If you've ever searched Sephora for something to get rid of hyperpigmentation [1], scarring, or dullness on your face, it's pretty likely your results included at least one product with vitamin C. Of course, the ingredient has long been praised for helping us not get sick when we drink it, but it also helps complexions stay healthy [2], too. Think of it like a big glass of juice . . . on your face, for your face. And, it's not just oranges in this magic juice — there are plums, cherries, strawberries, and other vitamin C-rich fruit, too.
Vitamin C can be found in masks and creams (not just that metaphorical face juice), but serums are the most concentrated, and best for spot-targeting relief right on your problem areas. These serums exfoliate dead cells, and leave a brighter, smoother complexion as a result. This ingredient also aids the production of collagen, which is key for skin's elasticity [3] now and in the future.
We looked through all the vitamin C face serums at Sephora [4] and picked out the very best — and every single one on this list has earned an average rating of at least four stars from other shoppers, so you don't just have to take our word for it either. Check them out ahead.
Olehenriksen Truth Serum
There are more than 3,000 5-star reviews (and 20,000 loves) for this Olehenriksen Truth Serum [5] ($24-$74) which includes a vitamin C complex (to brighten) along with collagen (to boost elasticity) and aloe juice (to soften). Other Sephora shoppers rave about how well it works to reduce the appearance of all sorts of dark spots from age spots to acne scars.
Josie Maran Argan Bright Skin Vitamin C Serum
In the case of Josie Maran Argan Bright Skin Vitamin C Serum [6] ($65), the vitamin C is part of an argan oil-based serum, which means this brightening product glides on easily and quickly absorbs into your skin. The vitamin E in argan oil works to stabilise the vitamin C which helps it last longer and prevent free radicals from wreaking havoc [7] for months to come. (Plus, 92 percent of the shoppers who've reviewed this serum, would recommend it to others.)
Lancôme Visionnaire Skin Solutions 15% Pure Vitamin C Correcting Concentrate
Lancôme Visionnaire Skin Solutions 15% Pure Vitamin C Correcting Concentrate [8] ($65) contains 15 percent pure vitamin C to not only bright skin and even out skin tone, but also to improve skin's texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and dullness. The top-rated serum also has hyaluronic acid so skin stays plump and hydrated at the same time.
Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum
This Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum [9] ($69) boosts your skin's radiance with a vitamin C compound that also includes antioxidant ferulic acid. It's earned a 4.5-star rating with more than 10,000 loves from other Sephora shoppers. (For stubborn dark spots or more severe discoloration, the serum works even better when this product is used during the day and alternated with the Vitamin C Ester 15% Intensive Brightening Regimen [10] at night.)
Volition Beauty Strawberry-C Brightening Serum
The vitamin C in this top-rated Volition Beauty Strawberry-C Brightening Serum [11] ($42) doesn't come from oranges. It's actually strawberry fruit and seed extract that helps unclog pores and remove excess oil and, of course, bring out your glow. Also, pitching in is kadaku plum to even out skin tone and limit the look of redness, so your complexion is fully nurtured.
Kora Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum
Kora Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum [12] ($68) packs a whole superfruit complex — including orange and lemon peels alongside other vitamin-C-rich fruits like noni and acerola cherry. Naturally, the serum also packs a punch of antioxidants to protect against environmental ageing — and with nearly 14,000 loves from other Sephora shoppers (and 91 percent of its reviewers saying they'd recommend it to others), it's safe to call it successful.
Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum
This Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum [13] ($64) packs two kinds of vitamin C to take on your dull skin and dark spots. There's also squalane to make sure skin stays moisturised and peptides to keep it firm. The serum has a 4.7-star rating from other Sephora shoppers . . . and a rave review from one of our own beauty editors [14], too.
Alpyn Beauty PlantGenius Brightening Survival Serum
The new Alpyn Beauty PlantGenius Brightening Survival Serum [15] ($68) has already earned 4.8 stars from Sephora shoppers (and 98 percent of them would recommend this product to others). The vitamin C-rich serum adds a bunch of texture-improving acids (azelaic, glycolic, linoleic, and lactic) so skin is softened and smoothened, too.
Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA
The Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum 20% Vitamin C + 10% AHA [16] ($88) has more than 1,000 reviews and 78,000 loves at Sephora. If that's not enough to convince you, perhaps the fact that it has both a high concentration vitamin C and an AHA blend [17] of seven different fruits to exfoliate away debris and dead skin cells, both to brighten and smooth skin.
Cover FX Brightening Booster Drops
Cover FX Brightening Booster Drops [18] ($45) is a lightweight serum that increases radiance, improves skin's tone, and has earned 4.7 stars from other Sephora shoppers. But, while there's usually a specific time to apply vitamin C [19], this product can go on under, over, or even be mixed with makeup to clarify and brighten while included porcelain flower extract keeps skin hydrated as well.
Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Vitamin C Power Serum
The popular Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Vitamin C Power Serum [20] ($98) features 20 percent THD ascorbate, which is an extra stable form of vitamin C that can be up to 50 times more powerful than the traditional version. This serum helps improve uneven skin tone and texture, while also counteracting ageing and dullness in your complexion.
Edible Beauty No. 3 Exotic Goddess Ageless Serum
There's no orange to be found in this Edible Beauty No. 3 Exotic Goddess Ageless Serum [21] ($57) — it gets youth-boosting, hyperpigmentation-reducing powers from vitamin C-rich kakadu plum, acerola cherry, and lilly pilly berries. The also-smoothing serum's earned 4.7 stars from other Sephora shoppers, and 92 percent of them would recommend it to help someone else as well.
Drunk Elephant Rise + Glow Brightening Duo
This top-rated Drunk Elephant Rise + Glow Brightening Duo [22] ($23) actually includes a vitamin C serum along with a vitamin B one to add glow and hydration to your face. The active ingredients in the C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum (including 15 percent l-ascorbic acid and one percent vitamin E) minimize signs of photo-ageing like dark spots, rough texture, and wrinkles. Then the B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum locks moisture in and improves skin's barrier function.
Sobel Skin RX 35% Vitamin C Face Serum
Sobel Skin RX 35% Vitamin C Face Serum [23] ($105) takes on dark spots, dullness, and droopiness with three forms of vitamin C in one of the highest concentrations we spotted on Sephora's site. Unsurprising, the pro-level serum was actually developed by a dermatologist to improve skin's elasticity and tone, and deal with dark spots accordingly.
Dermalogica BioLumin-C Vitamin C Serum
The top-rated Dermalogica BioLumin-C Vitamin C Serum [24] ($89) adds moisturising lactic acid to its vitamin C, ingredients that help clear up skin's uneven tone and fight fine lines at the same time. Several reviews mention how lightweight and non-sticky it is, with 94 percent of these shoppers ready to recommend it to you, too.
Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster Age-Delay Illuminating Serum
The active ingredient in the Dior Capture Youth Glow Booster Age-Delay Illuminating Serum [25] ($95) actually comes from murunga plum, a fruit 100 times more concentrated in vitamin C than an orange. Of course, it works to brighten a complexion, but it's also fighting skin stressors like fatigue, jet lag, and (actual) stress with add-ins like antioxidant-boosting iris extract.
Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum
Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum: Glow + Strengthen Vitamin C Serum [26] ($20) can make skin bright — and keep it that way. With nearly 33,000 loves at Sephora and 97 percent natural ingredients, the vitamin C serum adds things like marine algae to tighten skin and vitamin E to block free radicals, too.
Obagi Clinical Vitamin C+ Arbutin Brightening Serum
This Obagi Clinical Vitamin C+ Arbutin Brightening Serum [27] ($90) features a 10-percent concentration of vitamin C to reduce the appearance of photo-ageing in the skin, but adds in arbutin (from the bearberry plant) that also works to lighten dark spots and even out tone. The serum takes on wrinkles and fine lines, too, and has a 4.4 star rating from other Sephora shoppers.
Amorepacific Youth Revolution Vitamin C Radiance Concentrator
Inside this top-rated Amorepacific Youth Revolution Vitamin C Radiance Concentrator [28] ($250) is two chambers — one with vitamin C and the other highlighting other antioxidants like white peony. Twisting the bottle combines them and the serum that comes out addresses early signs of ageing and removes pollutants from skin's surface. As a result, your complexion is brighter and firmer — and 95 percent of the Sephora shoppers who reviewed this would agree.
Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum
The active complex in this Fresh Vitamin Nectar Glow Juice Antioxidant Face Serum [29] ($28-$68) was inspired by juice, and several of the ingredients sure sound like they could be served up in a smoothie. There's jicama and chicory root juices and extracts from lemons and orange, too. Plus, with a 4.5-star rating from other Sephora shoppers, the serum's solidly praised for making skin feel fresh, hydrated and bright.
Anthony High Performance Vitamin C Facial Serum
The top-rated Anthony High Performance Vitamin C Facial Serum [30] ($46) rejuvenates skin with polypeptides, AHAs, and vitamin C. The gel serum protects against free radicals and supports skin's natural production of collagen so a complexion stays even and bright long afterward.