The 9 Best Vitamin C Serums We Tested and Recommend for Glowing Skin

Best Overall

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

$182 at Dermstore $272 at Skinstore.com $182 at Skinceuticals.com

Benefits: Brightening, antioxidant protection, improving appearance of fine lines and wrinkles | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, sensitive | Dosage: A few drops in the morning | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

As avid vitamin C serum enthusiasts, we know a good formula when we try one. Sometimes the most buzz-worthy products don’t live up to expectations, but this one does. It has a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that doesn’t feel sticky or drying on the skin, it’s easy to apply and layer in a skincare routine and yielded some really impressive results.

We noticed a real improvement in the texture of our skin when we used SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, as well as a reduction in the appearance of fine lines. After six weeks of using it, our skin looked and felt softer, smoother, and brighter. There’s no denying that we adore this serum, but it’s worth noting that while it doesn’t contain fragrance, it doesn’t have a particularly appealing smell. However, the scent doesn’t linger on the skin, so it’s not a dealbreaker for us.

Who It's For

This SkinCeuticals serum is a winner for anyone concerned about fine lines and photoaging. The addition of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and ferulic acid helps enhance this formula’s protective qualities, guarding against environmental damage caused by free radicals.

Best for Sensitive Skin

TruSkin Vitamin C Facial Serum

$22 at Amazon $24 at Target $22 at Walmart

Benefits: Radiance-boosting, improves appearance of dark spots and fine lines | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops daily day or night | Size: 1 oz| Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have sensitive skin, then you know how important it is to find products that are gentle but effective. This one is just that, and we loved it. Not to mention, tons of our Byrdie readers adore it, too. The product was really comfortable on sensitive and acne-prone skin. While it took about 30 seconds to dry, which is slightly longer than some other options, it dried down to a moisturizing and nongreasy finish. We even noted that we could get away without applying a moisturizer on top of it and our skin still felt hydrated. Another bonus? It didn’t clog our pores.

As for the results after the testing period, we were really pleased with them. Post-acne marks were noticeably lightened, and our complexions looked radiant.

Who It's For

Considering that it’s effective, nonirritating, suitable for all skin types, and doesn’t contain harsh acids, we think it’s a great choice for anyone with sensitive skin.

Best for Skin Firming

Klur Brilliant Light Repair Serum

View on Klur.co $88 at Credo Beauty

Benefits: Radiance-boosting, antioxidant protection, helps correct signs of aging | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops every other day or night | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Klur Brilliant Light Multi-Correctional Repair Serum isn’t a harsh formula that contains potentially irritating acids; rather, it’s a gentle product that actually makes a noticeable improvement in the texture and tone of the skin. 

We can’t stop raving about how much this product helped firm our skin. Not only that, but we noticed a real improvement in our skin texture; after the six-week testing period, our faces looked and felt smoother and softer overall. While we didn’t see a major difference in the radiance of our skin, the texture and tone improvements were so great that it wasn’t a deal breaker for us.

Who It's For

This vitamin C serum has our stamp of approval for all skin types, skin tones, and ages, and our go-to for anyone looking to firm and smooth their skin.

Best Brightening

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum

$68 at Sephora $68 at Ulta View on Olehenriksen.com

Benefits: Radiance-boosting, firming, reduces appearance of dark spots | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Dosage: A few drops daily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright 15% Vitamin C Serum is our fave for brightening because it leaves the skin with a glow right after application and helps to improve the skin’s radiance over time with consistent use.

We appreciated how user-friendly the packaging is, that the formula absorbed into the skin quickly, and that it left us feeling moisturized and looking glowy. It also layers beautifully with other skincare and makeup products. After the six-week period, our skin was left looking hydrated, illuminated, and refreshed.

While the serum claims to help with skin plumpness thanks to the inclusion of hyaluronic acid, we didn’t notice a visible improvement in this area. But given how brightening this serum is, we highly recommend it if you’re dealing with dull skin.

Who It's For

If you struggle with dull skin, incorporating this brightening vitamin C serum into your skincare routine might be just what you need to achieve a more radiant complexion.

Best for Hyperpigmentation

Goodal Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum+

$25 at Target $31 at Yesstyle.com

Benefits: Lightens dark spots, calms inflammation | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops morning and night | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dark spots can result from many things—such as post-acne scarring and sun damage—and they can often be tricky to fade. But if you have fairly surface-level dark spots, we highly recommend incorporating a vitamin C serum into your routine because the powerful antioxidant has been known to help lighten hyperpigmentation.

This one is excellent for that because in addition to containing vitamin C, it’s also formulated with niacinamide, another ingredient known for its spot-fading capabilities. This formula is suitable for all skin types, has a lightweight and non-oily finish, and the packaging is simple and effective. Over time, we recognized a significant reduction in the appearance of our post-acne marks, and our complexions looked generally more even in tone. 

Who It’s For

If you have hyperpigmentation this powerful formula will help fade it over time. Remember to slather on the sunscreen to prevent dark spots from coming back. 

Best for Dry Skin

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

$74 at Sephora $50 at Walmart View on Biossance.com

Benefits: Brightening, firming, hydrating | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Dosage: A few drops morning and night | Size: 0.5, 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Vitamin C serums don’t always provide a ton of hydration, but if you’re looking for one that truly pumps up the moisture, this is the one we recommend for you. The formula feels like a typical, lightweight face oil—as opposed to some vitamin C serums that have a grittier texture—and it nourishes the skin in addition to providing all of the wonderful antioxidant benefits.

We didn’t feel that this formula made our face look or feel greasy, rather, it provided the necessary hydration and a bit of glow. Over time, we noticed a real improvement in the radiance and texture of our skin. The one thing we think is missing? It didn’t do much in terms of firming the skin, but if improving radiance and skin texture is your goal, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this product.

Who It’s For

This silky formula contains sugarcane-derived squalane, a moisturizing molecule that’s naturally produced in our bodies. Squalane is a highly effective hydrator, making this product great for anyone with a drier skin type. 

Best for Acne-Prone Skin

CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum

$30 at Ulta $24 at Target $28 at Riteaid.com

Benefits: Antioxidant protection, helps improve skin tone and radiance | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops daily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

People with acne-prone skin know that trying new skincare products can often lead to breakouts and irritation. We found that the CeraVe serum actually helped improve the appearance of our oily and blemish-prone skin overall. The formula contains L-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C for powerful antioxidant protection, as well as hyaluronic acid for an added boost of hydration.

While we struggled a bit to set up the dispensing part of the packaging for the initial use, once it was complete, the product was easy to use moving forward. We also loved that our skin looked slightly brighter after consistent use, and the fine lines near our mouths appeared to have smoothed out a bit.

Who It's For

This is a great option if you have acne-prone skin. We appreciated that the serum had a lightweight texture that didn’t feel greasy on our already oily skin, and we noticed that after a few weeks of testing, our post-acne marks were visibly reduced.

Best for Beginners

Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum with Vitamin C+E

$21 at Sephora $21 at Kohls.com

Benefits: Radiance-boosting, evens skin tone | Skin Type: Dry, combination, balanced | Dosage: A few drops in the morning | Size: 1.01 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you’re new to using vitamin C serum, it’s wise to start out with a simple formula that’s easy to use and doesn’t contain potentially harsh active ingredients that might cause irritation. We love this one for beginners because the formula is foolproof—it absorbs quickly, leaves the skin feeling comfortable, and layers nicely under other makeup and additional skincare products. It contains vitamins C and E, as well as marine peptides known for their firming effect.

We found the application dropper intuitive and the formula sunk into our skin quickly without leaving behind a sticky or greasy residue. After just a week or two, we recognized a real difference in the brightness of our skin, noting that our complexions looked more radiant even when we weren’t wearing it. Overall, it helped us achieve more luminous, healthy, and youthful-looking skin.

While it doesn’t have hard claims on firming benefits, we would love it if the product provided a bit more of a firming benefit, especially considering that it contains marine peptides. However, it’s still an excellent product in general.

Who It's For

If you’re a vitamin C newbie and worry about the adjustment period when your skin might be slightly more irritated this product is ideal. It doesn’t contain a laundry list of other actives so you can ease into your new regimen seamlessly. 

Best Vegan Formula

InnBeauty Project Vitamin C + Green Superfoods Jelly Serum

$38 at Sephora $38 at Walmart $32 at Kohls.com

Benefits: Brightening, firming, texture-smoothing | Skin Type: Balanced, dry, combination, oily | Dosage: A few drops daily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If opting for vegan skincare products is important to you, we think you’ll love the vitamin C serum from InnBeauty Project. It has a lightweight texture that’s packed with vitamin C for brightness and antioxidants, pomegranate stem cells which help reduce dark spots, and a blend of greens to nourish the skin.

Once applied, it doesn’t immediately make the skin look radiant, but over time we did notice an improvement in the overall brightness of our complexions. We also noticed that it helped visibly reduce some of our hyperpigmentation, resulting in a more even, less dull-looking skin tone.

Who It’s For

Animal lovers who steer clear of anything containing animal or animal-derived ingredients will love this clean, cruelty-free formula. It’s also fortified with the brand’s “15 Super-Greens Complex”—a blend of vegan collagen and spinach, designed to pump the skin full of nutrients and antioxidants.