
#2 Dr. Dennis Gross
Dr. Deniss Gross C + Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum
Overall Rating (4.5)
4.5/5
- Quality Rating: 9.1/10
- Expert Rating: 9.0/10
- Users Rating: 8.9/10
Dr. Deniss Gross’ C + Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum is a powerful gel serum that uses proprietary energy complex, 3-O C vitamin C technology that revitalizes dull, tired or aging skin. It supports skin repair and collagen production and has been formulated to strengthen the skin’s natural defenses against elements.
Our panel of testers has seen an improvement in the 5th week of consistent use and noticed an improvement in their fine lines and wrinkles which has provided them with radiant-looking skin. However, throughout the whole testing period, our testers noted that this serum doesn’t absorb easily into the skin due to its gel consistency making it hard to blend under makeup making C + Collagen Brighten & Firm Vitamin C Serum less than ideal, especially if we consider that at $78 an ounce, this serum is not an option for all budgets.
The Desirables
- Formulated with acclaimed dermatologist Dr. Dennis Gross.
- Brightens, firms, and reduces fine lines and wrinkles with consistent usage.
- Revitalizes dull, tired, and aging skin.
- Clinically tested formula with positive reviews and recommendations online.
- Before and after testimonials on their website.
- It contains 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Collagen Amino Acids, and Energy Complex.
- Can be purchased through some popular online retailers.
- Vegan and cruelty-free formula.
The Undesirables
- Very expensive when you consider the cost per ml.
- The formula doesn’t absorb easily into the skin and doesn’t blend well under makeup.
The Final Word
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare is a dermatologist-founded brand by Dr. Dennis Gross. The brand’s mission is to improve skin health, how it looks, and how it makes you feel with their #1 priority being to ensure efficacy without ever compromising safety. They are cruelty-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, and vegan. They ensure that with every product they take a research-backed approach and formulate with only pharmaceutical-grade active ingredients to ensure superior results, without irritation showing the work and dedication they put into their products. If you are looking for a Vitamin C Serum to use while you are at home or during the weekends, then this one is for you. However, for everyday use, we would recommend the other products on our list.
#3 Paula’s Choice
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster
Overall Rating (4.3)
4.3/5
- Quality Rating: 8.7/10
- Expert Rating: 8.6/10
- Users Rating: 8.5/10
Paula’s Choice is a favorite amongst the crowd, and their C15 Super Booster is definitely one of them with over 1,100 reviews this concentrated booster is tried, tested, and well-recommended in the market. This potent serum uses stabilized 15% pure vitamin C at a pH of 3.0, Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid, and Hyaluronic Acid that diminishes visible signs of aging for brighter, smoother, and firmer-looking skin.
The downside is that the serum can cause irritation to people with sensitive skin similar to what our testers with sensitive skin experienced due to the high concentration of Vitamin C. On the other hand, our seasoned users noticed a change in pigmentation and dark spots. It is also important to note that this oxidizes quickly compared to other serums.
The Desirables
- Tried and tested by many, clinically proven brands, well-recommended in the market.
- Contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid, and Hyaluronic Acid.
- Improves the appearance of pigmentation and dark spots, and smoothens and firms the skin.
The Undesirables
- Can cause irritation due to a high concentration of Vitamin C.
The Final Word
Paula’s Choice is a staple in many people’s routines and has a huge following from its loyal fans. They are known for their smart and safe beauty with each of their formulas effective to deliver results, and formulary excellence backed by cited scientific research. They only use the best natural and synthetic ingredients to address the skin care needs of all ages, skin types, and concerns. Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster is a good addition to your skincare routine, however, for people with sensitive skin or new to Vitamin C, we would recommend trying Vitamin C with a concentration of 10% and below and always do a patch test to ensure it’ll work with your skin.
#4 The Ordinary
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%
Overall Rating (4.0)
4/5
- Quality Rating: 8.1/10
- Expert Rating: 8.0/10
- Users Rating: 7.9/10
The Ordinary’s Vitamin C Suspension 23% in HA Spheres uses direct vitamin C and hyaluronic acid to help visibly reduce signs of aging by brightening and balancing uneven skin tone. This water-free formula provides 23% pure L-Ascorbic Acid which remains completely stable due to the absence of water and is supported with spheres of hyaluronic acid for added hydration.
Our testers had high expectations of this serum due to the over 400 reviews it got on their website and it didn’t fail. Within 4 weeks of use, the oil-based serum has brightened the skin of our testers, and the added Hyaluronic Acid Sphere has also helped hydrate the skin despite the high concentration of vitamin C and has helped reduce fine lines and wrinkles. However, a few of our testers with sensitive skin have experienced tingling during application. We recommend for sensitive or new users, we recommend doing a patch test first to ensure it’ll work with your skin. A few of our testers also found that the formula doesn’t absorb easily into the skin due to its grainy texture, but can be diluted with cream.
The Desirables
- The Ordinary is known for its affordability and clinical formulations.
- Made with Hyaluronic Acid Spheres
- The Ordinary is well-known for being very transparent about its ingredients and practices.
- Easy to shop online and offline at larger beauty retailers like Sephora.
- 365-day returns policy.
The Undesirables
- Grainy texture of the formula doesn’t absorb easily into the skin and doesn’t blend well under makeup.
- Can cause irritation due to a high concentration of Vitamin C.
The Final Word
The Ordinary is known for its affordability and exists to communicate with integrity and bring to market effective, more familiar technologies at honorable prices. They are the only brand that offers a 365-day returns policy as long as the unwanted products are at least 50% full, showing confidence in the products they create such as one of the brand’s best-selling products, Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%. This product really does what it claims and is a bang for your buck at only $9.10, however, it is important to do a patch test due to the high concentration of Vitamin C this formula contains.
#5 Sunday Riley
Sunday Riley C.E.O.
Overall Rating (3.8)
3.8/5
- Quality Rating: 7.6/10
- Expert Rating: 7.5/10
- Users Rating: 7.7/10
Sunday Riley’s CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum is a potent serum that contains 15% Vitamin C called THD Ascorbate which is highly stable and oil-soluble and absorbs easily into the skin. It is formulated to fight the look of dullness, dark spots, and discolorations while diminishing the signs of premature aging. It also contains Glycolic Acid which refines skin texture.
Our testers noticed an instant glow in the skin and makes the skin soft. It also absorbs easily and blends well under makeup. Within just a few weeks of use, our testers have seen a brighter and even more complexion, and an improvement in lightening fine lines. However, our testers with sensitive skin found the concentration too high that have resulted in breakouts.
The Desirables
- Science-based formulations.
- Contains THD Ascorbate and Glycolic Acid.
- Brightens the skin, and reduces dark spots and fine lines
- Cruelty-free formula.
The Undesirables
- Can cause irritation due to a high concentration of Vitamin C.
The Final Word
Sunday Riley is known for their use of highly active ingredients and science-based formulations that are backed by research and balanced by botanicals. They create the highest quality of products that provides results just like the C.E.O. that provides an instant flow and softens the skin with just a use. It also absorbs easily into the skin making it a great option to wear for everyday use under makeup. However, for sensitive or new users, we recommend doing a patch test first to ensure it’ll work with your skin.
Honorable Mentions
There is a clear winner amongst our top 5 and we recommend your interest center on them; however, to round off our top 10, here are the next 5 best products from the multitude we researched, trialed, and tested.
PIXI Vitamin-C Serum
TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester CCC+ Ferulic Brightening Complex 20%
Allies of Skin 20% Vitamin C Brighten + Firm Serum
Final Thoughts
From protecting from damaging free radicals and stimulating collagen production, to brightening your appearance and smoothing out your skin tone; Vitamin C is a long-standing, popular skincare ingredient due to its anti-aging, skin revitalizing properties.
The advantages of using a Vitamin C serum in your daily skincare routine are endless, but it can be challenging to find the right product.
After putting a multitude of brands up against our 10-point ranking system that takes into account the science, packaging, marketing, and consumer experience, it is clear that Habitual Skin’s Triple Vitamin C Serum is the best on the market.
Citations
Anti-aging and brightening effects of a topical treatment containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract: A split-face, randomized controlled trial