Dermo Experts

Top 5 Best Vitamin C Serums of 2024 - [Ranked & Reviewed]

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Chances are that whether you have an intricate, 10-step skincare routine or you're simply splashing your face with water before putting on some SPF, vitamin C is one of the key ingredients you put on your face. And, it's no surprise—vitamin C serums are some of the most popular, dermatologist-loved skincare products out there for their many benefits.

“Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, which means it aids in your skin's natural regeneration process, protecting it against stressors like environmental pollutants and sunlight that can cause skin damage,” explains dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach, MD.

But, that’s not all. "Vitamin C also triggers the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, helping the skin to be more firm,” she says. And of course, there are more widely-known benefits to using a good vitamin C product. Rabach says it also slows down the production of melanin—the natural skin pigment responsible for creating dark spots on the skin.

I talked to several dermatologists to see what they're recommending to their patients, and what they even use for themselves. See below for vitamin C serums derms are recommending for bright, glowy skin.

1. No B.S. Vitamin C+E Serum - Best Overall Vitamin C Serum For Restoring Youthful Glow, Reducing Dark Spots  & Preventing Wrinkles

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Why Is No B.S. The Best Overall Vitamin C Serum?

Yes, it gives you a stunning glow. Yes it makes your skin look amazing. Yes it protects your skin from aging. But what really makes No B.S. Vitamin C Serum the best overall serum is how clean its formula is. It's not full of harsh chemicals or parabens like 99% of other serums out there.

In fact, the people behind the No B.S. spent over 3 years developing this formula to make it as clean as possible. They didn't want any harsh chemicals going into the product. In fact, it's so clean that pregnant women can use it without worrying about what's in it.

As a result, they've just launched the cleanest vitamin C serum on the market and spoiler alert, it works better than the leading brands that use dirty formulas. It's one of the first vitamin C serums that actually nourishes your skin without leeching dirty chemicals into it. After using it No B.S. easily has our vote for best Vitamin C serum of the year.
Key Features:
  •  Dermatologist Recommended: Most vitamin C serums are a marketing ploy to get you to buy and aren't actually clean or effective. No B.S. is recommended (and used) by hundreds of dermatologists worldwide because it works, and it's super clean.
  • No Toxic Ingredients: When comparing the ingredients to other serums on our list, No B.S. has the cleanest, highest quality ingredients for your skin.
  • ​Paraben Free: Parabens are preservatives found in many cosmetics that can disrupt your hormones and cause fertility issues. No B.S. has totally eliminated these from their formula
  • ​PEG Free: PEGs are petroleum-based compound that are often used as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers that aren't good for your skin or your body. No B.S. has eliminated these from their formula
  • ​Cruelty Free: From start to finish, No B.S. guarantees no testing on animals whatsoever. We love this
  • ​Beautiful Packaging: A lot of products show up in the mail poorly packaged. Not No B.S. They've put A LOT of effort into making it a beautiful experience when receiving your order.
I Tried No B.S., Here's My Review
We tried the No B.S. Vitamin C+E Serum, and there's just something special about the new skin look you get. Yes it goes on perfectly even, but the glow you get is just better. Maybe this is due to the fact you're not burning your skin with harsh chemicals that are found in other serums. We're not sure what the magic formula is, but it works and it looks amazing. 
Likes & Dislikes
Likes
  • Dermatologist Recommended: This is the biggest like for me. I will only use serums recommended by dermatologists, and the fact that this has so many on board is fantastic.
  • ​Noticeably Reduced Dark Spots: This formula is fantastic because within just a matter of days it visibly evened out my skin, reducing unsightly dark spots and making my skin look much more even toned.
  • ​It's Husband Approved: My husband loves this serum because not only does it make me look "hot like our wedding day" (his words not mine) but it doesn't have any funky smells like serums can sometimes have.
  • I'm Not Sacrificing Health For Beauty: Thanks to No B.S.'s super clean formula, there's finally a serum where I don't feel guilty about lathering it on my face.
  • They Don't Test On Animals: I'm a big animal lover, so this is really important to me. Love this.
  • ​It's Made Here In The U.S.: Call me old fashioned but I'm not a fan of lathering myself in seerums made in China. No B.S. is made and shipped from here in the US.
  • ​It Actually Works: This may seem like an obvious point, but the results I had were amazing. Far above any other serum I've used. And for that reason I LOVE that it actually works.
  • ​Eco Friendly: For those of us that care about the environment and sustainable shopping, No B.S. is great because their packaging is 100% recyclable. 
  • ​Amazing Return Policy: They basically have a "love it or return it" return policy, which I love because it protects us as the consumer and shows how confident they are in their product.
Dislikes
  • Only Available Online: Right now we've only been able to find No B.S. online, however as they are a growing brand, this may change.
Bottom Line

No B.S. is currently the best Vitamin C Serum on the market, and in my humble opinion the best kept secret in the beauty industry right now. An odorless, super clean vitamin C serum at this price point just doesn't exist. It's a serum you can actually feel good about putting on your body. Keep your eye on this brand because they're going to blow up soon.

2. Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

"My patients love this for brightening," says dermatologist Dr. Laura Scott, MD. "It kind of doubles as a moisturizer, too. It's great for my patients who don't want a ten-step routine."

Scott loves the brand's CEO glow oil, too. She raves that the anti-inflammatory turmeric in it has been great for her own acne-prone skin.

3. Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

Scott's biggest concern with her melanin-rich patients is that dark marks tend to last for a longer amount of time, and can be hard to remove.

"I tend to recommend more gentle formulations to those with melanin-rich skin," she says. "I have never had a patient not like Revision's Correcting Complex. The only downside is that it’s a bit pricey."

4. Naturium Vitamin C Complex Face Serum

Let's get real—not all of us have tons of cash to spend on skincare, and you don't have to! Scott is a huge fan of drugstore brand Naturium.

"I have yet to try a product from them that I haven’t liked," she says. "Quite a few of my patients love their Vitamin C Complex Serum. The brand has a lot of products that are some of the best around at their price point."

5. SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF® with Ferulic Acid

"Skinceuticals Phloretin CF is great for acne-prone skin," says Scott. "It’s not formulated with L-ascorbic acid or ferulic acid, both of which can oftentimes be too aggressive and cause irritation. I reach for this quite often with my patients who have acne."

The Bottom Line

Not sure where to start? Using vitamin C in a serum format is most effective, because it's able to penetrate the skin more than a moisturizer. That said, there are tons of different types of vitamin C serums out there for every skin type, whether you have acne, dryness, sensitivity, melanin-rich skin, or are even pregnant.

I talked to several dermatologists to see what they're recommending to their patients, and what they even use for themselves. See below for vitamin C serums derms are recommending for bright, glowy skin.

About The Author

Catrina Bernard, Health & Beauty Journalist

Catrina Bernard is a health and beauty journalist who specializes in spotting and staying on top of the latest trends in the health and beauty space. Her articles cover everything from makeup, to lotions, to the best serums.