Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, is a longstanding favorite of health professionals. When consumed in food or drink form, it can protect your entire body’s cells from damage; when applied topically, the best vitamin C serums deliver that protection directly to your skin cells. Research shows topical vitamin C can help prevent signs of aging, hyperpigmentation and cancer-causing UV damage.
To learn more about what skin types benefit from vitamin C the most, I spoke with three board-certified dermatologists and compiled a list of their recommendations for finding the ideal serum for you. I’m also highlighting effective products that have been tested by NBC Select staff.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best vitamin C serums | The best vitamin C serums | The benefits of vitamin C for skin | How to shop for vitamin C serums | Why trust NBC Select?
You can find vitamin C in various skin care products, but experts recommend working serums into your routine. “Serums are lightweight and easier to layer with moisturizers, sunscreens and cosmetic products,” says Dr. Erum Ilyas, a board-certified dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology group in Pennsylvania. For a vitamin C serum to be effective, dermatologists say there are a few key things to consider:
To get the antioxidant benefits of vitamin C in your skin care routine, experts recommend looking for a serum with a concentration between 10% and 20%. Below, they share their favorite formulas for all skin types, alongside other options tested by NBC Select staff.
For an affordable alternative, all three of the experts I spoke to recommend this drugstore serum. In addition to 10% L-ascorbic acid, CeraVe’s serum also has ceramides, which strengthen and support the skin barrier, and hyaluronic acid, a humectant that helps skin attract and retain moisture. Castilla particularly likes its packaging: “It’s in a squirty bottle, which is a little bit better at preventing oxidation,” she says.
Skin type: sensitive, acne-prone | Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin C
What we like
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All of our experts recommend Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, a serum containing 15% L-ascorbic acid. It’s often referred to as the gold standard in vitamin C serums by dermatologists. “It probably has the most evidence behind it,” says Castilla, referring to the clinical studies conducted by the brand that show a 41% reduction in oxidative damage in the skin. It’s also one of the more stable formulas on the market, thanks to the inclusion of vitamin E and ferulic acid, according to Dr. Sejal Shah, board-certified dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York. “This combination makes vitamin C more potent,” says Ilyas, and helps prevent the L-ascorbic acid from oxidizing before it can reach your skin.
Lindsay Schneider, NBC Select commerce editor, says that when using this serum, she genuinely feels like it makes her skin look healthier, brighter and better. Zoe Malin, NBC Select associate updates editor, agrees. “This serum is very lightweight and it absorbs into my skin quickly,” says Malin. “That lets me move forward with the rest of my morning skin care routine a minute or two after I apply it.”
The one caveat our experts call out is the packaging: the dropper bottle means this serum is exposed to more air. According to the brand, however, the formula should remain stable and effective for up to six months after it’s opened.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: ferulic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C
What we like
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Mad Hippie’s vitamin C serum also uses sodium ascorbyl phosphate, but comes at a much lower price point. “This one is really good for addressing hyperpigmentation,” says Castilla. Like the top-rated (and much more expensive) Skinceuticals CE Ferulic serum, Mad Hippie’s version also pairs brightening vitamin C with stabilizing vitamin E and ferulic acid; when combined, research shows this trio of antioxidants can double a serum’s ability to protect skin against sun damage. To top things off, it’s also hydrating and soothing thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, chamomile and aloe, according to the brand.
Skin type: combination | Key ingredients: vitamin E, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, aloe
What we like
You should use this stabilized vitamin C serum (which is converted to its active, or strongest, free-radical neutralizing form once you apply it, says Shah) after cleansing and before moisturizer and SPF, according to the brand. In addition to the 15% ascorbyl glucoside (vitamin C), Shah likes that it has a plant-derived peptide designed to support skin elasticity.
Skin type: combination | Key ingredients: probiotics, vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside)
What we like
NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez is a huge fan of this serum, which she says has a creamy, lotion-like consistency that she loves for her dry skin. “This is by far my absolute favorite vitamin C option I’ve tried,” she says. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio also mixes this with her moisturizer every morning, and says it’s one of the only vitamin C serums that doesn’t irritate her sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. Along with the 15% THD ascorbate (vitamin C) it uses to fight dark spots and signs of aging, this serum also uses glycolic acid and saccharide isomerate extract to gently exfoliate while strengthening the skin’s moisture barrier, according to the brand. The packaging is designed with a pump for easier application — plus, Alvarez loves that it doesn’t have any off-putting smells, unlike other serums she’s tried.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: saccharide isomerate extract, glycolic acid, vitamin C (THD ascorbate)
What we like
Another dermatologist-recommended drugstore vitamin C serum is this 10% L-ascorbic acid formula, which also has salicylic acid. This can be a pro or a con, depending on your skin type, according to our experts. If your skin can tolerate it, the exfoliative benefits of salicylic acid can work together with vitamin C to fade dark spots faster, says Ilyas. If your skin is sensitive, however, the combination may be too irritating, according to Shah.
Skin type: all except sensitive skin | Key ingredients: salicylic acid, vitamin C
What we like
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Shah also likes the vitamin C and salicylic acid combo found in this Kiehl’s formula, which specifically aims to target dark spots, acne scars and hyperpigmentation. It has a stabilized form of vitamin C called 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, which is more easily absorbed by the skin, according to research published by the National Institutes of Health. You can use it both morning and night after cleansing.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: salicylic acid, vitamin C (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid)
What we like
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U Beauty’s resurfacing compound is a serum that combines retinol, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid with vitamin C to target hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and uneven skin texture, according to the brand. It uses a gentler, more stable form of vitamin C called sodium ascorbyl phosphate or SAP. “Its penetration [into the skin] isn’t as good as L-ascorbic acid, but SAP has been shown to help with collagen production and it can also be a little bit better for oily acne prone skin types,” says Castilla. Apply the resurfacing compound on dry skin right after cleansing and massage into skin before layering on other products.
Skin type: combination, mature | Key ingredients: retinol, glycolic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin C
What we like
This formula has tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a powerful but less irritating form of vitamin C, which penetrates more deeply into skin than L-ascorbic acid. “It also has glycolipids, which are helpful for collagen production,” says Castilla. (Collagen is the most plentiful protein in your body and is responsible for giving strength, structure and elasticity to your skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic.) As a bonus, this serum comes in an opaque, pump bottle to help reduce oxidation and maintain the formula’s effectiveness.
Skin type: combination | Key ingredients: glycolipids, vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate)
What we like
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Shah recommends this option, which has 15% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. This stable lotion comes in a squeeze bottle and is formulated with squalane, an oil with anti-inflammatory benefits, making it particularly good for those with sensitive or acne-prone skin. It comes in two concentrations: 15% and 30%. If vitamin C is a new addition to your skin care routine or your skin gets irritated easily, start with a lower concentration and make sure your skin can tolerate it before trying a formula with 30% vitamin C.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: squalane, vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate)
What we like
You can use this 15% L-ascorbic acid formula, which comes recommended by Castilla, on its own as a serum, or you can add a few drops to your favorite moisturizer for a brightening effect, according to the brand. Like many of the other serums recommended by our experts, it has stabilizing antioxidants like ferulic acid and vitamin C.
Skin type: all except sensitive skin | Key ingredients: vitamin C, ferulic acid
What we like
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This multitasking serum, which comes recommended by Shah, targets pigmentation, redness, and skin elasticity. Formulated with 15% ethel ascorbic acid, a stabilized form of vitamin C, it also includes probiotics, which studies show support skin health by protecting the skin microbiome and boosting skin’s immune response.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: probiotics, prebiotics, vitamin C (ethel ascorbic acid)
What we like
“I love this serum because it has a rich texture, yet isn’t heavy at all,” says Malin. “It spreads so well on my skin, and the pump bottle makes it easy to control how much serum I’m using at one time.” The serum is formulated with two types of vitamin C — ascorbyl glucoside and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid — as well as niacinamide (vitamin B3), an ingredient that brightens the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. The serum also contains squalane to boost hydration.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: vitamin C (ascorbyl glucoside and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid), niacinamide, squalane
What we like
Since a small drop of this serum is enough to cover your face, Malin says one bottle lasted her about 10 months, making the higher price point worth it in the long run. “It has a luxurious texture and over time, I noticed that my skin tone looked more even and dark spots from acne scars faded, making them easier to cover with concealer,” she says. The serum is hydrating thanks to a proprietary type of algae, which stimulates natural hyaluronic acid synthesis, according to the brand. It has THD ascorbate and 14 vitamin C-rich botanicals like fruits and spices, as well as adaptogens like reishi, chlorella and ginseng, which reduce puffiness and inflammation.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: vitamin C (THD ascorbate), adaptogens
What we like
After trying out multiple vitamin C serums, NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez uses this in her morning routine to combat dryness and uneven skin tone. “I have never had issues with it irritating my sensitive skin, and it always leaves me looking extra glowy right after I apply it,” she says. Rodriguez says it leaves a spectacular, subtle glow under her moisturizer.
Skin type: all | Key ingredients: vitamin C, niacinamide, lipids, gold pearls
When used as a consistent part of your skin care routine, vitamin C can have many benefits. Below, we summarized the most convincing benefits, according to our experts:
Not all vitamin C skin care products are created equally. You’ll often see vitamin C skin care products in acid form — at specific concentrations, though, it can be irritating, especially for sensitive skin. Vitamin C is also a highly unstable ingredient, according to experts — the same chemical properties that allow it to work as an active antioxidant in your body also make it susceptible to oxidation, which will make it inactive in your skin. That’s why our experts recommend using it in the form of a serum, as they are lightweight and easy to layer with other products.
To get the most out of your serum, they recommend understanding the type and concentration of vitamin C in any formula, being mindful of how packaging can impact a serum’s effectiveness, and looking for companion ingredients that support the skin barrier.
You’ll commonly find vitamin C incorporated into a topical product in two ways: in its active form as L-ascorbic acid, or in an inactive form that needs to convert into L-ascorbic acid on the skin, says Shah.
In controlled settings, L-ascorbic acid is the most effective, says Castilla, but in reality the effectiveness of a vitamin C serum may depend on a variety of factors, including your skin type. “L-ascorbic acid can be very unstable so whatever bottle that you get, you have to use it very quickly or it will oxidize,” she says. “Secondly, it has to be formulated at a low pH, meaning it’s very acidic and it can be very irritating for a lot of skin types, especially rosacea-prone skin types.”
Other types of vitamin C — such as 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate — are more stable. Shah particularly likes tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate since it converts to L-ascorbic acid really well and also penetrates the skin really well, she says.
The dermatologists we spoke to recommend looking for products with a concentration of vitamin C between 10% and 20%. “Beyond 20%, it’s just irritating and not necessarily more effective,” says Castilla.
Exposure to light and air are disastrous for the unstable molecules found in vitamin C serums, according to our experts. “What vitamin C does for free radicals is contribute electrons to the free radicals [to stabilize them],” says Castilla. “Once that happens, then the vitamin C is no longer active.”When vitamin C molecules are exposed to oxygen, “it loses those electrons and it becomes an inactive form of vitamin C,” she says.
Packaging and the way you store your serum are key to its effectiveness. Ilyas recommends serums in opaque or amber colored glass bottles, which block light exposure. And while many top vitamin C serums come in a glass bottle with a dropper, Castilla says those with airless pump bottles will stay active longer. Store your serum away from the sun and don’t hoard it — this unstable ingredient is best used quickly.
“Many worthy topical vitamin C-containing serums will often be combined with ferulic acid and vitamin E because this combination can increase the effectiveness of vitamin C,” says Ilyas.
Castilla also recommends pairing your vitamin C with sunscreen. “Sunscreens help block free radical damage, but not all of it,” she says. “Pairing sunscreen with a vitamin C doesn’t improve the UVA/UVB protection, but [the vitamin C] protects against the free radicals that are being produced.”
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
I am a contributing reporter at NBC Select and former Glamour editor who has covered beauty and wellness treatments for over a decade. For this article, I spoke to three dermatologists about vitamin C serums and highlighted their recommendations. I also gathered NBC Select-staff favorites and highly rated options that align with our experts’ guidance.
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