What is vitamin C?
“Vitamin C is an antioxidant,” Kenneth Howe, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Glamour. “When ultraviolet light penetrates your skin, it causes lasting damage by producing free radicals. Vitamin C can prevent that damage by ‘quenching’ the free radicals as they form.” (Of course, you should always apply one of the best face sunscreens too!) The brightening serum also inhibits a key enzyme in melanin production, so it can act as a dark spot corrector too. The end result? A more radiant complexion and smoother texture over time. (Think glass-like skin.)
Here’s what to look for in a vitamin C serum.
The key ingredient in these serums is L-ascorbic acid, a pure form of vitamin C, Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Glamour. This type of serum penetrates more deeply than other forms, making it more likely to reach the layers of skin where you actually need it to work. Another popular one? Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which tends to be more stable than its counterparts (read “it lasts longer”).
Pay attention to the concentration too. “Look for serums that contain 10% to 20% vitamin C,” Morgan Rabach, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells Glamour. “Less than 10% is not as effective, and over 20% can cause skin irritation.” A supporting cast of active ingredients, like vitamin E and ferulic acid, can also boost its efficacy. Some vitamin C serums may even boast nice-to-haves including hyaluronic acid, squalane, and other hydrators.
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In addition, peep the bottles that house any vitamin C products you’re considering. Vitamin C is notoriously unstable, so it can oxidize with light and heat. You want darkly tinted glass bottles with airless delivery, since air can also cause pure vitamin C to degrade, says Dr. Rabach.
And yes, you can use vitamin C serum every day.
As with the best face serum, daily application of a vitamin C can go a long way over time. But if you have an allergy or experience a reaction such as burning or stinging, you should avoid putting the product on your face and instead seek out the best moisturizers and eye creams that are made specifically for sensitive skin, says Nava Greenfield, MD, a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York City. And although you can use vitamin C in conjunction with certain products like the best niacinamide serums, avoid using vitamin C with certain acid exfoliants and retinol creams—at least simultaneously—to avoid even more irritation.
The best vitamin C serums
Below, we brought you the best vitamin C serum picks, according to dermatologists, plus, Glamour editors endorse the vitamin C serums that they say really improved their skin.
