The All-Time Best Vitamin C Serums, According to Experts (2025)

The best vitamin C serums are among the most effective skin-care products for tackling the peskiest skin-care concerns, including dullness, discoloration, and dark spots. On top of addressing concerns related to skin tone, vitamin C assists with textural concerns including fine lines and blemishes. There are endless creams, masks, and over-the-counter topicals spiked with the radiance-boosting antioxidant, so why serums specifically? They contain high concentrations of the active brightening ingredient, also known as ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid.

Alongside firsthand testing across our beauty editors (who vary in age, skin types, and skin tone), we asked board-certified dermatologists, including New York City-based board-certified dermatologists Michelle Henry, MD and Carmen Castilla, MD, for their tried-and-true topical skin-care products containing vitamin C that they recommend to their patients. After testing and consulting the dermatologists, we picked SkinCeuticals’s C E Ferulic as our top pick, but keep reading to find more recommendations based on your skin type and concerns.

Our Top Picks

• Best Vitamin C Serum Overall: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $182
• Best Booster: Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster, $55
• Best for Dry Skin: Dr. Loretta Repair Serum, $110
• Best Glowy Finish: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum, $21
• Best for Dull Skin: Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum, $89
• Best for Mature Skin: Vichy LiftActive Brightening Serum, $35
• Best for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Face Serum, $45
• Best for Sensitive Skin: Alastin C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum, $96
• Best Korean Vitamin C Serum: Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum, $24

Frequently Asked Questions

• What does vitamin C do for the skin?
• What to Look For in Vitamin C Serums
• When to use vitamin C serum
• Meet the experts
• How our test and review products
• Our staff and testers

Best Vitamin C Serum Overall: SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

Why it's worth it: The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum (containing vitamins E and C, plus ferulic acid) has won four Allure Best of Beauty Awards for a reason. Editors and dermatologists alike love it for its fine line–smoothing powers, along with its ability to dramatically lighten dark spots caused by sun damage. Ferulic acid is yet another antioxidant that stabilizes both vitamins C and E when it's combined with vitamin C.

Many brands have started developing serums formulated with the mighty antioxidant trifecta that is vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, but SkinCeuticals was one of the first companies to come up with this near-magical combination in 2007, as previously explained by Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. SkinCeuticals even patented its combo: 15% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), 1% vitamin E, and 0.5% ferulic acid. You only need a few drops for your entire face, so despite the hefty price point, a bottle lasts a long time.

Tester feedback: "This is probably in every Allure editor's medicine cabinet," says shopping market editor Angela Trakoshis. "All you need is one dropper-full every single night, layer your night cream over, and you’ll wake up with brighter skin, guaranteed." Commerce editor Sarah Han agrees, adding "C E Ferulic helped reduce my spotty, all-over redness."

Key ingredients: vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, 15%), vitamin E (1%), ferulic acid (0.5%) | Skin type it’s best for: mature skin, those with discoloration | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best Booster: Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster

Why it's worth it: The beauty of the Paula's Choice C15 Super Booster is that you can use it as a standalone serum in your skin-care routine or you can mix it into your favorite masks, sunscreens, and moisturizers for an added touch of brightening antioxidants. This lightweight serum is powered by 15% vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to brighten, firm, and correct uneven skin tones.

Tester feedback: "I love Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster because it's a no-B.S. formula," says Trakoshis. "I apply just a few drops a day, and I can see a real glow without any irritation."

Key ingredients: vitamin C (ascorbic acid, 15%), vitamin E, ferulic acid, ergothioneine (amino acid) | Skin type it’s best for: dry to oily skin, combination skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 0.67 fluid ounces

Best for Dry Skin: Dr. Loretta Repair Serum

Why it's worth it: Dr. Loretta’s Repair Serum is supercharged with Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a super-stable, oil-soluble version of vitamin C that penetrates deep into the epidermis to moisturize, brighten, and minimize free-radical damage caused by UVA and UVB rays and pollution. Lilac stem cells also help fight free radicals and curb excess oil production without drying out skin, while two types of marine algae increase hydration and support the skin's natural collagen production.

Tester feedback: “I use this serum as my first step after cleansing, putting about two drops on my hands and slathering it on,” says commerce writer Jennifer Hussein. “It’s so lightweight and silky and leaves my skin with a glowing look.”

Key ingredients: vitamin C (Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, 3%), lilac stem cells, marine algae extracts (Undaria pinnatifida and Alaria esculenta) | Skin type it’s best for: mature skin, oily skin, combination skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best Glowy Finish: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum

Why it's worth it: Naturium’s Vitamin C Complex Serum takes your skin to a more radiant level each time you use it. Its combination of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid intensively hydrates skin, revealing a bouncier texture, while the antioxidant evens tone and boosts radiance. To elevate the stability of vitamin C (as in, to prolong and enhance its brightening effects), the ingredient is tag-teamed with vitamin E. "Compounding vitamin C with another antioxidant [like vitamin E] helps preserve the stability and boost the effectiveness of the serum," Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously explained.

Tester feedback: “This has two different types of vitamin C—as in, double the brightening benefits,” says commerce editor Sarah Han. “What I love about this serum is that it’s super lightweight and feels very liquidy, which I like. It doesn’t leave any weird residue or stickiness behind.”

Key ingredients: vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, Kakuda plum), vitamin E, hyaluronic acid | Skin type it’s best for: dull skin, those with discoloration, dry skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1.0 fluid ounce

Best for Dull Skin: Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum

Why it's worth it: This serum pairs a potent combination of 20% vitamin C (two forms of the good stuff) with 10% alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), giving it an additional advantage against dark spots and dullness. Plus, the lightweight formula sinks in quickly without emitting any offputting smells or leaving behind a tacky texture. One Allure contributor tested it nightly for about four weeks and noticed their acne scars and hyperpigmentation were less noticeable, and skin looked brighter and more even than it had in a long time.

Tester feedback: "If I could fill my bathtub with this serum and just lay in it, I would—I'd come out with a head-to-toe glow that could put gold to shame," says Hussein. "Its intensive formula helps my skin shed discoloration and flakes to reveal my glowiest, bounciest complexion."

Key ingredients: vitamin C (bis-glyceryl ascorbate and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, 20%), alpha hydroxy acids (10%), angelica root | Skin type it’s best for: people who want to address overall brightening (and can tolerate more intense actives) | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

More vitamin C serums we love:

Best for Mature Skin: Vichy LiftActive Brightening Serum

Why it's worth it: Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says the Vichy LiftActive Brightening Serum is one of her favorites for anyone looking to brighten skin and address fine lines. "This serum has a relatively high percentage of an active form of vitamin C, which can be immediately used by the skin as an antioxidant," she says. "It absorbs easily and works well under other layers of skin-care products." This cocktail of intensive, wrinkle-reducing ingredients also includes vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, Vichy’s antioxidant-rich volcanic water (sourced from the Auvergne Region in France), and skin-firming peptide carnosine.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, 16%), vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, carnosine (peptide), volcanic water | Skin type it’s best for: mature skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 0.67 fluid ounces

Best for Sensitive Skin: Alastin Skincare C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum

Why it's worth it: Nearly every derm we tapped for this list, including both Dr. Castilla and Jennifer Gordon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Austin, Texas, shout out Alastin’s C-Radical Defense Antioxidant Serum for its sensitive skin-friendly formulation. Dr. Gordon calls it a “novel vitamin C serum” because it’s an encapsulated form of the antioxidant, which slows down its release and, therefore, minimizes stinging and irritation. In this formula, vitamin C is accompanied by the antioxidant-rich Physalis angulata plant and green tea extracts to minimize damage from environmental stressors (we’re looking at you, UV rays), refine skin texture, and even tone.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (sodium ascorbate, 15%), green tea extract, Physalis angulata extract | Skin type it’s best for: all skin types, including sensitive skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best Korean Vitamin C Serum: Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum

Why it's worth it: Dr.Althea’s Vitamin C Boosting Serum provides a double dose of brightening power with its tag-team of vitamin C (via hippophae rhamnoides water, a sea buckthorn derivative) and tranexamic acid. Though it contains two active ingredients, don’t let this antioxidant-exfoliator combination intimidate you, because it’s also spiked with calming ingredients like hydrating hyaluronic acid and, soothing allantoin, calming cica to ease any irritation.

Tester feedback: "Korean serums are always a go-to for me when it comes to hydrating and soothing my skin, so it checks out that their antioxidant serums are also bursting with hydrating-boosting ingredients," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "Dr.Althea’s Vitamin C Boosting Serum boasts eight types of hyaluronic acid and cica, alongside the main source of vitamin C, sea buckthorn (also known as Hippophae rhamnoides water). I really appreciate that there’s no off-putting scent and the silky formula absorbs instantly sans greasy residue—I can layer moisturizer and sunscreen with no problem."

Key ingredients: vitamin C (hippophae rhamnoides water [sea buckthorn derivative], 15%), allantoin, Centella asiatica, tranexamic acid, hyaluronic acid | Skin type it’s best for: those with dark spots and dullness | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1.1 fluid ounces

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Face Serum

Why it's worth it: La Roche-Posay is known for bottling top-grade formulas at reasonable price points, and this face serum is no exception. L-ascorbic acid refines skin texture while salicylic acid gently exfoliates clogged pores—making it ideal for those with oily skin. Since that combination can be intense, it also offers a soothing blend of neurosensine (a synthetic peptide), glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and the brand's signature thermal spring water.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (10%), salicylic acid, glycerin, neurosensine (peptide), hyaluronic acid | Skin type it’s best for: oily skin, acne-prone skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 10 fluid ounces

Best for Inflammation: TruSkin Vitamin C Serum

Why it's worth it: You've probably heard the term "inflammaging" being thrown around your TikTok FYP, and to put it in the most basic terms, it refers to chronic, low-grade inflammation that can cause the skin to age more rapidly, according to Gretchen Frieling, MD, a Boston-based, board-certified dermatopathologist who previously defined the term to Allure.

To quell your inflamed, maturing skin against its environmental stressors, TruSkin's serum contains a trifecta of redness- and inflammation-reducing ingredients, including sodium ascorbyl phosphate (a stabilized form of vitamin C), antioxidant vitamin E, aloe vera, and an anti-inflammatory sulfur derivative called MSM.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (sodium ascorbyl phosphate), vitamin E, aloe vera, MSM, hyaluronic acid | Skin type it’s best for: inflamed skin, sensitive skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best for Hyperpigmentation: BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner

Why it's worth it: Sure, the BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner is packed with 20% L-ascorbic acid, but that's not the only brightening antioxidant it treats your skin with. It's the ultimate hyperpigmentation reducer for its combination of pure vitamin C and green tea extract, which contains a slew of antioxidants to perk up your complexion. Tartaric acid, an intensive alpha-hydroxy acid, also deserves a shoutout for its ability to tighten, brighten, and even your overall complexion.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, 20%), green tea extract, squalane, tartaric acid | Skin type it’s best for: those with discoloration | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

Why it's worth it: Before your initial application of the Best of Beauty Award-winning Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum, mix the liquid serum base with the 15% vitamin C formula to ensure maximum potency. In addition to minimizing the effects of UV damage, this serum also features pumpkin ferment and pomegranate extract—both of which help to dissolve dead skin cells, thus reducing the appearance of pores, acne, and overall dullness.

Tester feedback: According to senior news editor Nicola Dall'Asen, the thin, fluid texture spreads easily and sinks in quickly, leaving behind a brighter complexion and a slight dew after a few uses. Keep in mind: It does have a bitter smell, but it's so subtle that you might not notice.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, 15%), vitamin E (1%), ferulic acid (0.5%), pumpkin ferment extract | Skin type it’s best for: people who want the freshest possible formula | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 0.94 fluid ounces

Most Intensive Formula: Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

Why it's worth it: Revision Skincare is a favorite of dermatologists we've talked to over the years. Tiffany Clay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Atlanta, Georgia, told us that it's her go-to vitamin C product because it contains a max-strength concentration of THD ascorbate, a pure, highly stable form of vitamin C. Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist Caroline Robinson, MD, has also used it for years. "I love that it's formulated with 30% pure vitamin C and also contains patent-pending MelaPATH technology, making it one of the most advanced vitamin C products on the market," she previously called out. MelaPATH technology, a proprietary mixture of antioxidants, reportedly boosts the skin's production of vitamins C and E.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (THD ascorbate, 30%), sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan, diglycosyl gallic acid | Skin type it’s best for: normal to oily skin types, combination skin, mature skin | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Best Budget: Cerave Skin Renewing Vitamin C

Why it's worth it: If you’re looking for a low-cost, high-reward serum, Dr. Castilla recommends the CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum. “This serum has an active form of vitamin C at a lower percentage that is still effective,” she says. “It combines the antioxidant with ceramides and hyaluronic acid to support the skin barrier and make the product easier to tolerate in sensitive or dry skin types.” This formula also contains vitamin B5, another antioxidant to help stabilize and boost the effects of vitamin C.

Key ingredients: vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, 10%), ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 | Skin type it’s best for: all skin types, including sensitive | Fragrance-free: yes | Size: 1 fluid ounce

Frequently Asked Questions

What does vitamin C do for the skin?

"Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that "interferes with pigment production and keeps inflammation at bay," explains Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai’s Department of Dermatology in New York City. Not only that, but vitamin C also supports the production of collagen, an important protein in your body that supports your skin's elasticity and firmness.

Vitamin C's antioxidant properties also neutralize free radicals, molecules created by external factors like air pollution and sunlight, says Dr. Zeichner. Since free radicals speed up signs of aging, vitamin C helps address fine lines they cause, too. Think of it as the ideal daytime counterpart to the retinol or exfoliating acids you might use at night to smooth skin, speed up cellular turnover, and treat acne scars left over from breakouts.

Vitamin C can also inhibit your skin's melanin production, which leads to discoloration like dark spots and hyperpigmentation, New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler, MD, previously told Allure. Over time, she says, vitamin C can help prevent dark spots from forming in the first place—in addition to evening out skin tone.

What to look for in vitamin C serums

Not all vitamin C serums are formulated equally—in fact, not even all forms of vitamin C are equal in effectiveness. Here are a few factors to consider when shopping:

Types of vitamin C

Vitamin C comes in a nearly endless variety of forms, but ascorbic acid, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is the gold standard of vitamin C for its stability and efficacy. "Pure ascorbic acid has consistently been proven to be the most effective at penetrating the skin barrier," says Dr. Wexler. Other dermatologist-approved forms of vitamin C you may come across in skin-care products include tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and methylsilanol ascorbate.

Concentrations

Minnesota-based board-certified dermatologist Jenny Liu, MD, previously told Allure the average concentration of vitamin C in a skin-care formula is around 10% to 15%. Keep in mind that a higher concentration of vitamin C may lead to sensitivity, so sensitive skin types may want to stick to a lower percentage.

Accompanying ingredients

• Antioxidants: You’ve probably noticed that vitamin C tends to be tag-teamed with two other antioxidants, vitamin E and ferulic acid, and there’s a reason for that. "Vitamin C effectiveness increases when combined with other antioxidants, such as vitamin E,” says Dr. Wexler. “Together, they can provide double protection against free-radical damage."
• Humectants: Hydrating ingredients known as humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, partner well with vitamin C to boost hydration levels and ease the sting of the active ingredient, especially if you’re using a potent, high-percentage (above 15%) formula.

When to use vitamin C serum

Like most actives, dermatologists recommend slowly incorporating vitamin C into your skin-care routine to avoid irritation. Start with a few drops every two days, and, if your skin seems to tolerate it, you can work your way up to every day. We suggest applying vitamin C serums before your moisturizer and sunscreen in the morning to benefit the most from the antioxidant’s free-radical fighting power. If your skin can tolerate it, and if you want an overnight collagen boost, you can also apply it in the evening.

Meet the experts

• Michelle Henry, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Carmen Castilla, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City
• Jennifer Gordon, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas at Westlake Dermatology
• Gretchen Frieling, MD, a board-certified dermatopathologist based in Boston
• Tiffany Clay, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Atlanta, Georgia
• Caroline Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago
• Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai’s Department of Dermatology in New York City
• Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut
• Patricia Wexler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City

How we test and review products

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our list of vitamin C serums, we considered each product's performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors — along with special consideration from board-certified dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.

Our staff and testers

A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors — in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon — is essential to reaching that goal.

After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we can fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

We could talk all day about our favorite serums—in fact, here you go:

• These Serums Are Made for Mature Skin, According to Dermatologists
• Every Hyaluronic Acid Serums for Your Dewiest Complexion Ever
• 17 Best Antioxidant Serums for a Brighter, Clearer Complexion

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