If you're looking to step up your skincare routine and give your face a youthful boost, a vitamin C serum is the way to go. As well as being praised for its brightening and anti-ageing properties and ability to reduce dark spots, scars, and pigmentation, the multiple benefits that a vitamin C serum can bring to the table have deemed it the latest beauty must-have.
We've put together a simple buying guide and have something for everyone. Whether your skin is sensitive, oily or acne-prone, and whether you want an affordable hyaluronic acid combo or something cruelty-free. We have gathered brands such as The Body Shop, REN and Lumene for our top 10, all available from Amazon, eBay and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Vitamin C Serums
Zelens
A Silky, Luxurious Treatment to Soothe Your Skin
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Table of Contents
You now know what a vitamin C serum is and how it can help you, but how do you choose a serum that fits in with you and your unique skin type? We've created this buying guide with tips to help you find the best serum for you.
When you're new to vitamin C serums, it's a good idea to check if each product lists how concentrated the vitamin C acid is. On average, the recommended percentage is around 10%, though some beauty professionals prefer a 15-20% concentration.
Not all brands will list the exact amount, but if you have specific concerns, such as dark spots, you may want to use a higher percentage. On the other hand, if you have sensitive skin, start from a lower concentration and slowly increase to 20% to reduce the possibility of irritation.
Furthermore, the strength of the serum can be affected by other ingredients, so not all brands can clarify just how strong the serum actually is. Luckily, we've found out which ones can, and we've added them to our list!
We know vitamin C alone can add a healthy glow to your skin, but when combined with other vitamins, the potency of the product enhances, becoming even more beneficial! The main example is vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant and helps to encourage the effects of vitamin C, all while protecting the skin's barrier.
While not every serum contains extracts of vitamin E, you may prefer to choose one of the products on our top ten list that does, in order to ensure a strong potency for the best results and highest level of protection against specific skin concerns.
Add some hydration into your routine with Hyaluronic Acid Serums!
The most common use of vitamin C is to banish dullness, but you'll notice that many products contribute to anti-ageing factors, too. This isn't always because the product is aimed at mature skin types only, it is simply to highlight that a particular serum works especially well when targeting wrinkles and dark spots.
However, if you use a vitamin C serum with anti-ageing ingredients, be careful not to start using it when you're too young, as you can become desensitised to the benefits.
If anti-ageing is a concern, here are some more serums that may help.
You'll find vitamin C serums come in either a pump bottle or a droplet bottle, and depending on how you wish to apply your serum, you should choose a bottle and texture that works for you.
A pump bottle will denote that the serum it contains has a thicker texture, whereas droplet bottles are applied via a pipette and are used for lighter, liquid-based serums. Both are practical for different reasons, but we would recommend a pump bottle for their robust shape and easy usage, especially if you're new to the world of serums.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | All Natural Advice Vitamin C Serum | ![]() | An Amazing High Concentration Serum to Improve Skin Tone | |
2 | Lagunamoon Vitamin C Serum | ![]() | Vitamin C Blended With Rich Hyaluronic Acid & Amino Acid | |
3 | Zelens Power C High Potency Vitamin C Treatment Drops | ![]() | A Silky, Luxurious Treatment to Soothe Your Skin | |
4 | Omorovicza Daily Vitamin C Serum | ![]() | Brighten and Protect Sensitive Skin With This Low Dosage Serum | |
5 | Lumene Nordic-C Arctic Berry Oil-Cocktail | ![]() | Brightening and Beautiful, This Serum Is A Top-Seller | |
6 | Belei Vitamin Booster Serum | ![]() | Made With A Hydrating Moisturising Formula | |
7 | Balance Me Vitamin C Repair Serum | ![]() | Say Goodbye to Dull Skin With This 98% Natural Serum | |
8 | Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Amine Face Lift | ![]() | This Lightweight Serum Will Lift Your Skin | |
9 | REN Radiance Perfecting Serum | ![]() | Perfect For Plumping and Radiating Skin | |
10 | The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Reviver | ![]() | A Popular and Fruity Cruelty-Free Favourite |
Not only is this bottle twice the size of most on the market right now, but it also has a 20% vitamin C concentrate to give you the best results possible. Using organic ingredients, this serum targets dark spots, dry skin and wrinkles, and almost any other skin concern!
Combining its vitamin C with 11% hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, and vitamin E, the formula is enriched with nutrients for your skin. Not to mention, this is one of the cheapest products out there and has thousands of positive reviews. A winner!
This natural serum is a perfect addition to your daily skincare routine, as it can reduce eye puffiness and also regenerate skin. It also contains hyaluronic acid, which adds some extra hydration into your skin routine.
In addition, this serum is lightweight and absorbs quickly so you're not left with any sticky, greasy residue after applying. Its lemon-based scent gives you a refreshing boost of vitamins, making sure that you can spend your day feeling energised and beautiful.
This high-potency formula provides maximum efficacy for any skin concern you may have. It's rich in vitamin C oils and extracts full of the right antioxidants, helping your skin feel young and fresh. It'll reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve your skin's elasticity to protect your skin from damage and ageing.
You can use this botanical blend every day, both morning and night, to bring out a more youthful and radiant complexion and boost collagen production. A total luxury buy, but one that's well worth it!
This product's lower concentration of vitamin C (just 3%) makes this an ideal product if you're new to using vitamin serums or you're particularly sensitive. You can slowly ease yourself into it with this mild yet effective formula, created with high-quality vitamin C extract and packed with antioxidants.
The main focus of this serum is to rejuvenate tired skin and bring back your radiant complexion, so it's great if you're feeling like your skin needs a little boost, and can be applied lightly via the droplet pipette or pump depending on the type of bottle you buy.
Rich in not just vitamin C, but also B3, B5 and E, this serum is made from special Arctic berries; the Arctic cloudberry, the Nordic cranberry, and lingonberry. As you can probably guess, this makes for a whole load of healthy antioxidants that are excellent at cleansing and illuminating your skin.
With 88% naturally-derived ingredients that are 100% vegan-friendly, the omega fatty acids in this blend help to replenish tired, dry skin to smoothen and brighten your complexion with a stunning glow.
To tighten your skin and hydrate it at the same time, this is the product that may solve all of your issues, with super berries, vitamin C, and vitamin E. This serum contours the face and protects you from any signs of premature ageing by using hydrating compounds and a boost of healthy vitamins.
The texture is light and thin and it absorbs into your skin quickly so you can apply your makeup almost straight away, which is good if you're often in a hurry. This is the cheapest product on our list and as you can see, it's also one of the best!
With 98% natural ingredients, it's an ideal pick if you have sensitive skin or you're looking to ease yourself into the vitamin C craze. The brand's established antioxidant blend includes purified wheat and bio-active ingredients from tropical plants and roots, which means it smells amazing too!
If you're in the market for a vegan, cruelty-free vitamin C serum with added hyaluronic acid, and one that really works, we highly recommend you take a look at this product! However, some customers have said that they aren't a fan of the strong scent.
Designed to visibly lighten your skin, this Perricone MD Vitamin C serum is something that you're going to want to add to your basket. After it's fully absorbed, which doesn't take long, you'll notice that its gentle micro-exfoliation nourishes your skin and reduces the appearance of dark spots.
Over time, you'll love watching the appearance of your skin improve with the help of this professional skincare essential. The price is a little steeper than some and there are cheaper products offering similar benefits.
This serum is especially useful for targeting tired skin and hitting it with a boost of illumination and energy. Rich in vitamin C, licorice extract, and Wild Canadian Rumex your skin is sure to glow after using this unique blend!
Unfortunately, one of the main ingredients is alcohol-based, which generally may be too much for sensitive skin types. It will plump and refresh your skin nicely, although you may notice that it feels a little heavier than some of the liquid-based serums on the market.
Everybody loves a haul from The Body Shop, and your shopping spree just got better with this orange-scented radiance booster! Containing light-reflecting particles, this handbag-friendly serum will give you a silky-smooth finish to be shown off with a bare face, or as an illuminative base for under your makeup.
On the downside, though the brand is cruelty-free, this product lacks organic ingredients in comparison to others on our list. In addition, with vitamin C as its focus component, there aren't any other add-ins to help enhance its effects, and the concentration is not specified.
So, you've probably heard by now that vitamin C serums are all the rage, the main reason is that it can give your skin everything it needs, to help repair skin cells and aid the regeneration process.
Rich in antioxidants, vitamin C can also spur on the skin's ability to inhibit the enzyme Tyrosinase, which helps to prevent melanin production. This means that if you have those little dark spots on your face, vitamin C serum can help to lighten them back to your natural tone.
For the best results, use your serum every morning and evening – simply cleanse your face, apply your moisturiser, and massage the serum into your face and neck. Although this is generally how vitamin C serums work, we'd advise checking the instructions just in case.
Now that you've got the facts and you've seen the best products on the market, you can get shopping! We hope you've found this guide to buying the right vitamin C serum helpful, and we can't wait for you to try out your new skincare routine!
Author: Annie Speight
No. 1: All Natural Advice|Vitamin C Serum
No. 2: Lagunamoon |Vitamin C Serum
No. 3: Zelens |Power C High Potency Vitamin C Treatment Drops
No. 4: Omorovicza |Daily Vitamin C Serum
No. 5: Lumene|Nordic-C Arctic Berry Oil-Cocktail
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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