Best Vitamin C Serums

Cerave

Cerave

Cerave. Tried something fancier (La Roche) but broke out bad. Back to Cerave!

Another vote for Cerave. Switched after Timeless made my skin red and inflamed.

CeraVe vitamin c serum is what my dermatologist recommended. It doesn’t really have a smell to it, very mild if any.

Timeless 20% CE ferulic or Geek and Gorgeous. Both are A+ and the price is good.

The Vitamin C serum from Geek and Gorgeous has been getting rave reviews lately from most skincare channels I watch. A fresh batch is made when you order and it's affordable.

I like Prequel Lucent C and Geek&Gorgeous Vit C. Both are great formulations of 15% L-Ascorbic Acid. My skin tolerates but retioids and Vit C very well so I use Vit C in the morning and my retinoid (Altreno) at night.

the best imo is actually vitamin c powder mixed with some sort of acidic pH serum - super fresh, and pretty inexpensive (TO sells vit C powder for instance), but easy to get wrong if you overdo it and get major sting, and the acid serum compounds the potency, so for experienced users only. next best is Geek & Gorgeous' one, pretty cheap and (most importantly) super fresh. side note: buying skincare from Temu then likely counterfeit LRP off eBay is defo not something I'd recommend! no wonder you got stinging from your first 'proper' vit C serum, as the first two probably didn't have any active vit C in it... also note that by applying an HA serum right after, you're likely raising the pH and losing the anti-oxidant benefits of the vit C. I would cut back and only apply it a couple times a week until your skin gets used to it.

Geek and Gorgeous's vitamin C is made fresh to order in batches 2x a week so it'll always be fresh, and their A Game Retinal is the bomb, comes in 3 strengths, and they make a HA serum too, if you're trying to hit the shipping minimum. Timeless dupes Skinceuticals vitamin C formula. Prequel, a dermatologist's company, makes a well reviewed C, both companies have it in an airless pump and I think they're all about $20 and G&G was cheaper than that. Prequel has a crazy popular cleanser called Gleanser that's very moisturizing due to 30% glycerin. Lab Muffin has a video on how to make your own C serum but you'd have to buy ingredients and remake it every couple of weeks. I got Cosmedica's B5 Hyaluronic acid serum which was cheap and Q+A's zinc serum is more soothing I think and it might have HA in it too. Finding combination products can help you save money. Companies like The Ordinary, Minimalist, The Inkey List are known for their cheap but popular products.

Melano CC (from the maker of Hada Labo, if I'm not mistaken) is very gentle, but effective. Costs under $10 for 20ml and has a unique packaging that prevents oxidizing. I'm on my 5th tube at least and don't see any reason to "upgrade" to something more expensive.

Here are my mini reviews. 1. Sunday riley - not direct LAA, it's an ester. But absolutely love it for the fact that it is in a moisturiser form & gave me brightening AND glow ! Don't love the price ! 2. Timeless - an almost exact dupe for Skinceuticals. Has worked wonderfully for me. 3. Truskin - it was the first Vit C I tried. Has a tangy / almost organe smell and not the usual hot dog water smell, but gave me really good results. 4. Melano CC - not a very high % but it's good for everyday use & widely loved by a lot of people. Lasts YEARS ! And the way it's packaged - it doesn't oxidise. So I use it on my arms too. 5. Cosrx 23% - very high % so can be irritating. But if you can tolerate it - it's quite good & does well

Melano cc

Melano CC. No irritation, excellent glow. Works with retinoids. Love it

Melano CC. I’ve tried others, but this was the most gentle and easiest path to results.

Timeless.

Yes, I am generally anti-dropper but especially for vitamin c's. What blows my mind about the SkinCeuticals is that at that price point (which is artificially inflated at this point far beyond its value) you'd think they would at least put into a better container like an airtight pump. I literally transfer mine into an amber pump bottle for this exact reason and it still degrades within a few months. This is why of all the dupes I've explored, I prefer the Timeless Vitamin C. I like that it has a couple different concentrations of vitamin C and it has a few different size options. And it's in an airtight container that's opaque so it has a lot going for it in terms of ingredients and storage.

I bought it directly from the Timeless skin care website.

Timeless 👏 get the q10 serum while you’re at it!

Funny this should pop up because I was going to post on this page asking about the #1 product. The Timeless Vitamin C. I’ve used this for almost 3 months now. Every morning without fail. I’ve also spot tested this on a sunspot on my arm. This product has done nothing for me that I can notice. Is anyone else similar? I’ve tried other vitamin C products as well and those haven’t worked for me either. What am I missing here? I hear this is one of the holy trinities for anti aging and it’s more of a bother/extra step than anything for me. The spot on my arm has not lighted one iota.

Garnier vit c serum is my holy grail. Naka more than 10 bottles na ata ako, it made my skin better. I rarely have acnes now andi did lighten up my dark spots. I always have a backups of it. Affordable pa

+1000 it’s the only serum I use. I tried other serums but meh binabalikan ko talaga to. Now nag stick nako sa Garnier and plan ko pa mag stock this coming 11/11

the one by garnier is SO BAD

+1 sa Garnier!

I’ve been using the garnier one and loving it so far

Timeless. I know LabMuffin says that dropper bottles are fine, she seemed to be talking about time in shipment/storage before being purchased, not after purchase when they're opened every day. I think dropper bottles still let too much air in, so I'd go with an airless pump to ensure longevity of the product. (keeping in a refrigerator is a good idea too) Another good one that wasn't on your list is the Naturium Vit C Complex Serum. That formula contains gold which also helps stabilize the ascorbic acid at a pH that's closer to skin pH.

I like the Naturium one! It really makes a difference in my skin and is generally stable enough to finish the bottle before it's orange.

I'm not a fan of most Vitamin C serums too. Especially the cheap local ones that are poorly formulated. Many people recommend the Melano CC Essence, but sadly it broke me out with a cluster of clogged pores and acne & I'm not a fan of the oily texture. YMMV though. So I invested in the **Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum** instead because I like how it uses encapsulated L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA) + Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP) making the formula highly stable. No need to store it in a fridge as it comes in an airless pump. When it comes to Vitamin C serums, packaging is important. I recommend getting one in an opaque airless pump as this keeps it from being exposed to air & light. For targeting dark spots and hyperpigmentation, I swear by **Azelaic Acid**. It's such an underrated ingredient that can also help with acne, redness & inflammation. I've been using it for 3 years! I only got the Naturium Vitamin C serum recently to help boost my SPF & for antioxidant support. It also helps to brighten my skin, however, I don't rely on it for hyperpigmentation as I have Azelaic Acid for that.

I’ve been using the Naturium Vitamin C (after using The Ordinary one you reference) and I really like it. Highly recommend.

I really love the Naturium Vit c complex serum. All the other Vit c serums I’ve tried irritate my skin (and some smell so bad )

There is no one best, it depends on your skin type (sensitive or not) and then from there, formula. If you don't have sensitive skin, I would say the "best" is Educated Mess Golden Hour. It uses pure Ascorbic Acid, but the molecules are protected in the formula because they're surrounded by gold particles. The gold even helps your skin absorb it better. To understand why this matters, do an internet search for "ascorbic acid stability in skin care products." If you do have sensitive skin, then you'd want a derivative type of Vitamin C. Getting a product with a higher percent is better in this case because the derivatives need to convert to ascorbic acid in your skin and it doesn't convert at 100%. I am a sensitive skin person and from the ones I've tried, the ones that I think are best are Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Serum and the Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum. The Paula's one has 2 types of vitamin C derivatives, each with their own benefits. The PTR version contains ginger root extract (Zingiber Officinale), which can help your skin absorb the Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (version of Vit. C) better.

I’ve been using Educated Mess Golden Hour for a couple of weeks and I like it so far; I feel like my skin is more glow-y (although I started it around the same time as SK-II so hard to tell), but most importantly for me, it doesn’t irritate my skin, which other vitamin c serums usually do

Educated Mess Golden Hour, my skin loves this stuff.

I’ve tried so many and the only one my skin liked is Educated Mess Golden Hour

I will only ever use Educated Mess Golden Hour. It’s just amazing.

I haven't tried either of those serums (my face loves Sunday Riley CEO 15% VitC serum). But your request for THD caught my eye: I've been using Revision Intellishade tinted spf 45 as daily makeup for 10+ years. IMO it's the gold standard for tinted spf makeup and has THD.

I love SR CEO. One of my favs for Vit C

Here to second that my sensitive, dry, mature skin loves the Sunday Riley vitamin C. It’s lovely.

Third vote for SR CEO Serum. My husband uses it daily. He really likes the results of even skin tone.

Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamij C serum

Minimalist

**Dr. Althea's Vitamin C Boosting Serum** is my holy grail and I'm about to buy my third bottle soon! It's lightweight (more watery than syrupy, which I personally like), not sticky at all, doesn't have a strong smell, and I can always see the difference on my skin after only a few days of application. Here are my personal experiences with other brands' vitamin C serums: * Dear Klairs - too thick and oily on me, but might be good for those with dry skin * COSRX - too potent on my sensitive skin * Minimalist - didn't see any noticeable results * SeoulCeuticals - good but has a strong lingering smell after application For reference, I have somewhat sensitive combination skin, and am always using some sort of toners or serums with active ingredients. I also only use vitamin C serums in my evening routine, and I always give any new skincare a trial period of 2-3 months before I come to a conclusion. But sometimes, we really just has to try many different products before we find the one that works best for our skin!

Minimalist 16%. Feels and smells like water but great ingredients list. I get through an entire bottle without it oxidising!

If you really want L-Ascorbic acid then geek and gorgeous, prequel, or timeless. If you want pH stable derivatives then Minimalist 10%/16% vit c

Minimalist

so i’ve tried a lot of vitamin c’s in the past few years, and the one i’ve noticed the most difference is with the cosrx vitamin c 23 serum, they have a 13% too if you wanna try that one out. it does smell like hot dog water just because of the vitamin c they used but the smell goes away once put on the skin

Here are my mini reviews. 1. Sunday riley - not direct LAA, it's an ester. But absolutely love it for the fact that it is in a moisturiser form & gave me brightening AND glow ! Don't love the price ! 2. Timeless - an almost exact dupe for Skinceuticals. Has worked wonderfully for me. 3. Truskin - it was the first Vit C I tried. Has a tangy / almost organe smell and not the usual hot dog water smell, but gave me really good results. 4. Melano CC - not a very high % but it's good for everyday use & widely loved by a lot of people. Lasts YEARS ! And the way it's packaged - it doesn't oxidise. So I use it on my arms too. 5. Cosrx 23% - very high % so can be irritating. But if you can tolerate it - it's quite good & does well

I like the cosrx one! But I agree with others about the smell

COSRX triple C lightning liquid. It’s my first time using vitamin C and I’m really liking what it’s doing for my hyperpigmentation and overall skin tone.

The Cosrx one did nothing for me. I'm currently using Rohto Melano CC but gonna try Numbuzin eventually.

Another vote for Melano CC Vitamin C Essence/Concentration Measures Essence (from my understanding it is listed as either depending on the website but they have the exact same packaging with the same words and everything so I figure they are the same), it made a really visible difference. It uses both ascorbic acid and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate (my favourite vit C derivative). But for all my fellow sensitive skin folks that want to avoid fragrance and/or ascorbic acid itself, The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F as well as the Jumiso All Day Vitamin VC-IP 1.0 Firming Serum both slap. I will note that the active ingredient in The Ordinary's is actually listed as tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD) and not ATIP like the name would suggest. For a long time the two names referred to the same thing internationally but a couple of years ago the ingredient supplier Sytheon issued a correction that they're slightly different chemicals. Cosmetic chemists Lab Muffin Beauty Science and Realize Beauty both have good articles on the differences. Jumiso uses ATIP. I like the texture of the Jumiso more out of those two since I have dry skin, but all three serums work well for lightening hyperpigmentation and giving that glow.

For The Ordinary, I vastly prefer the Vit C in Vit F. It's a serum and absorbs really nicely. No grit, no sting.

The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F. The only stuff that doesn't irritate my skin.

Wasn’t impressed with Timeless. Dr. Bronners which is supposed to be a skinceuticals dupe worked great for me. Right now I’m trying TO Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate in Vit F due to the November sale and it’s too early to say especially since I’ve added a few things to my regimen right now but I will say it doesn’t make my face red like Dr. Bronners did (nothing dramatic just usually caused an initial redness that would go away within 30 minutes).

yeah I'd try and apply it less often. definitely want to avoid red marks. you don't necessarily need to apply it everyday, it could be a 2-3x a week thing. also - you might be one of those people who just doesn't tolerate 'true' vit C very well, and if it carries on, you might want to explore derivatives (ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate from TO is a good one and well-priced. I personally use both pure l-ascorbic and tetra in my routine but I have super resilient skin).

I’m on my 3rd bottle of the Maelove one. Love it. I have sensitive skin and it didn’t irritate me at all. Noticed more even skin tone and lightened my dark spots. However, I’m switching over to a Korean one just bc I’m in my Korean skincare phase.

When I researched a long time ago it seemed Maelove was most similar to the CE Ferulic! I’d go with that one

Maelove. It’s the simplest, and I found it very effective.

Maelove. Skinceuticals didn’t do shit for my skin.

Maelove is great. Just that after 2 months of use, it oxidizes, which can be prevented by taking an aliquot out for use and preserving the rest of it

Thank you for this detailed review! Can I ask, for how long did you use the BOJ eye cream for before you saw results? I have it but I’ve been using the ksecret one for about 2 months now and I’m not sure if I should switch up or use both

I love the BOJ eye cream as well, I've been using it for 2 months, worked my way up to 3x a week and have noticed a huge improvement in my under eye area. I always had a purple color under my eyes and now it's very slight.

It’s does help with fine lines. I’m in my mid-50’s and I love the BOJ eye cream. It’s very hydrating. One tube last me over a year too.

I have sensitive skin too and had no reaction to the BOJ eye cream. It’s brightened my skin after one month of consistent use, but it didn’t completely get rid of the pigmentation around my eye so I’ll just continue using it.

Revision

I have been loving Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30%...my esti recommended it to me recently (her top 2 fave vitamin c serums are ce ferulic and this revision one). I used Skinceuticals ce ferulic and phloretin before this and I just really hate the dropper bottle, hate that I see it oxidize even though they say it's still effective...I once accidentally knocked over a brand new bottle and that was the final straw lol. \*and yes, I did frantically smear it all over my body from off of my countertop while loudly cursing the bottle lol\* I also like Alastin's vitamin C, but prefer the Revision I think. It gives my skin a really nice glow, layers beautifully with my other products, and seems more hydrating than the others as well. Glytone's c+ advanced antioxidant is also nice if you want a slightly less expensive option than the others I mentioned!

Revision 😹

Revision C+ Correcting Complex is my new fave and I’ve tried them all

My two favorites are not really lux but they work well. On most days, I use the Prequel vitamin c and like it much better than Skinceuticals. It comes in a better pump bottle. And if my skin is a little sensitive (like after exfoliating), I use the Paula’s Choice C with glutathione. It has THD in a very soothing, moisturizing serum with a delicious vanilla scent.

How have you liked Prequel vs Poems from the Lab?

Prequel 100%

Prequel for me.

Drunk elephant was too similar to the formula so they had to repackage their vitamin C as a powder you mix yourself. It's $ 80.

That’s why the Timeless serum packaging is good, with the pump. Although I hated the smell and found it a bit sticky if I recall correctly. I really like the Drunk Elephant vit c serum, was disappointed that it wasn’t on this list

I haven’t tried the Skinceuticals yet, but might someday. I’ve tried the Drunk Elephant, Timeless, Cerave, and Maelove. The Drunk Elephant serum is just so sticky, I can’t. The Timeless is good *until* the bottle starts leaking. Then I get this crusty yuk around the rim of the bottle that’s super annoying. The Cerave is good, but Maelove is my winner. The texture is lighter than DE or Timeless. Not sticky and doesn’t leak. I want to try more of their products when I use up some products I already have.

I’ve used a few different vitamin C serums. Maelove Glow Maker for a while which was okay. For over a year now I’ve been using Drunk Elephant C Firma and I really like it. I don’t love the price of it but it fades dark spots very well so I keep repurchasing it.

The Niod (same company as The Ordinary) sells a pump that fits this bottle. The pump will slow it down from oxidizing. I heard Drunk Elephant is a dupe. I like mixing only half of the powder and serum to use up first to prevent oxidizing because l-ascorbic acid in powder form doesn’t oxidize as quickly.

Skinceuticals. Tried to avoid it for years, but they've got me now.

Sadly in my opinion it’s not close :( unless there is a recent 2025 version that I’ve missed. During the initial ordinary hype I tried both the ordinary vitamin c suspension in the squeezy tube and the ordinary vit c ascorbyl glucoside version in a pippette bottle - both fell veryyyy disappointingly flat for me. One of these has a weird hard unpleasant gritty-feel to it, possibly the cream suspension one? And the grit would *not* dissolve, like tiny tiny sand.😬Both stung quite a bit (dehydrated, dry skin here tbf, may work better for others) - I heard that the ingredients were meant to be sound, but the formula wasn’t it. I’ve tried the skinceuticals one, and against my will I did find it good, better than any others I’ve tried (but the smell.. is grim af)- but there’s just no way in hell is it worth $200 at all.😭

I only know what I’ve read on the internet. So take that with a grain of salt. I have used the Skinceuticals one for years though and I did get the Elf one about a month ago and it feels, looks and smells exactly the same.

Skinceuticals is absolutely fabulous on my skin but just unaffordable currently lol. I tried using Maelove because its supposed to be a dupe but it hasn't reacted well with my skin.

The smell bothers me too. I’ve used the Skinceuticals Vit C and it smells weird on my skin. But I just suffer through it and deal with it. Drunk elephant smells weird too.