Anyone interested in skincare has no doubt heard of the benefits of vitamin C serums. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C neutralizes free radicals from the environment, helping repair damaged cells while improving collagen production, skin elasticity, signs of photoaging from sun damage (i.e., pigmentation), and barrier function. Vitamin C is a naturally occurring antioxidant, but interestingly, humans lack the enzyme needed for its synthesis, so we rely on food and topical products to reap the benefits.
Serums are generally thinner and more concentrated as far as skincare products go, which is why they make an excellent vehicle for vitamin C. But we get that the price of potent serums can sometimes be off-putting, so we’ve compiled some of our favorite drugstore vitamin C serums that deliver all the glowy skin goodness minus the price tag. We combined our research with real-world testing to recommend the best options. We evaluated each product based on its ease of use, absorption, and effectiveness at delivering promised results. Finally, we consulted two board-certified dermatologists, Dr. Ashley Magoverm, M.D., and Dr. Whitney Bowe, M.D., and aesthetician Samantha Appel for crucial advice on using vitamin C serums effectively.
Credit: UltaBenefits: Firms, boosts radiance, fragrance-free | Skin Type: Dry, mature | Size: 1.92 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
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Los dermatólogos comparten 9 retinoles para la piel sensible This popular drugstore serum was co-created with dermatologists to deliver the best possible results quickly. The formula contains 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), an active concentration thought to aid in producing a noticeable difference in skin texture. “One of the biggest downsides of L-ascorbic acid is that it is highly unstable and can break down easily,” says Dr. Bowe. “Heat, high pH, air, and sunlight can all contribute to breaking down L-ascorbic acid.” Because of this, the formula is stored in an airtight metal tube to protect its efficacy (but keep an eye out for any color changes). The consistency is a bit paste-like, but it’s a nice change from watery serums, especially if you have dry or mature skin. Despite the slight bit of grittiness in the formula, it absorbed into the skin easily and left it feeling smooth and nongreasy. After using it consistently, our tester, Samantha, noticed a real improvement in brightness and texture; the skin looked smoother and more radiant overall.
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Samantha, tester: “Overall, it’s given my skin a plumper, more “awake” appearance, so I feel like I can wear less makeup while still feeling put-together.”
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Credit: RevolveBenefits: Boosting radiance, firming, strengthening | Skin Type: Oily, combination | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
With just 0.5% vitamin C (in the form of sodium ascorbyl phosphate), this gentle serum is a great option for all skin types, but especially for those with sensitive skin or those who find vitamin C irritating. Appel suggests pairing vitamin C with niacinamide (which also has brightening capabilities) so we love that this formula comes boosted with the ingredient to assist with calming and soothing the skin, plus moisturizing sodium hyaluronate and brightening licorice root. We’re also big fans of the light, bouncy texture.
Credit: AmazonBenefits: Boosting radiance, firming, plumping | Skin Type: Dry | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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El maquillaje de Alexa Chung para Carolina Herrera SS26 Show | Wendy Rowe Aside from vitamin C, this top-rated serum contains a bunch of all-star ingredients, including moisturizing hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and soothing aloe vera and jojoba, so it covers all the bases. The host of hydrating properties makes it an excellent pick for drier complexions or those looking to restore the skin’s youthful glow. We also appreciate that the texture is lightweight and nongreasy, and it’s gentle enough to be applied twice daily as part of your skincare routine. However, it might be too gentle for oily skin.
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Emily Cieslak, associate editor: “Recently, I have been getting compliments on my skin, so I think this product has something to do with that! I’m way more confident in stepping outside without any makeup. I took a selfie after a 13-hour flight, and my bare skin still looked bright and glowy.”
Credit: TargetBenefits: Hydrating, blurs imperfections, smoothing | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This intensely hydrating serum from Cocokind is another great pick for dry skin. It’s full of nourishing ingredients to moisturize the complexion, including hyaluronic acid and sea grape caviar—a natural algae that boosts water retention in the skin. Made with gentle sodium ascorbyl phosphate, it brightens and fades dark spots over time without irritating the skin. We also appreciate that it doesn’t contain synthetic fragrance, which can irritate reactive skin.
Credit: AmazonBenefits: Contains botanical extracts, boosts radiance, refines | Skin Type: Oily | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This serum is designed to balance, refine, and clarify blemish-prone or oily skin. Alongside vitamin C, it also contains clary sage, grapefruit, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, and chamomile, which provide benefits like increasing hydration, boosting antioxidants, protecting, and soothing the skin. Try patting a few drops onto clean skin after cleansing and before moisturizing in the morning—over time, you should see an improvement in your skin’s smoothness and clarity. We do wish the product would disclose the exact percentage of vitamin C included, though.
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Lucy, tester (not pictured): “Love the glow I get from this product. My skin looks hydrated without being oily. When I use this product regularly, my overall skin tone looks more even, with reduced appearance of fine lines.”
Credit: AmazonWhat We Like
Helps to lighten post-acne spots
Fast-absorbing and not greasy
Improves appearance of fine lines
Benefits: Soothes with vitamin B5 and ceramides, allergy tested | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: No
Formulated with 10% L-ascorbic acid, hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and ceramides, Cerave’s Skin Renewing Vitamin C serum is a great buy for all skin types, though we found it to be particularly effective for those with acne-prone skin during our test. One tester who deals with acne and struggles to find products that don’t cause flare-ups shared that this serum didn’t do that—rather, it helped to improve the appearance of her acne scars and even smoothed fine lines near her mouth after using the product consistently for a few weeks. We also appreciate that the formula is fragrance-free and nongreasy. It also boosted our skin’s radiance, as any good vitamin C serum should.
Brandi, tester: “I have acne-prone skin and have some slight scarring and red spots left behind from acne. I feel like this product helped reduce the appearance of those spots and made the rest of my skin look and feel healthy. I am also prone to oiliness, and this serum didn’t make my skin feel oily at all.”
Credit: La Roche PosayBenefits: Refines, boosts radiance, and clarifies | Skin Type: Oily and congested | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This multipurpose serum claims to boost radiance and clarify the skin simultaneously, and we found that to be accurate during our testing. Enriched with 10% L-ascorbic acid, salicylic acid, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid, the bouncy texture sinks in quickly and helps to smooth texture over time. We also noticed a small improvement in the appearance of dark spots, though the gentle exfoliating and illuminating benefits impressed us the most. If you’re dealing with bumps or rough texture and looking for a lightweight product to smooth your skin while increasing radiance, we recommend trying this serum.
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Rachel, tester (not pictured): “It helped my skin brighten up and feel more moisturized. I have some dark spots/hyperpigmentation on my face, and I noticed those seemed to lighten up and smooth out after using this serum.”
Credit: AmazonBenefits: Brightens, hydrates, protects from free radicals | Skin Type: All | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
This heavy-hitting serum from Naturium will improve mature skin’s overall look and texture in one step. It’s formulated with three vitamin C compounds (ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and a naturally brightening fruit blend) to keep the skin looking radiant. The combination also protects the skin from environmental free radicals. During a clinical study of 32 subjects, the brand found that 100% of participants saw a reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles after using it daily for eight weeks. We love that it can be used daily and comes in multiple sizes.
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Credit: AmazonBenefits: Brightens, exfoliates, evens skin tone | Skin Type: Balanced, oily, dry | Size: 0.95 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Vitamin C serums can offer a host of benefits; one of the big ones is that they can reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and yield a more even skin tone overall. This one did an excellent job of fading dark spots and toning down redness with consistent use, leading to a more even, uniform-looking complexion. We also love that the formula contains 5% polyhydroxy acid to help smooth textured skin. The texture is lightweight, nongreasy, and not at all sticky, making it easy to layer within your skincare routine. We were incredibly impressed by how well this pick performed, and at just $15, we think it’s well worth your money.
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Alison, tester: “Improved skin texture was visible after just a few days. After daily use for several weeks, my skin feels softer, and my skin tone is even and radiant.”
Credit: AmazonBenefits: Boosts radiance, firms | Skin Type: All skin types | Size: 1 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes
The Ordinary is arguably one of the best drugstore brands around so it would be rude of us not to include this product, especially since it’s a great starting place for those who are new to vitamin C serums. The water-soluble form of vitamin C is less intense than L-ascorbic acid so you can experience subtle but noticeable skin brightening and smoothing with a lower risk of irritation. The sweet price point is a nice touch, too. We just wish it came in a more airtight container since vitamin C can oxidize easily (however, the brand does say this formula is “highly stable”).
What to Consider When Buying a Drugstore Vitamin C Serum
- Formula Type: Vitamin C in its pure form is L-ascorbic acid, but when it comes to topical products, it can vary. Some of the most effective types to look out for are L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl 6 palmitate, disodium isostearyl 2-0 L-ascorbyl phosphate, tetris palmitoyl ascorbic acid, ascorbic acid sulfate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and ascorbyl glucoside. Some forms are prone to oxidation (L-ascorbic acid, especially); if your product takes on a yellow-ish appearance once opened, chances are it’s lost its efficacy. The L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C Face Serum contains L-ascorbic acid, but since it’s in an airtight, opaque packaging, the formula is protected and likely to last you a while.
- Skin Type: Vitamin C is great at brightening, protecting, and renewing the skin, but some forms (and higher concentrations) can be too intense for reactive skin. Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, however, is a gentler version of the hero ingredient. “It’s lipid-soluble, not water-soluble like L-ascorbic acid,” explains Dr. Magovern. “This oil-based form is great for anyone with sensitive or damaged skin, as it still penetrates deeply for effective benefits but doesn’t cause any irritation.”
- Additional Ingredients: Appel tells us that combining B vitamins (like niacinamide) and vitamin C will smooth, brighten, and refine the skin’s appearance. “I don’t recommend layering L-ascorbic acid with retinoids and exfoliating acids, especially if you have sensitive skin,” says Dr. Magovern.
How We Tested Drugstore Vitamin C Serums
We believe in using the products we recommend, so we prioritize testing them in real-life settings and in our NY-based Lab.
- Vitamin C Serums Tested: 40
- Testing Period: 6 weeks
- Methodology: Vitamin C serums were tested in our lab and at home in our everyday lives. Each serum was tested on a variety of skin types and tones.
- Factors Considered: Ease of use, absorption, packaging design, skin texture improvements, skin glow, firming, overall look, value.
FAQ
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant proven to protect the skin, promote collagen production, and prevent the onset of photoaging (premature aging caused by the sun and other environmental stressors).
Appel says that vitamin C serums can also address dull or uneven skin, sun damage, and signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Appel says it’s important to follow the instructions on the back of your product, but as a general rule, you should apply in the morning after cleansing and before moisturizer and sunscreen. “Layering vitamin C under your sunscreen in the morning can also amplify the protective results of the sunscreen,” says Dr. Bowe.
Meet Our Experts
We interviewed several experts to find the best drugstore vitamin C serums, plus considerations to keep in mind when buying the right one for you:
- Dr. Whitney Bowe is a New York-based, board-certified dermatologist.
- Dr. Ashley Magovern is a California-based, board-certified dermatologist.
- Samantha Appel is a renowned aesthetician based in Australia.
Why Trust Byrdie
Alyssa Kaplan is an editor at Byrdie. She is an experienced writer and product tester in the beauty industry, specializing in cosmetics. She received a bachelor’s degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing and product development in the cosmetics industry and fashion business marketing.
Caitlyn Martyn is a former associate editor at Byrdie. In her pursuit of clear skin, she has worked with countless dermatologists and estheticians and has learned all there is to know about all types of skin treatments, including vitamin C. She updated this story to ensure accuracy.
Team Byrdie tested and evaluated each product for ease of use, absorption, packaging design, skin texture improvements, skin glow, firming, overall look, and value to help compile this list of the best drugstore vitamin C serums.
Un poco sobre mi...
- Soy Olga Villarubias, llevo más de 10 años dedicándome al mundo de la belleza y comparto cada semana en mi blog las últimas novedades sobre el cuidado de la piel, el rostro y los ojos, además de hablar sobre los productos más recientes de diferentes marcas. También soy mamá de dos niños y trabajo como nutricionista, lo que me permite dar un enfoque más saludable a todos mis consejos y recomendaciones.
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