13 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2025 | Tried & Tested Face Serums
We put the exxy and award-winning vitamin C serum to the test - and it’s safe to say, the results were shocking.
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We’re all searching for that holy grail product that can give you the glowy skin of your dreams, no Instagram filter necessary.
Vitamin C is one of a handful of skin ingredients clinically shown to transform skin. Consistent use of the right product, which will vary depending on your skin type, can leave you with a more even skin tone, bouncier skin and glowing appearance.
Ole Henriksen, founder of the much-loved beauty brand of the same name, has been using vitamin C in his skincare range for more than 40 years.
“Vitamin C is one of the most research-backed ingredients that can be topically applied to your skin,” he told news.com.au.
Dr Ginni Mansberg, GP and founder of Australian brand Evidence Skincare couldn’t agree more.
“Vitamin C is a bit of a blockbuster ingredient when it comes to preventing and treating skin ageing,” Dr Mansberg told news.com.au.
One of our favourites is the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum - while it is pricey, you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for, a radiant and glowy complexion. This stuff is liquid gold!
OUR TOP PICKS
BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS: EDITOR’S PICKS
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum, $242 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Senior Shopping Writer
After using the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic serum every morning for over four weeks, it’s going to be hard going back to a more affordable vitamin C serum after this.
Other five-star rating customers have said called this serum “liquid gold”, “life changing” and their “holy grail” … and I have to say, they’re not lying.
It’s ideal for all skin types and has a unique texture – it’s not like your traditional gel-like serum, but rather feels like a super lightweight oil. I do love how quickly it absorbs into the skin and how easy it is to layer other products over the top.
This is a high-performing serum that creates a visible difference to your skin. So you’re getting what you pay for.
Tried and Tested by Edwina Carr Barraclough, Senior Ecommerce Manager
The C E Ferulic Serum is an antioxidant-rich blend of 15 per cent vitamin C to minimise hyperpigmentation and brown spots while boosting collagen production for firmer skin; one per cent vitamin E to defend against free radical damage and reduce inflammation; and ferulic acid to enhance the efficacy of the latter two ingredients and provide anti-ageing and protective benefits.
In short, it can help brighten skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and protect your skin against damage.
As someone who’s suffered adult acne in the past and now has the scars, or stubborn post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIHP), to prove it, I decided to see if the popular serum was as good as the hundreds of five-star reviews claim.
My first impression of the product after depositing a few drops onto my skin was, hang on, what in mascara’s name is that smell? A sniff of the bottle confirmed the strange scent did indeed belong to the serum. It can only be described as a cross between smoky barbecue chicken and nail polish. Not what I expected but strangely, it’s a welcome departure from the cloying, overpowering fragrances in other skin care. After over six months of use, my skin does look brighter and I swear a few of the more stubborn PIHP spots on my cheeks are a little less pronounced.
The downside is the price, but it took six months of (near) daily use to finish the bottle, so if you can take a cost-per-use approach, the price is easier to justify.
Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum, $164.95 at Image Skincare
Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum
What You Need To Know
This vitamin C serum sells every 30 seconds in the United States, Image Skincare told news.com.au checkout. It’s not hard to see why when you look at the ingredients. Not only does it contain vitamin C to help brighten the skin but also hyaluronic acid to ensure that the high-potency serum keeps the skin looking plump and bouncy.
“My favourite serum from Image. Light texture and amazing fragrance. Hydrates my skin and makes it glowy,” wrote one five-star review.
Another said, “Soaks into the skin perfectly with a pleasant smell.”
BEST VITAMIN C SERUMS FOR EVERYDAY USE
Medik8 Super C Ferulic, $143 at THE ICONIC
Tried and Tested by Hannah Paine, news.com.au checkout Editor
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve repurchased this vitamin C serum – it has to be one of my most-bought beauty items. While it’s certainly not cheap, the Medik8 Super C Ferulic performs just as well as vitamin C serums twice the price, making it excellent value for money in my opinion.
Vitamin C stimulates cell turnover, helping to dissolve dead skin cells - and this serum has seriously transformed my skin, making it brighter and more even – it’s honestly like a brightening facial in a bottle.
This is Medik8’s highest-strength vitamin C serum and uses a form of vitamin C called ethylated ascorbic acid, which is known for being not only high-strength, but exceptionally stable.
Getting a serum with a stable form of vitamin C is crucial to seeing changes in your skin as if the formulation isn’t stable, it won’t work. If you’re a beginner to vitamin C, I recommend working your way up to this serum by starting on one of Mediki8’s lower-strength vitamin C serums like C-Tetra or Pure C15.
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum, $99 at Sephora
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum
What You Need To Know
This is Ole Henriksen’s hero product, with countless glowing (pun intended) reviews across Google and social media.
Vitamin C can “provide antioxidant protection, brighten uneven skin tone, visibly diminish fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, and improve skin’s elasticity”, Ole said.
When talking about the serum in particular, he said, “Banana Bright vitamin C Serum combines vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and PHAs to deliver powerful results. While hyaluronic acid keeps skin hydrated and bouncy, PHAs help loosen and lift dry, dead skin cells, allowing the 15 per cent vitamin C to really get to work.”
“In just a few weeks, you’ll see significantly brighter, bouncier skin.”
The Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum has racked up almost 4000 five-star ratings on Google Reviews, with happy shoppers noting it gives them “glass skin” and is “a staple of my morning routine”.
“It’s lightweight, glides onto your skin, and absorbs beautifully, leaving almost a silky finish with no tackiness,” one customer wrote in their review.
The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Revealing Serum, $55 at The Body Shop
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Senior Shopping Writer
The Body Shop’s vitamin C Glow Revealing Serum is unlike anything I’ve tried before. It’s packed with 10 per cent vitamin C and bakuchiol, which is known to be a naturally derived alternative to retinol. So this unique combination works hard to give you a glowy and radiant complexion.
I really love the texture of this serum – it’s super lightweight and fast absorbing, plus it layers really nicely under the rest of my skincare and makeup routine.
Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster, $76 at Paula’s Choice
What You Need To Know
Containing a highly concentrated form of 15 per cent vitamin C, skin-stabilising antioxidants including vitamin E and ferulic acid, and skin-smoothing peptides, it aims to improve uneven skin tones, brighten dull complexion and ward off environmental damage.
A five-star reviewer said that if you’re patient enough to wait for the results, you’ll absolutely be rewarded: “Wonderful! Skin is brighter, former, texture is even and soft. Absolutely in my top three favourite skincare products along with retinol and sunscreen.
“I recommend you give this product some time before making a decision or writing a review. L-ascorbic acid serums take at least two months for you to get full benefits from it, until then it is quite normal to get some breakouts and irritation but stick through it! It’s worth it.”
BEST VITAMIN C SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
La Roche-Posay Redermic Pure Vitamin C10 Serum, $74.95 at Priceline
What You Need To Know
The innovative formula from La Roche-Posay contains 10 per cent pure vitamin C, alongside salicylic acid to eliminate dead cells and Neurosensine to soothe irritation and brighten the skin. It has a light and fast-absorbing texture that won’t slow down your daily routine, and the velvety, non-greasy feel makes it easy to follow with makeup application.
Reviewers have called it “amazing”, “excellent quality”, and “mind-blowing”, with one noting, “I’ve tried all the expensive options … and actually prefer this formula. It completely dries down and leaves no tacky residue.
“After using for a few weeks I’m already seeing great results, plumper skin and diminishing fine lines!”
Youth To The People 15% vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum, $124 at Sephora
What You Need To Know
Boasting more than 700 five-star ratings on the Sephora website, this Youth To The People serum adds caffeine into the mix to further brighten your complexion. A lightweight, non-sticky, fragrance-free option that’s ideal for sensitive skin, it aims to reduce hyperpigmentation, depuff, and firm the skin.
One of its many fans commented: “It’s only been about two weeks since I’ve started using this and I’m blown away! My skin has never looked as glowy and smooth and overall as healthy before.
BEST AFFORDABLE VITAMIN C SERUMS
Go-To Much Brighter Skin, $59 at Go-To Skincare
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, news.com.a checkout Shopping Writer
The Go-To Much Brighter Skin is formulated with vitamin C of course, niacinamide, Kakadu plum, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, glycerin and more to keep your skin looking bright, tight and hydrated.
I love that this silky orange serum comes in a pretty pink pump bottle. Not only does it look cute but it also means that no oxygen can get in the way and disrupt the formulation of the serum – which is something that can potentially happen with glass dropper-style bottles.
It’s racked up well over 1800 five-star ratings on the Go-To Skincare website, with countless happy customers calling it “brilliant” and a “crucial part” of their skincare routine. Another person said “There was noticeable lightening of the pigmentation within two weeks” of use.
While I wouldn’t say this is my absolutely favourite vitamin C product, for the price it’s pretty remarkable.
Sephora Collection Super Glow Serum, $36 at Sephora
Sephora Collection Ultra Glow Serum
What You Need To Know
Besides vitamin C this serum contains soothing vitamin E and natural peptides to help tighten skin and smooth skin texture.
The bottle is also made from recycled glass and 99 per cent of its ingredients are derived from natural origin.
“The best glow serum I have ever used. I can see the difference in my skin,” one five-star review reads.
The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F, $34.10 at Myer
What You Need To Know
Containing a high-strength, oil-solubilised vitamin C derivative that can be used in higher concentrations than pure L-ascorbic acid without drawbacks, it’s combined with vitamin F (fatty acids) for extra soothing, calming and strengthening effects.
It’s an especially good choice if you’ve tried vitamin C serums before to no avail, as it uses a derivative rather than the pure form.
One five-star reviewer noted: “A game changer for me. Consistency of use is key to seeing results with vitamin C and I just couldn’t do it when I was using the vitamin C Suspension 23 per cent … just too uncomfortable to use and took forever to absorb.
“This Vitamin F product proved to be a revelation: no irritation or burning sensation and is absorbed quickly and completely by my skin.
“It is more expensive than the other products in the line but the resulting glowing and smooth skin makes it all worth it.”
BEST VITAMIN C SERUM FOR OILY SKIN
ESK C Serum Lite, $97 at Evidence Skincare
What You Need To Know
Ideal for normal and oilier skin types, the ESK C Serum Lite contains vitamin C in its most potent form – L-Ascorbic Acid, 10 per cent – to repair and prevent the appearance of ageing, from fine lines to wrinkles and pigmentation to skin roughness.
Reviewers adore the product, with one writing: “I was very pleased that I could swap the normal C serum for C Serum Lite with less oil. It goes on oily but magically is absorbed within five or 10 minutes. It seems very moisturising and clarifying. My skin appears smoother when using it.”
BEST VITAMIN C SERUM FOR ACNE-PRONE SKIN
SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF 30ml, $242 at Myer
Tried and Tested by Philippa Tonkin, Shopping Writer
This powerful serum is clinically proven to decrease oiliness, refine pores, brighten dark spots and noticeably improve any signs of ageing such as fine lines.
After trialling it for three weeks, I’m impressed. My skin tone looks brighter and definitely more even too. But I will say, I’ve noticed my skin feels a bit dryer which I think would be a plus for those with true oily skin, although it isn’t something I personally love or need. Read my full review here.
Tried and Tested by Marina Tatas, Shopping Writer
The SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF Serum is formulated with 15 per cent l-ascorbic acid, 0.5 per cent silymarin, 0.5 per cent ferulic acid and 0.5 per cent salicylic acid. This unique combination of ingredients ensures your skin looks brighter and smoother, all while loading up your skin with plenty of antioxidants.
I’ve finished a bottle of the Silymarin CF and the iconic C E Ferulic serum. While I do love both formulas, I have to say the Silymarin CF is more suited to my skin type. I have combination skin – hello oily T-zone – and I struggle with adult acne. This vitamin C serum does a wonderful job at brightening the skin and addressing acne scarring issues, all while ensuring my face doesn’t feel super oily afterwards. I always follow up with a hydrating serum after my vitamin C in the morning, and I found the lightweight oil-free texture to act as the perfect base for the rest of my skincare routine.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A VITAMIN C SERUM
When choosing vitamin C serums to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Price: Is this product exorbitantly expensive and is it worth the splurge? Or is this product cheap but actually provides pretty good bang for your type?
Skin type: Is this vitamin C serum suitable for all skin types or only some?
Formula: Is it a lightweight liquid formula that easily melts into the skin or a stickier serum that needs time before applying other products on top?
Ethics: Was this serum made using cruelty-free and/or vegan ingredients?
Ingredients: There are many types of vitamin C - ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate, just to name a few.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of vitamin C serums available, it’s impossible to test every product out there. Our content is based on a range of different types of research – the team’s first-hand experience with products, hours of research, scouring through pages of consumer reviews or information, and advice from experts we trust.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO SHOULD USE A VITAMIN C SERUM?
There are vitamin C serums targeted at just about every skin concern, but according to Dr Mansberg: “anyone concerned with skin ageing (fine lines, wrinkles, skin dullness), sun damage causing skin cancers or pigmentation would benefit from using vitamin C”.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE VITAMIN C SERUM TO WORK?
It can take a few weeks for your skin to process the change in your routine, so be patient.
“Epidermal turnover time is the time taken for the epidermis to replace itself. The epidermis turns over approximately every 48 days and the turnover time increases as we age,” explains Dr Mansberg.
“For this reason it will take time to see effects. Plus, giving vitamin C the entire job of correcting skin brightness, fine lines and wrinkles is a huge ask.
“We suggest combining it with niacinamide, vitamin A and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) for best effects.
“We find our customers will have better feeling skin within a week, but you will start to SEE changes in three weeks. Pigmentation takes much longer – usually months.”
CAN YOU USE VITAMIN C SERUM EVERYDAY?
Yes, even though vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, you can still use it everyday.
“There is evidence from trials in using it once daily, especially in the morning where it works to prevent sun damage. There is no evidence for using it more often than that,” said Dr Mansberg.
“As a serum, it is your thinnest product so would be applied straight after cleansing. Your SPF product should be applied last. Any other products you want to use will slot neatly between the two!”
Ole Henriksen
Ole Henriksen has been practising the art of skincare for more than 40 years. Born in Denmark, his passion for skin led him across the globe, changing people’s complexions and touching lives as he went. He has studied skin his entire life, earning a cosmetic chemistry degree before opening his eponymous spa in Beverly Hills and launching his namesake brand. Ole believes happy skin is beautiful skin. To know him is to love him and be moved by his positive outlook and zest for life.
Dr Ginni Mansberg
Dr Ginni Mansberg has been a GP for almost 30 years, with her practice located in Sans Souci, Sydney. In 2017, Dr. Ginni co-founded Evidence Skincare (ESK) and currently serves as the Medical Director. ESK is committed to providing evidence-based cosmeceutical skincare, differentiating itself from a market often filled with unfounded claims and lacking scientific evidence.
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