Is Vitamin C Good For Oily Skin

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As far as buzzy skincare ingredients get, vitamin C is one of the most talked about — and for good reason. "Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C has shown to meliorate boring skin texture and tone, fight gratis radical harm, reduce signs of aging, dark spots and hyperpigmentation, hydrate, increase collagen production, brighten and provide anti-inflammatory effects," says Geeta Yadav, M.D., a lath certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Scientific discipline Dermatology.

"Also known equally ascorbic acid and Fifty-ascorbic acid, vitamin C provides antioxidant protection, as it uses electrons to neutralize the gratuitous radicals plant on skin from environmental stressors like solar radiation and pollution," says Good Housekeeping Establish Beauty Lab pharmacist Danusia Wnek. Additionally, vitamin C blocks the enzyme responsible for melanin (or pigmentation) production, which means information technology can assistance brighten pare. Dr. Yadav explains that considering the vitamin is a water-soluble nutrient, it can exist used topically in many different forms, including vitamin C serums.

Does vitamin C serum really work?

Yes! When used on a daily basis, a vitamin C serum tin help brighten tiresome peel, diminish acne scars, even out skin tone, hydrate peel and protect it from pollution. Once you lot find the most constructive vitamin C product for your skin type (more on that below), simply use the vitamin C serum to clean, dry skin twice a day — in the forenoon and at night — for best results, and follow with your favorite confront moisturizer to seal in the serum and further hydrate skin.

What is the all-time vitamin C serum for my skin?

In theory, almost anybody can incorporate a vitamin C serum into their skincare routine. However, Ellen Marmur, Yard.D., a New York based dermatologist and founder of Marmur Metamorphosis Skincare, cautions that too much vitamin C tin potentially irritate skin. It depends on your skin type, but she personally recommends products that contain betwixt 10-15% authorization for best results.

According to Wnek, vitamin C is highly effective in its pure form, but it is a tricky ingredient to formulate with because it is very unstable and can degrade with exposure to oxygen, light, water and high pH. That ways that while it is a hero ingredient, its backdrop are difficult to stabilize — and because of that, some vitamin C serums and other skincare products work improve (and for longer) than others.

If you have dry skin, you might desire to look for added moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acrid.
If you have oily skin, look for "ascorbic acid" on the labels rather than the oil soluble "ascorbyl palmitate."
If you have rosacea, know that your skin is already compromised, so using a vitamin C serum can possibly crusade irritation and yous may want to steer clear.

How nosotros test vitamin C serums

The Good Housekeeping Institute regularly tests skincare products to find the best ones on the market place. When we review vitamin C serums, we look for engineering science to preserve the vitamin C, unique packaging to protect against lite degradation and ingredients with synergistic benefits to improve efficacy. The below picks reverberate our Lab picks, Expert Housekeeping Seal-holders and top-rated items from our favorite trusted brands, plus favorites from consumers and dermatologist recommendations. Beneath, you lot'll find the best vitamin C serums you can buy for your peel type:

Best Overall Vitamin C Serum

C Due east Ferulic

Non-irritating
Pop brand

Pricey

Sabina Wizemann, senior chemist in the GH Dazzler Lab, loves this serum for its gentle however effective operation. "Even with a loftier concentration of 15% of L-Ascorbic acid — an outstanding and proven form of vitamin C — this serum doesn't irritate my skin like other products I've tried," she says. "It firms and brightens skin, and leaves it supple and glowy," thanks to the workout and anti-inflammatory properties of added vitamin East. This is also Dr. Yadav's top pick. "It contains vitamin East and ferulic acid, and this combination has been shown to complement sunscreens and reduce the effects of ecology stressors on the pare," she says.

All-time Value Vitamin C Serum

Luminous Phenomenon Boost Concentrate

Reduces dark spots
Lightweight
Softens pare

This Olay serum is like radiance bottled, with concentrated peel tone-evening ingredients such as niacinamide. A written report of 144 women showed that it reduced dark spots and uneven tone after two weeks. Information technology's besides an Amazon favorite, tin can be institute in drugstores and costs less than $30. "From the first dark, I saw, and felt, a difference in my skin," shares one reviewer. "The next forenoon, it felt more hydrated and smooth." The brand says the serum delivers best results when paired with Olay Luminous Tone Perfecting Foam.

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Best Vitamin C Serum for Hyperpigmentation

Revitalift Vitamin C Serum

Tip applicator is expert for spot-treating marks
Absorbs quickly; doesn't leave residue
Brightens pare and smoothes fine lines

Formulated for optimal skin assimilation, the airtight packaging on this standout L'Oreal production helps ensure that the vitamin C inside stays stable and therefore constructive. Our Lab experts think it'south particularly great for targeting hyperpigmentation (a.one thousand.a. nighttime spots) since you can use the precise, pointed applicator to spot-treat trouble areas. Reviewers rave that "skin looks brighter" and "smoother" after using this serum.

Best Vitamin C Serum for Acne Scars

Fresh Pressed 7-Day System

Innovative packaging keeps actives fresh
Brightens overall skin tone

To go along the vitamin C potent and fresh, this Clinique product keeps it isolated. To utilize, printing the button to release the vitamin C powder into an emulsion serum, ensuring optimal efficiency and a strong, strong product to perfect your skin. Reviewers say they saw acne scarring go away within a week — but a couple note that overuse can crusade mild redness or dryness.

All-time Vitamin C Serum for Beginners

Grapefruit Daily Brightening Serum

Gentle on peel
Brightening

"For something a little more accessible, and a great entry into vitamin C, I love this treatment," says Dr. Yadav. "Information technology's widely bachelor, gentle on the skin and contains grapefruit, which adds another citrus ingredient into the mix!" You can utilize information technology direct on your skin or mix a few drops into your favorite moisturizers or serums.

Best Vitamin C Serum for Dry out Pare

Active C10

Moisturizing cream formula
Gentle enough for sensitive pare

If you suffer from dry out peel, this serum from La Roche-Posay has a creamier formula that contains 10% vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, which is great for hydrating and plumping the skin. The make too claims information technology helps to fill lines and fight wrinkles. La Roche-Posay thermal spring water is also said to "repel costless radicals and soothe skin." After using it daily for a footling over a month, one reviewer shares that her skin looks brighter and feels smoother. "I had tried other vitamin C creams and this is the first one that did not irritate my sensitive skin."

Best Vitamin C Serum for Oily Pare

C-Firma Day Serum

Hydrates and plumps skin
Lightweight formula

Tin exist sticky

"This serum has the right corporeality of vitamin C and brightens, plumps and hydrates," says Dr. Marmur. The production contains additional products such as vitamin E, ferulic acid and fruit enzymes that help brighten and buff the skin's texture. Go on in listen that some reviewers complained most the formula beingness too viscous, but others say it'southward lightweight and sinks into the skin.

Best Vitamin C Serum for Sensitive Skin

TimeWise Replenishing Serum C+E

Age-defying formula is swell for mature skin
Gentle plenty for sensitive pare
Combines iii types of Vitamin C

The Mary Kay TimeWise line is nothing new to the Practiced Housekeeping Institute squad: For years, our Beauty Lab experts have been recommending TimeWise products for diverse skincare concerns. This replenishing serum contains vitamin C and E for an age-defying combination. Clinical studies have shown the serum is generally mild and does not bother testers with sensitive skin. One Amazon reviewer with sensitive skin shares that "it nourishes my face and helps to maintain the correct balance my face requires."

All-time Restorative Vitamin C Serum

Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum

Affordable
Ceramides create a stronger pare barrier

Oxidizes/turns orange rapidly

If you're looking to avoid irritation, this serum holds a relatively lower level of vitamin C at 10%, and information technology contains ceramides that help protect and maintain the peel barrier. Hyaluronic acid is another central ingredient in the formula that helps moisturize the skin and retain wet. One reviewer shares that it "feels like a very light gel moisturizer" and "if you wear makeup, this is an excellent primer, besides."

Best Drugstore Vitamin C Serum

Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Daily Serum

Helps promote a more than even skin tone
Hydrates peel

A 2021 Dazzler Honor winner, Roc's serum is rich with antioxidants and vitamins. It features a unique blend of vitamin C, brush oil and glycerin, all of which help brighten and moisturize the peel. In Lab tests, 94% of users found a more even skin tone with daily employ. "I am almost done with my first bottle of this vitamin C serum and my skin tone looks clear," shares one Amazon reviewer. "I dearest this serum!"

Best Vitamin C Serum for Acne-Prone Skin

SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF

Splendid for oily peel

Pricey

This variation on SkinCeuticals' popular CE Ferulic serum contains salicylic acid and is specially formulated for oily and blemish-prone skin. One online reviewer says that after a month's use, she's noticed a reduction in oiliness and breakouts on her skin.

All-time Vitamin C Serum with Tri-Peptide

Bright Thought Vitamin C & Tri-Peptide Collagen Serum

Skillful for sensitive skin
Helps with collagen production

This is formulated with a newer course of vitamin C called 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid, which is idea to be less irritating without sacrificing efficacy. The formula is collagen-protecting and brightening to fade dark spots, business firm skin and meliorate texture. The brand claims the formula is ultra-stable, so information technology can live correct in your medicine chiffonier or vanity. "I love its fresh — not cloying! — citrus scent, and that it'due south dye, paraben and cruelty-free," says deputy editor Jessica Teich.

Best Long-Lasting Vitamin C Serum

C15 Super Booster

Packaging design promotes longer shelf life
Mixes well with other products

This C15 Super Booster contains the trifecta of vitamin C, vitamin E and ferulic acrid that has been shown to have synergistic benefits and help protect vitamin C formulas from losing efficaciousness speedily. The container is not clear so it protects it from sunlight, which degrades vitamin C formulas. Thus, this shelf-stable production will concluding and last, even if you don't use it every twenty-four hour period. Multiple reviewers noted that it mixes well with their moisturizers and was like shooting fish in a barrel to use.

Best Vitamin C Serum for Dark Spots

Visionnaire Skin Solutions 15% Vitamin C

Promises quick results
Absorbs chop-chop

Expensive

With 15% pure vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and jasmonate deritives, Lancôme's vitamin C serum will help even your skin tone and protect the skin bulwark from free radicals with continued utilize. Simply apply 4-5 drops of this concentrated serum onto peel every morning to notice results in as footling as 10 days. Make certain to permit it sit for a few moments before applying your usual cream, and don't use more than than once a day. Reviewers agree with its speedy results: "My face is almost clear afterward 2 weeks of use," shares one. "The dark spots are going away and my skin looks great."

Best Vitamin C Serum for Wrinkles

Universal C Skin Refiner Vitamin C Treatment

Formulated by a cosmetic chemist
Formula is stable; doesn't oxidize

Pricey

This potent serum contains microscopically encapsulated vitamin C to forestall degradation from calorie-free and air. According to the brand, stabilization and efficacy were of the utmost importance in the development of this formula, which was created by a corrective chemist. One reviewer loves that "I don't have to store this product in a nighttime drawer, because this product doesn't oxidize." In a special study, they constitute that consumers saw significant improvement in crow'southward feet and skin firmness.

Best Vitamin C Serum for Boring Skin

C.Due east.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Fades dark spots
Makes skin glow

Can get out peel a petty shiny

Several online reviewers admit that this serum is a tad overpriced, simply about agree that it really works. One Sephora reviewer shares "In three weeks, I have seen a huge change in my skin," shares one Sephora reviewer. "My dark spots have reduced significantly." It contains 15% antioxidant vitamin C to help lighten dark spots, smooth fine lines and minimize the appearance of pores.

Best Anti-Aging Vitamin C Serum

Professional person-C 20% Vitamin C Serum

Non-drying formula
Helps reduce signs of aging

Pricey

A Dermstore best-seller, this serum contains ane of the higher concentrates of vitamin C at 20%. Key ingredient hyaluronic acid helps demark moisture to the skin, and online reviewers said they liked that the formula wasn't drying.

Best Line-Reducing Vitamin C Serum

Powerful-Forcefulness Line-Reducing Concentrate

Smoothes out fine lines
Good for mature skin

This lightweight foam formula uses ten% vitamin C, ascorbyl glucoside and hyaluronic acid to assist burnish your skin and improve your skin texture'south appearance. The brand claims to even reduce the look of deep-set wrinkles and pores over time with continued use. One reviewer noticed an abundance of benefits: "My skin tone evened out, my pores seemed to minimize and the skin looked noticeably soft." Plus, she noticed her fine lines on her brow and around her optics softened as well.

Danusia Wnek, Good Housekeeping Institute Pharmacist, Wellness, Beauty & Ecology Sciences Lab Danusia Wnek is a chemist in the Wellness, Dazzler & Environmental Sciences Lab at the Good Housekeeping Constitute, where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty and health tools.

Dori Price Freelance Beauty Editor Dori Toll is a Boston-born, New York Urban center-based freelance writer, editor and dazzler, manner, and health expert who was the Beauty & Fashion Manager at Family Circle for 13 years before she joined Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman'south Day every bit a freelance dazzler editor.