The 19 Best Vitamin C Serums That Work Overtime for Brighter, Youthful-Looking Skin

It's the easiest way to achieve a flawless complexion.

Best Vitamin C Serums
(Image credit: @maryljean; @daniellejinadu)

As a beauty editor, I come face-to-face with ingredient trends in skincare on the daily. The thousands of heavy retinol-based products that flooded the shelves of our favorite beauty suppliers for years was followed closely behind by retinol alternatives that gave the same amazing benefits with less irritation for all skin types all with the intent of improving texture and promoting glow. However, there's another effective skincare ingredient that has been trusted throughout history as one of the simplest ways to achieve a more luminous, even complexion with consistent use: vitamin C.

While it's nothing new despite its recent spike in popularity, adding a vitamin C-based serum to your skincare routine can yield transformative effects. The star ingredient boasts several noteworthy benefits like fading the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation promoting an even tone, reversing the harmful effects of UV damage, and shrinking pores all while leaving your skin plump and firm. Yes, all of that can be found in a single product. While it's recommended to begin incorporating vitamin C into your skincare lineup in your 20s to get a head start on a graceful aging process, dermatologists say that using the ingredient is just as important in your 30s, 40s, and beyond.

Ready to revamp your skincare routine? I compiled the most highly rated vitamin C serums with my personal favorites to make the process easier. Discover them all ahead.

The Best Vitamin C Serums, Listed

Content creator and model Megan Adelaide Vega wearing sunglasses by St. Agni

(Image credit: @meganadelaide)

Best for Smoothing Skin: The Ordinary Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum

Best for Brightening Dull Skin: The Inkey List 15% Vitamin C & EGF Serum

Best for Fading Dark Spots: Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution

Best for Sensitive Skin: Alpyn Beauty Bearberry & Vitamin C Glow Serum

Best Dark Spot Prevention: Biossance 10% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum + Squalane

Content ctreator Danielle Jinadu with glowy, even-toned skin

(Image credit: @daniellejinadu)

Best for Firming and Plumping: Ole Henriksen Banana Bright 15% Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum

Best for Smoothing Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Obagi Medical Professional C-Serum

Best for Fast Results: Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Dark Spot Serum

Best for Skin Barrier Repair: Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Best for Blurring Pores: YSE Beauty Morning Cocktail Vitamin C Serum

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas before continuously using a Vitamin C Serum

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas photographed on March 19, 2024, before continuously using a vitamin C Serum.

Associate Beauty Editor Maya Thomas after 4 weeks of using YSE Beauty's Morning Cocktail Vitamin C Serum

(Image credit: Courtesy of Maya Thomas)

Thomas photographed on April 23, 2024, after a month of using YSE Beauty's Morning Cocktail Vitamin C Serum.

Best for Everyday Use: Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster

Best for Creating an Even Complexion: Ogee Vitamin C THDA 20% Elixir

Best for Layering Under Skincare and Makeup: Tatcha The Brightening Serum

Best for Correcting Uneven Skin Tones: Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Power Serum

Best for Combating Redness: Mara Sea Vitamin C Sérum

Content creator Mary L Jean applies Rhode's Peptide Lip Tint in Espresso

(Image credit: @maryljean)

Best for Fighting Free-Radical Damage: Dermalogica BioLumin-C Serum

Best for Adding Moisture: Omorovicza Daily Vitamin C

Best for Dry Skin: Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum

Best for Improving Skin Texture: RéVive Clarte Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Using a Vitamin C Serum

Now that you know what the 19 best vitamin C serums can do for even the most basic skincare concerns, let's dive into how they should be used for the best results. Perhaps the most important thing to remember about using vitamin C is that you'll see changes with consistency. Of course, how quickly these improvements can be spotted depends on the unique formula. It's also worth noting that while others may be gentle enough to be used daily in your morning and night routines, other serum formulas may require less frequent use.

Vitamin C serum should be applied after thoroughly cleansing and toning the face and before using moisturizer and sunscreen. The latter is crucial to use following vitamin C serum since your skin will be more sensitive to sun damage. Using a good sunscreen will also prevent the vitamin C serum from oxidizing with wear.

Explore More:
Maya Thomas
Associate Beauty Editor

Maya Thomas is Who What Wear's Associate Beauty Editor based in New York City. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.