Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is the Beyoncé of skin care—it can do a lot of things flawlessly. It's an antioxidant. It helps reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. It boosts collagen production. It repairs sun damage. (And who knows, maybe it's working on a follow-up to Lemonade.)
Basically, vitamin C is something that you want to start using ASAP. And while using a vitamin C serum is the best way to reap the benefits of this miracle ingredient, you shouldn't just slather your face with the stuff.
“Vitamin C should be used sparingly because of its potency—you’ll only need a few drops for each application,” says New York dermatologist, David E. Bank, founder of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery. Apply it right after cleansing and follow with moisturizer.
You can also combine your vitamin C serum with your sunscreen as a final step to help protect and repair damage from UV radiation and environmental toxins, says Deanne Mraz Robinson, M.D., of Connecticut Dermatology Group. It's not a replacement for your SPF—it just makes what you have work even better.
The best vitamin C serums have a concentration from 5 to 20 percent, says Bank. Because it's so strong, people with sensitive skin should start with a lower concentration or alternate days and work their way up to daily use, says Bank. Otherwise, it might irritate your skin.
But there are so many products out there—what's the best vitamin C serum for you? Dermatologists weigh in with their favorite picks at every price point:
UNDER $20: OZNATURALS VITAMIN C FACIAL SERUM
Vitamin C joins with hyaluronic acid (a powerful moisturizing ingredient) to hydrate skin and aid in natural collagen production in this cruelty-free and 98 percent natural formula recommended by Bank.
UNDER $20: MD COMPLETE RETINOL VITAMIN C CONCENTRATE
If you want to even your skin tone and refine texture, massage two to four drops of this vitamin C formula (which also contains retinol!) into your skin after cleansing, recommends Jeremy Brauer, M.D., clinical assistant professor at New York University.
UNDER $50: COSMETIC SKIN SOLUTIONS VITAMIN C 20% SERUM
If you want a high percentage of vitamin C in an elegant formula, this version combines with 0.5 percent ferulic acid (an antioxidant that strengthens the powers of other compounds like vitamins C and E) to boost protection from the sun while you’re at it, says Bank.
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