Why do people love using it: Truskin has been 5-star-rated by a number of its customers and has been deemed a fan-favorite by many reviewers. The multifunctional serum reduces age spots and hyperpigmentation, as well as boosts skin radiance. Customers have seen results in as little as one week of consistent use. Plus there are no fillers, PEGs, sulfates, parabens, or phthalates in the serum, and it has a lovely fresh orange smell that a lot of people enjoy.

concentration: Seek out a serum that’s not too weak or too strong. Under 10% ascorbic acid won’t convey the benefits you’re looking for, but anything higher than 20% risks seriously irritating your skin. Colven RM, Pinnell SR, Topical vitamin C in aging, Clin Dermatol 1996, 14, 227-234. DOI: 10.1016/0738-081x(95)00158-c There are also some fruit extracts are very high in ascorbic acid. For example, around 12% of dried weight of kakadu plum is ascorbic acid. However, extracts are usually used which have varying concentrations of fruit, so you can’t easily work out percentage in the final product. So if you want something more reliable, I’d recommend looking for a product with actual ascorbic acid. Layering Discover the transformation that awaits your skin with SKIN&LAB Vitamin C Brightening Serum. It's time to embrace your most radiant self! However, there’s one caveat that you should keep in mind while selecting a vitamin C serum for yourself. Some vitamin C serums are quite potent due to high concentration levels, so it’s essential to pay attention to this. ““Vitamin C can be irritating at concentrations at or above 20 percent,” says Dr. Lal. Especially if you’re new to the vitamin C world, Dr. Lal recommends choosing a serum which includes a 10 percent concentration level. Overall though, no matter your tolerance, Dr. Ibrahimi says to look for vitamin C formulas with L-ascorbic acid, the true active form of vitamin C. “L-ascorbic acid is the best option for most, as it is the most bioactive vitamin C compound,” he says.

Revitalift Vitamin C Serum

What’s it made of: Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid make up the main ingredients in Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate serum. Protecting against damaging free radicals and fighting against the appearance of aging, Vitamin C is a leading part of what makes this serum work. Hyaluronic acid is a key partner to vitamin C, and assists with smoothing, moisturizing, and plumping the skin. Ascorbic acid interferes with the production of melanin, the brown pigment in skin. The exact way it does this is still isn’t entirely confirmed, but so far it looks like it interferes with the enzyme tyrosinase and stops it from doing its job. I’m going to go through vitamin C derivatives in part 2. Derivatives are good options if you don’t like the smell, staining or irritation of ascorbic acid, but you do sacrifice a bit of that guaranteed efficacy in the first column of the Lab Muffin Matrix. References Who makes it: Dr Dennis Gross Skincare has a long-standing reputation for providing highly effective, science-based products. Their focus on using both science and nature in harmony has helped the brand win awards and created a loyal customer base who swear by their products. This New York-based brand was founded by Dr. Dennis Gross, a board-certified dermatologist and former skin cancer researcher, and his company is a trusted part of the dermatological community. Water, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Benzyl Glycol, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Bioflavonoids, Glutathione, Linoleic Acid, Menadione, Retinol, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum Fresh Pressed 7 Day System

What’s it made of: The Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is full of active ingredients, which means you’re more likely to see results! Konjac root, ferulic acid, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid are some of the main ingredients in this serum. Konjac root is derived from an ancient Japanese plant that helps skin retain moisture and works to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Ferulic acid helps enhance the effects of other skincare ingredients, making them more powerful and effective, helping reduce skin inflammation and evening skin tone. Harmoniously blended, all of the ingredients work to smooth, tighten, and brighten skin.I *would* consider Drunk Elephant’s C-Firma sort of a copycat product. They did get sued by L’Oreal for having the CEF combo in 2020 (although C-Firma’s pH level *was* outside of the 2-3.5 range). I’m not a scientist or researcher in any shape or form (I wish). But I love digging through Google Scholar and PubMed and read through academic papers. What’s it made of: One of the key ingredients of the Revision C+ Correcting Complex 30% serum is its patent-pending MelaPATH technology. This is a blend of potent antioxidants that fight against free radicals. The serum also includes sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan, a prebiotic technology that aids in supporting the health of the skin microbiome, an essential part of keeping your skin happy. This goes hand in hand with diglucosyl gallic acid, which helps visibly brighten the skin using the power of the skin microbiome. THD Ascorbate is a highly stable form of vitamin C, allowing you to get the most benefit from the product. Maxtrixyl 3000: Harness the power of this ingredient to increase the firmness of your skin, ensuring a youthful and supple appearance.

Water, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid(15000Ppm), Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Bifida Ferment Lysate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Trehalose, Butylene Glycol, Fructooligosaccharides, Fructose, Tromethamine, Benzyl Glycol, Adenosine, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Phytate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 20, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ascorbic Acid(106.05Ppb), Biotin, Cyanocobalamin, Folic Acid, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, Riboflavin, Thiamine Hcl, Bioflavonoids, Glutathione, Linoleic Acid, Menadione, Retinol, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum According to Dr. Herrmann, you should apply vitamin C serum either daily or every other day, depending on your routine and the result you want. If you already alternate several other actives, you might apply it every other day; if you’re looking to dramatically fade hyperpigmentation, you may want to use it daily.

This is a great all-rounder for anyone in need of a radiance boost, though it’s best for those with a bit of patience, as results may take time. When you’re trying to protect your skin from the sun, you want all the protection you can get — and vitamin C gives you a little bit extra.