Illuminate your skincare routine with our top serum picks
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Looking to upgrade your skincare routine? You’re not alone. Everyone and their pet these days seem to be incorporating a robust, multi-step routine into their lives. But figuring out which products are worth the investment can be daunting. Well, fear not! Our top choice for a skincare game changer is a Vitamin C serum.
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With its potent skin-brightening and collagen-building properties, it’s no surprise that Vitamin C serums have quickly become a must-have in the skincare world. This powerhouse ingredient can naturally be found in citrus fruits like oranges and papayas and is now a staple in all sorts of products, from moisturizers to eye creams to face masks.
But with so many options on the market, choosing the right one for your skin can be overwhelming. Cream or oil? Water or oil-based? Fear not, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to discover our top recommendations for plumping and brightening up all skin types.
Quick summary of best Vitamin C serums
Best overall: Truly Brightening Vitamin C
Best for normal to sensitive skin: The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
Best splurge-worthy option: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum
Best for acne-prone skin (and your budget): Garnier Skin Naturals Vitamin C Super Glow Serum
Best for combating wrinkles: Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
Best natural, cream-based Canadian option: Heelr Jasmine Vitamin Serum
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Best Vitamin C serums explained
Best overall: Truly Brightening Vitamin C
Our top serum pick comes from Vancouver-based business Truly for their top-selling product, which uses the common form of this powerful vitamin, Ethyl Ascorbic acid. Together with other powerful plant-based antioxidants that are highly effective at promoting collagen synthesis and cell renewal, this dropper-style serum has been scientifically proven to work quickly and effectively to reduce age spots, acne scarring and dark circles. But those with sensitive skin may find this form of Vitamin C irritating, so be sure to do a patch test before using.
Concentration: N/A
Vitamin C type: Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Volume: 30 mL/1 oz
Price: $37
Where to buy: Truly
Best for sensitive skin: The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%
This affordable, lightweight serum is a popular choice for those looking for a gentle and more stable, water-soluble form of Vitamin C —Ascorbyl Glucoside — which is known to be less irritating to the skin than other forms of Vitamin C. For those prone to tingling or burning, it also contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin which help to hydrate and plump skin, as well as soften and smooth its texture. However, it may not be strong enough for those with more significant skin concerns, such as deep wrinkles or acne scars.
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Concentration: 12 per cent
Vitamin C type: Ascorbyl Glucoside
Volume: 30 mL/1 oz
Price: $20
Where to buy: Sephora | The Ordinary
Best splurge-worthy option: Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum
This little gem might be a tad more expensive, but if you’re in need of quicker results against deep wrinkles, it’s worth springing for. With a potent mix of 15 per cent Vitamin C, the antioxidant-rich formula also contains Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid which have been shown to provide up to 8 times the skin’s natural protection against free radical damage caused by UV rays and pollution. With a pleasant, slightly fruity scent, a little goes a long way. Although it’s suitable for all skin types, those with sensitive skin may want to start by mixing a drop with their moisturizer, or going with a lower concentration and gradually working their way up.
Concentration: 15 per cent
Vitamin C type: L-ascorbic Acid
Volume: 30 mL/1 oz
Price: $208
Where to buy: Skinceuticals
Best budget option: Garnier Skin Naturals Vitamin C Super Glow Serum
This water-based serum comes in at our lowest price, and with the lowest concentration of Vitamin C, but it makes up for it with the addition of Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid which are ideal ingredients for anyone combating acne. This would be our pick for younger skin and those at the beginning of their skincare journey, experimenting with which skincare products are must-haves in their arsenal before committing to finding the perfect ones for them.
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Concentration: 3.5 per cent
Vitamin C type: N/A
Volume: 30 mL/1 oz
Price: $14
Where to buy: Amazon | Walmart
Best for combating wrinkles: Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
This water-free serum is our pick for more mature or wrinkled skin due to its formulation which includes hyaluronic acid, a powerful acid that enhances the effectiveness of Vitamin C, and acts as a humectant, attracting and retaining moisture in the skin, helping with plumpness. With a slightly orange fragrance and a rich, cream-like texture, it’s the only serum of our picks that comes in a pump bottle format if that’s more your thing, but keep watch on its shelf-life as L-ascorbic acid is the most prone to oxidation of all our Vitamin C varietals.
Concentration: 10.5 per cent
Vitamin C type: L-ascorbic Acid
Volume: 50 mL/1.7 oz, 75 ml/2.5 oz, 100 mL/3.4 oz
Price: $105 – $175
Where to buy: Sephora | Amazon
Best Vitamin C cream: Heelr Jasmine Vitamin Serum
Of all our picks, this natural serum synergistically blends a handful of compatible plant-based ingredients with properties that most closely mimic our skin to ensure the effectiveness of all our products remains intact. Whereas L-ascorbic Acid can be irritating for some skin and is prone to oxidation which can reduce its effectiveness, the cream-based serum is our only pick which contains C-Ester — a fat-soluble and by far the most stable form of Vitamin C — that offers gentle yet excellent skin penetration for all skin types. It also contains antioxidants Vitamin A, Vitamin E and CoQ10, found naturally in our cells, and Jojoba Oil, a natural emollient that resembles skin’s sebum. Heelr’s formula has a subtle pleasant Jasmine fragrance, rounded out with Rosehip Oil, known to hydrate, soften and regenerate the skin, improve texture and tone and help in reducing the appearance of scars and hyperpigmentation.
Concentration: N/A
Vitamin C type: C-Ester
Volume: 30mL/1 oz
Price: $60
Where to buy: Heelr
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