Vitamin C is one of the best antiaging actives for younger, fresher, brighter skin.
- It helps to boost skin collagen production and skin elasticity.
- It also helps to reverse age related skin damage
- It neutralizes free radicals ( it protects your skin from harmful pollutants)
- It lightens age spots
Yet, topical use of vitamin C (ex with vitamin C serum) is the most effective way to benefit from its properties.
It is said than applying vitamin C to the skin is 20 times more effective for your skin than taking it orally
There are literally hundreds of Vitamin C serums in the market but only a few really deliver the promises they claim.
Specifically, I am a big fan of vitamin C products, so when I had to choose the best serum for me, I was a bit overwhelmed by the offer and spent countless hours comparing, checking, and deciding which ones I wanted to buy.
So you, my lucky reader, will get my personal selection that should help you pick the most suited serum for your skin.
If you are ready, let’s dive in and talk about specific brands.
I found 4 that can, in my opinion, be awarded the best Vitamin C serum for face title – reliable (in most cases as you will see in my reviews), affordable and accessible. Here are my mini-reviews on all four: so no TOP 3 but a TOP 4 vit C serums.
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Serumtologie Vitamin C Serum
Overview:
- Contents:Deionized Aqua (Water) with an infusion of Organic Asiatica (Gotu Kola), Wildcrafted Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion), and Wildcrafted Geranium Maculatum (Wild Geranium), Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Carbomer, (2s)-2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid (L-Arginine), d-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate (Viatamin E), Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin
- Made in the USA
- middle-range price
- Promises on product description:
- Reduces fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, dehydration and sagging skin with continued use
- Restores skin’s youthful appearance
- Boosts skin’s hydration level
- Works or your money back
Texture:
It does go on easily because its consistency is similar to water. It doesn’t feel exactly like water as it retains its drop shape when you apply it on a surface. It’s not that viscous – very light and non-sticky.
Packaging:
The product is packaged in a refreshingly blue colored glass bottle with a dropper. I’m not sure if this will affect the longevity of the serum inside but I didn’t see mine turn a different color after a week’s use.
Scent:
The product has a light herbal smell but I can’t liken it to something specific. It’s not strong and is gone after 2 minutes.
Application:
As mentioned earlier, it applies easily and smoothly because of its light texture. It also dries quickly or is easily absorbed by the skin. Most of the time, you would need a moisturizer so that your skin won’t feel tight and dry after applying the serum.
Results:
- My skin felt firmer and smoother after a week’s use. The results are very nice.
- It felt great when I applied it on skin. It made my skin feel fresher and rejuvenated.
- This product is not that drying for me compared with the other 3 serums.
- No irritation or break outs – great news!
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum
Overview:
- Contents:Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L-ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Alpha Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate
- Made in the USA
- Higher-range price
- Promises on product description:
- Sun Damage
- Free Radical Damage
- Hyperpigmentation
- Loss of Firmness, Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Texture:
The texture is really nice and light. It is a colorless jelly like solution that is easy to apply after using my face cleanser.
Packaging:
Skinceuticals brand uses an amber dropper bottle to protect the serum from air and light. This will help keep your serum effective longer.
Scent:
The product has no specific smell that might bother you.
Application:
This serum definitely applies easily and smoothly. It is easily absorbed so you will be able to apply you day moisturizer or night cream right afterwards.
Results:
- skin was a little irritated for the first 3 days. I found out it is because skinceuticals uses pure L ascorbic acid.
- after the redness stage, skin was pretty clear and healthy looking.
- from time to time, I could feel some irritation, so I prefer the other serums as I did not feel any redness with them.
OZ Naturals Vitamin C Serum
Overview:
- Contents:Water (Aqua), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Glycerin, Tocopherol, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Leaf Extract, Lecithin, Sucrose Stearate, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
- Made in the USA
- low-range price
- Promises on product description:
- Goes on smooth
- Protects and brightens skin
- Give you a youthful glow
- Hydrates skin/ makes it softer
Texture:
It’s more on the thick side compared with the other 2 below. It has an orange color which reminds me of oranges of course 🙂
Packaging:
The serum comes in a brown glass bottle with a dropper for dispensing the product. One downside of this is that the bottle doesn’t have a seal on it so users don’t know if it has been previously opened or not.
Scent:
Light smell. When you apply the serum on your face it shouldn’t have any type of smell.
Application:
Because the consistency is thicker, it left a dewy finish on my skin finish on my skin. it is a bit sticky and takes a little more time to absorb…
Results:
- I observed my pimple scars slowly lightening. They haven’t disappeared all together but they are less noticeable.
- I don’t have wrinkles but I do have fine lines. I’ve observed these to have diminished after a week of using the serum.
- No breakouts which is great.
- This Vitamin C serum did not add to my blackheads but it did not lessen them either.
- wish the serum was less sticky and thick.
Pure Body Naturals Vitamin C Serum
Overview:
- Contents:Deionized Aqua (water),Organic Aloe vera, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (vitamin C), Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, witch hazel, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Carbomer, Arginine, Organic Jojoba oil, vitamin E, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Organic Centella Asiatica (gotu kola extract), Organic horsetail plant extract, Organic geranium extract, Organic dandelion extract.
- Made in the USA
- Lower-range price
- Promises on product description:
- Guarantees clearer, smoother beautiful skin
- Makes skin super soft
- Brightens skin, gives it a glow
- Works or your money back
Texture:
The texture of the product is between oil and water: it’s very light and thin and, at the same time, it doesn’t feel oily once applied.
Packaging:
Like the first serum, this one came in an amber colored bottle with a dropper. I noticed that the dropper doesn’t screw on tightly so it may affect the shelf life of the serum.
Scent:
It doesn’t say anywhere in the packaging if it is unscented or not but the actual product smells citrusy – maybe close to a smell of an orange. It’s not a very strong odor but there may be users who may not like the smell.
Application:
Because the texture is light and thin, it goes on easily on the skin. It blends easily as well so a small amount can go a long way. It’s absorbed rather quickly and it doesn’t give you that sticky feel after application.
Results:
- I noticed that my skin’s texture and tone have improved since using the product. I think it was on my 5th day that I noticed this difference.
- I didn’t apply the serum religiously after the 1st It may just be me but I felt like my skin was “returning” to its former state when I failed to apply it for 4 days which makes me think that you have to continue using the product if you want the results to stay put.
- My acne scars also, slowly, minimized but I can’t say that the serum did anything for the pimples that I already had. Good thing is it did not break me out.
My Personal Usage Tips
- Use the serums with a moisturizer if you found that your skin dried up after application.
- Just get enough product to cover your face and your neck. You don’t have to use a lot.
- Be realistic with your expectations.
- If you don’t like the finish of the serum on your face, you can try applying it at night instead of the day.
What’s your pick?
This is my personal takes on the 4 serums. The result of my usage may not be similar to yours but I’m hoping that these mini reviews will help you decide on what Vitamin C serum to purchase (if, indeed, you are thinking of getting one).
Let me just remind you:
- Keep your expectations in check
- Give the product time to do its magic (the 30-day rule)
- Your results may differ
If you have your own list of vitamin c serums, we’d love to hear about what you think of them. Leave your comment below and let’s get a discussion going.