18 Best Vitamin C serums for face in 2023

Vitamin C is something we all need. It keeps us healthy and boosts our immune systems. Whether it is from orange juice, peppers, berries, tomatoes or melons, we have a lot of options when it comes to getting vitamin C from the things we eat. However, vitamin C is also extremely beneficial for the skin, adding all kinds of rich antioxidants that help brighten, tone, hydrate and clear your complexion.

But while eating fruits and veggies may get you the vitamin C your body needs, it isn’t the most efficient way to get vitamin C to your skin. Enter vitamin C serums, the best thing ever. Not all Vitamin C serums are created equally, though. There are plenty out there that don’t actually work, but that doesn’t mean you should write them off entirely. Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Here are 18 of the best vitamin C serums for the face in 2023.

1. Blu Atlas Vitamin C Serum

It would be unfair to start off this list of vitamin C serums by not mentioning the Vitamin C Serum from Blu Atlas—the hot new men’s personal care brand that has been making waves. Although their products are targeted at men, everyone can use them, and we definitely encourage you to do so just so you can see what they’re all about. Their Vitamin C Serum reduces the appearance of dark spots to create smoother, more even-toned skin.

Infused mulberry root extract calms your skin from signs of irritation, while aloe barbadensis leaf provides a natural moisturizer, as well as a perfect storm of antioxidants and nutrients like vitamin A and vitamin E. Like all Blu Atlas products, this serum is paraben-free, sulfate-free, phthalate-free, dermatologist-tested and made in New York.

2. The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C and EGF Brightening Serum

If your skin suffers from dull skin, dark spots and discoloration, then a vitamin C serum is the equivalent of a magic potion. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps brighten the look of your skin while also protecting it from harmful stressors in your environment. The INKEY List knows vitamin C’s power almost better than anyone, and it shows in their 15% Vitamin C and EGF Brightening Serum.

The INKERY List combined 15% Ascorbyl Glucoside (vitamin C) with 1% epitsnisive, a plant-derived epidermal growth factor (EGF), to support natural elasticity and skin while giving you all the added benefits of vitamin C that your skin loves. EGF works by reinforcing your natural collagen and elastin within your skin’s matrix and natural moisture barrier—very scientific and very cool. This noncomedogenic lightweight serum is a great choice for normal, dry, combination and oily skin types that want to achieve plump and healthy-looking skin.

3. Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Treatment Serum

Glow Recipe always has the cutest bottles to spruce up the look of your vanity, bathroom sink or medicine cabinet. However, they’re more than just a pretty pink bottle. Glow Recipe’s Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum is a powerful, visibly brightening serum that immediately gets to work reducing the appearance of dark spots and dullness thanks to its formula infused with five different forms of vitamin C, guava and tranexamic and ferulic acids that combine to create radiant even-toned skin.

This lightweight serum’s five forms of vitamin C get to work visibly brightening and evening out dull skin, while guava extract and seed oil protect against free-radical damage present in the environment (yes, they’re even around you right now). Now, tranexamic and ferulic acids may sound scary, but trust us—they work wonders for your skin by working overtime to reduce the appearance of dark spots and redness. This product is vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free.

4. Paula’s Choice C15 Vitamin C Super Booster

If you’ve tried vitamin C serums in the past but found that they didn’t work for you the way you thought they would, then it could simply be because the serum didn’t have enough vitamin C. We guarantee that won’t be a problem with Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster Serum. This high-strength lightweight serum is packed to the brim with 15 percent pure vitamin C that works overtime to improve skin brightness and firmness while fighting against persistent discoloration, dullness and uneven tone.

What makes this serum stand out among the very saturated market of vitamin C serums is the inclusion of vitamin E, which boosts the brightening and protecting effects of vitamin C, as well as everyone’s favorite hyaluronic acid (which arguably has saturated the serum market even more) that provides your skin with all-day hydration and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. You can trust Paula’s Choice to choose only what’s best for your skin.

5. Youth To The People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum

There’s no shame in admitting that our skin had a certain look in our youth that we try to achieve with each new product we buy. When we’re young, it is radiant, even-toned and firm. It looks great with barely any effort. However, what if we told you that your skin could look like that no matter your age and with the same little amount of effort? Youth To The People’s 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum will brighten, firm and depuff your skin to help you look like you haven’t aged a day.

Yes, this serum has the vitamin C we know and love to help brighten our skin and reduce the look of discoloration, but what makes it stand out is the infused yerba mate and guayusa that are naturally potent in caffeine and antioxidants to perk up your skin by visibly depuffing and firming the appearance for a smooth contour. Other ingredients high in antioxidants, like passion fruit and dragon fruit work to remove free radicals from your skin’s natural moisture barrier to keep your skin hydrated all day long.

6. iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Green Machine Vitamin C + Green Superfoods Oil Jelly Serum

Yes, this serum does have a very eye-catching color scheme that makes it pop among all the white bottles out there, but that’s not why we selected it as one of the best vitamin C serums for the face in 2023. INNBEAUTY PROJECT’s Green Machine Vitamin C + Green Superfoods Oil Jelly Serum is definitely a mouthful, but that shouldn’t turn you away from this unique serum-oil hybrid.

This wonderful lightweight jelly is infused with a 15 super-greens complex blend of collagen, spinach and various greens that are known to be rich in nutrients and antioxidants suitable for treating dark spots, uneven texture and loss of firmness and elasticity. An infused form of highly stable vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) promotes collagen production and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Meanwhile, pomegranate stem cells target discoloration at its source to reduce hyperpigmentation.

7. SEPHORA COLLECTION Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum

If you’ve been living under a rock, we wouldn’t blame you if you only knew Sephora as a beauty retailer. However, if you keep up to date with the beauty and skincare industry, you know that Sephora leads the budget personal care game with their affordable Sephora Collection. One of our favorite products in the collection is the vitamin C, vitamin E and marine algae-infused Ultra Glow Serum for normal, dry, combination and oily skin.

This powerhouse of a serum works wonders for skin that is plagued by dark spots, dryness and fine lines and wrinkles while also increasing skin radiance and evening out stubborn uneven tones. This vegan serum gets natural peptides from marine algae that is known for its tightening and firming effect on tired skin. In addition to being vegan, the packaging is from sustainably managed forests and printed with vegetable ink. This serum is a win for you and for the environment.

8. Herbivore Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum

Herbivore Nova 15% Vitamin C + Turmeric Brightening Serum is one of the best vitamin C serums for your face when it comes to its powerful skin brightening formula. Dark spots, dullness and uneven texture don’t stand a chance when it comes to the infused 15% THD vitamin C, turmeric and arbutin. THD vitamin C is an ultra-stable variant that is formulated to target hyperpigmentation, while antioxidant-rich turmeric and arbutin even skin tone, reduce discoloration and tighten the look of pores.

This vegan and cruelty-free serum is 100 percent natural and fragrance-free, which is perfect for all skin types—even sensitive and combinations. And as for the turmeric, just know we are not to blame for your new addiction to the ginger-like super root, but if you’re going to tell people all about it, remember to mention that you heard all about it from us first.

9. OLEHENRIKSEN Truth Serum Vitamin C Serum

If the color orange is what you think of when you try to imagine what vitamin C would like, you’re not alone. We often associate vitamin C with the color orange due to its association with a particular citrus rich in vitamin C, and it seems like Olehenriksen does too. Their powerful age-defying vitamin C serum, aptly named Truth Serum, is infused with collagen to reinforce your skin’s natural elasticity and true-C complex—a blend of vitamin C formulated to fight key signs of aging, such as dryness, dullness and loss of firmness.

Meanwhile, orange, green tea and aloe juice extracts nourish, soften and condition skin, giving it the rejuvenation treatment it needs and deserves. This gluten-free and cruelty-free serum is a great choice for normal, dry, combination and oily skin. The skincare truth is out there.

10. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum

It is always nice when we come across a brand that not only has great products but also donates money for a truly good cause. Drunk Elephant has been around for ten years now, and ever since they were founded, they have been a supporter of the International Elephant Foundation—a non-profit dedicated to protecting the world’s elephant population through conservation, research and education.

A portion of the money generated from Drunk Elephant’s product sales goes to support this organization fighting for the safety and wellbeing of African and Asian elephants, ensuring they have a future here on Mother Earth. We think the best introduction to this brand is their C-Firma Fresh Day Serum. It is a potent 15 percent vitamin C serum infused with pumpkin ferment, pomegranate extract and chronocyclin that work together to dissolve dead surface skin cells and protect the skin from photoaging environmental pollutants.

You can save your face from fine lines and wrinkles, in addition to dullness and uneven texture, as well as loss of firmness and elasticity while also helping save the elephants just by using this everyday serum. It’s that easy.

11. Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

For most of us, we work all week and only have a day or two off to rest and recharge before we get back on the grind. If we’re lucky enough to have Saturdays off, we usually spend it out with friends, which leaves just Sunday to recoup from the night—and the week—before. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could have that same day of rest for your face every day? Well, now you can with Sunday Riley’s C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum.

This advanced serum is infused with plant saccharides and a 15 percent concentrate of THD ascorbate (a form of vitamin C) that work together to visibly minimize pores, brighten dark spots and prevent signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles before they start. Sunday Riley, as always, crafted this boss of a serum to be free of parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oil, coal tar and sulfates. You can also rest easy knowing it is gluten-free and cruelty-free.

12. Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA

Tatcha has taken the skincare world by storm here in the last few years and for good reason. Their products are some of the best bang for your buck when it comes to premium and luxury skincare. While still pricier than most drugstore brands, Tatcha makes up for it by providing great results you can’t find elsewhere.

Their Violet-C Brightening Serum has a whopping 20 percent vitamin C along with 10 percent of mild fruit AHAs. Tatcha achieves this unique 20 percent vitamin C blend by using types of vitamin C that are stabilized by Japanese angelica root extract—which is known as a “beautyberry” for its ability to heal scarring, uneven tone, discoloration and hyperpigmentation. This vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, silicone-free, oil-free and fragrance-free serum is suitable for all skin types.

13. Hyper Skin Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum

Are you hyper? Yeah, us too. Are you full of energy, but your face is drained? Yep, same here. Are you . . . well, you get the picture. For real, though, nothing is quite such a downer as being wide awake while your face looks as tired as someone who’s been up for 36 hours. If that sounds like you, we feel you, and thankfully Hyper’s Skin Brightening Dark Spot Serum Vitamin C Serum is the energizer skincare solution your face needs.

This hardworking hyperpigmentation treatment works overtime to fight dark spots for a more even and radiant tone. Hyper achieves this by using a powerful trio of vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and kojic acid to nourish and moisturize your skin to never-before-seen hydration levels. If you have dark spots, uneven texture, dullness or all of the above, then this serum suitable for all skin types is for you.

14. Dermalogica BioLumin-C Vitamin C Serum

Dermalogica is not your typical skincare brand. This line of high-performance, professional-grade skincare products is developed by the International Dermal Institute. So, it is no wonder that this brand developed alongside dermatologists comes so highly recommended by skincare newcomers and experts alike.

Dermalogica’s BioLumin-C Serum is formulated with two types of stable and bioavailable forms of vitamin C that work together to visibly brighten your skin while evening its tone. Infused lactic acid accelerates the natural removal of dull and dead skin cells while chia seed oil protects your skin against free radical damage.

Like all Dermalogica products, BioLumn-C Serum is free from nasties like parabens, formaldehydes, phthalates, mineral oil, coal tar and sulfates. It is also vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free, and it comes in a double-coated glass bottle designed to minimize natural vitamin C degradation.

15. REN Clean Skincare Radiance Vitamin C Glow Serum

A lot of ingredients go into the research and development of our favorite skincare products, but what may be great for your skin isn’t necessarily great for the environment and the planet. Don’t worry, though—that isn’t the case when it comes to REN Clean Skincare. Their motto of “Clean to Skin, Clean to Planet” is more than just big words, and the brand’s Glow and Protect Serum walks the talk.

This serum is rich in natural, nourishing antioxidants that are known for their ability to treat fine lines, wrinkles, dullness and uneven texture while providing protection from free-radicals that attack your skin’s natural moisture barrier. The key ingredient of kakadu plum is potent in vitamin C, vitamin A and polyphenol that work together to brighten, even out tone and protect skin.

Magnesium, zinc and calcium derived from dragon fruit support the skin’s moisture barrier, leaving it radiant, while pomegranate extract rich in puncici acid soothes the skin for an unmistakable fresh feeling. This product is vegan, gluten-free and cruelty-free, and we recommend it for all skin types.

16. Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C + Niacinamide Serum

Friday, Friday, we all gotta get our skincare game down on Friday . . . oh, we didn’t see you there. Don’t mind us. We’re just jamming because our skin has never looked so good thanks to Summer Fridays CC Me Serum. This niacinamide and vitamin C serum is one of the best vitamin C serums for your face and also just happens to be one of our favorite skincare products of 2023. If dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles and uneven texture are keeping you from looking forward to the weekend, then this is the serum for you.

It is formulated with the high-tech 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid that works to immediately brighten dull skin and ascorbyl glucoside to visibly even skin tone and promote collagen production to minimize signs of aging, as well as niacinamide to restore your skin’s natural radiance—creating a radiant look to last you through the weekend. So, say goodbye to hyperpigmentation and hello to Summer Fridays CC Me Serum. And if you’re wondering—no, we’re not sorry for getting that absolute bop stuck in your head.

17. Murad Vitamin C Glycolic Brightening Serum

Do you ever wish that your skin could look as glowing as it does when you’re using a ring light or camera flash? Well, we have good news because that is possible with Murad Environmental Shield Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum. This vitamin C serum is, of course, infused with vitamin C (specifically a property complex blended for stability and longevity), but what we love it for is the infused Phyto-luminescent extract that transforms UV energy into a light source that in turn illuminates your skin.

Yep, it is like having your own personal sun walking around with you throughout the day to make sure your face is glowing no matter what, rain or shine. To keep this magical skincare potion fresh, Murad designed a dual-chamber bottle that provides a fresh dose with each use. And it is even vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free. No need to fly too close to the sun when you can bring it with you.

18. Biossance Squalane + 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum

It is hard to keep up in the skincare game. Once you research, develop, test, produce and market a new product, it could be years since you first started, and by the time it hits store shelves, another competing product could already be there offering the same thing. So, it really does come as a surprise to us when we see a skincare product that is truly a first of its kind. Enter Biossance’s Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum.

This serum features a lower concentration of stable 10% vitamin C that is formulated to not cause irritation on sensitive skin, but we think its selling point is the infused white shiitake mushroom extract blend that visibly corrects dark spots and targets the formation of hyperpigmentation before it starts. Also added in the unique formula is a licorice root extract that soothes and mitigates discoloration while preventing future signs of aging. This product is vegan, gluten free and cruelty free.

Bonus

OTZI C-Drip Vitamin C Brightening Serum

We get it. Sometimes what your face needs is a pick-me-up, and the only thing that’ll do it is the equivalent of an energy drink for your skin. Thankfully that product actually exists, and it can be yours with the OTZI C-Drip Brightening Serum. This lightweight vitamin C serum is infused with ginseng berry (yes, the very same found in your morning energy supplement) that moisturizes and recharges your skin for a radiant, energetic complexion.

And for all the people out there who want to experience the benefits of vitamin C but haven’t been able to due to their sensitive skin, OTZI has you covered. C-Drip has just five percent of vitamin C concentrate that is extremely lightweight and dries quickly, leaving behind no residue. So, if you have sensitive skin and need the dark spot, dullness and loss of firmness fighting power of vitamin C, then this is the serum you’ve been waiting for.

Kiehl’s Since 1851 Powerful-Strength Vitamin C Serum

If you were thinking “where’s Kiehl’s?” while reading through this list, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. It wouldn’t be a list about skincare products without one of the oldest skincare companies in the business. Kiehl’s has been around since 1851, which predates 19 U.S. states. So, it is safe to say they know a thing or two about what is good for your skin. Their Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate is a potent vitamin C serum with an optimal 12.5 percent of pure vitamin C, as well as the crowd favorite hydrating teammate, hyaluronic acid.

Together, both ingredients reduce the look of visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, uneven texture, loss of firmness and elasticity, while also smoothing and plumping skin for an added youthful look. This serum is the real deal, and how could it not be? Kiehl’s has over 170 years of experience to perfect it, so it must be good.