As a beauty editor, I test hundreds of active ingredients every year—retinoid, exfoliating acidyou name it. While it feels wrong to be biased, I have to admit that vitamin C It’s practically my desert island skincare ingredient. There’s nothing like it. It brightens dull skin, fades dark spots, and provides powerful anti-aging benefits. It’s basically the gold standard antioxidantmeaning it diffuses free radicals before they can damage the skin. Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that?
While I have a small collection of tried and true vitamin c serum With the products I use every day, I’m always curious about what other people use. I’m constantly asking dermatologists, aestheticians, and my coworkers for recommendations, but what about celebrities? They’re in the business of maintaining glowing, radiant, red-carpet-worthy skin, so why not seek their advice?
Luckily, I have the lowdown on three vitamin C serums that celebrities—namely Sydney Sweeney, Hailey Bieber, and Sabrina Carpenter—seem to use and love. Since I want my skin to look like theirs and I never need an excuse to try another vitamin C serum, I decided to put them to the test. Only one came out on top. Keep scrolling to find out which one it is and why.
[IMAGE OF ALL THREE SERUMS]
Experiment:
I used each serum for a little over two weeks. Admittedly, that’s not a very long time. In fact, most experts recommend using a skin-care product for one to three months before deciding whether it’s right for you. With that in mind, my goal was to measure quick, visible results, so I limited each testing period to exactly 14 days.
My skin:
I have sensitive, redness-prone skin that shows a lot of signs of sun damage, including wrinkles, dark spots, and discoloration. When I look in the mirror, I tend to focus most on the dark spots and discoloration, so I was eager to see if one of the vitamin C serums would stand out as a possible solution.
Like I said, the before and after pictures aren’t going to matter to anyone who doesn’t study my skin on a daily basis like I do, but I can still see subtle signs of each serum working. Okay, enough context. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Competitor #1: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic
(Image source: @sydney_sweeney)
- Vitamin C ratio: 15% L-ascorbic acid
- Additional ingredients: vitamin E and ferulic acid
- Advantage: Iconic formula, backed by experts
- Disadvantages: expensive and can oxidize over time
In one Fashion Beauty Tips VideoSweeney reveals that she uses the iconic SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. A favorite of experts, editors, and influencers, this serum is powered by a powerful combination of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid. I know the first ingredient is a potent antioxidant, but the other two are powerful antioxidants in their own right. Together, they boost the skin’s defenses against free radicals and amplify the brightening power of vitamin C.
My Review
Unsurprisingly, this serum lightened the dark spots around my nose and cheeks. It also lightened some discoloration on my neck and jawline. Best of all, I noticed that my skin looked brighter and healthier. Instead of waking up looking dull and tired, my skin had a natural glow. I liked it so much that I didn’t want to stop using it after the two-week trial period was over.
The only downside, at least for me, is the fact that it doesn’t come in an airtight container. Vitamin C is notoriously unstable. It can oxidize and become ineffective after repeated exposure to light and air. A telltale sign of oxidation is a change in smell or color—oxidized vitamin C serums often turn orange-brown. While my serum hasn’t oxidized, I’m still concerned about it, since a bottle of this serum retails for nearly $200.
Buy Serum
SkinCeuticals Products
CE Ferulic
Contender #2: BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner
(Image source: @haileybieber)
- Vitamin C ratio: 20% L-ascorbic acid
- Additional ingredients: green tea, tartaric acid, squalane
- Advantage: Stable, full strength formula and sealed pump to prevent oxidation
- Disadvantages: May irritate sensitive skin
It’s a well-known fact that Bieber loves BeautyStat’s Universal C Skin Refiner. She once called it her holy grail. Her positive review is what got me to try this product for the first time, and you can Read my in-depth review here. That was a few years ago and I’ve been using it pretty regularly since then.
My Review
It contains up to 20% vitamin C, which is an extremely high percentage compared to other serums on the market. In this case, the higher percentage of vitamin C is directly related to the effectiveness. After two weeks, I noticed a noticeable improvement in my dark spots and discoloration. I even noticed a slight improvement in the fine lines around my nose and eyes. I was impressed that the product could deliver such results in such a short time.Oh, and did I mention this product is formulated to be stable and comes in a sealed container to prevent oxidation?
I would say that 20% vitamin C is a blessing and a curse. If you have sensitive skin, it can be overly irritating. My skin tolerates it well until I’m exposed to too much sun, I’m using a high-strength retinoid, or my moisture barrier needs some work. In those cases, it can burn and sting a little and even aggravate my redness. For me, this is easy to navigate and avoid. I just stop using it until my skin is back to fighting condition, but it’s something to keep in mind when considering whether it’s right for you.
Buy Serum
Beauty statistics
Universal C Skin Cleanser
Contender #3: 111Skin Vitamin C Brightening Booster
(Image source: @sabrinacarpenter)
- Vitamin C ratio: unspecified percentage of sodium ascorbyl phosphate
- Additional ingredients: diamond powder, niacinamide, licorice root, glutathione
- Advantage: Clinical grade formula and multiple skin lightening ingredients
- Disadvantages: expensive and requires additional serum use
In an interview with The charmCarpenter revealed that she uses 111Skin’s Vitamin C Brightening Booster. I’ve never had the chance to try it out before, so it was clear that I needed to make the switch immediately.
The brand doesn’t disclose the exact percentage of vitamin C in the formula, which I don’t like. However, it does have a bunch of other skin-brightening ingredients in the formula, including niacinamide, licorice root, and glutathione. The brand says it even contains diamond particles to exfoliate the skin and ensure deeper vitamin C delivery. That feels Therefore Pop star coded, right?
My Review
My sensitive skin loves this product. Not only does it give my skin all the benefits of a traditional vitamin C serum, but it also reduces redness, which I found shocking. I think I can thank the licorice root and niacinamide for that. It hydrates and plumps my skin thanks to the hyaluronic acid.
The only downside to this product is that it’s not technically a serum. Instead, it’s an enhancer. That means it’s meant to enhance the effectiveness of your current serum; it doesn’t replace it. The brand recommends using it between your toner/essence and your regular serum. While I don’t mind adding another step to my skincare routine, I do mind buying another expensive skincare product when I’ve already invested in an expensive serum. Honestly, I think the results are worth it if you have the budget, but it’s not absolutely necessary. Again, just something to keep in mind when considering whether this vitamin C product is right for you.
Buy Serum
111SKIN
Vitamin C brightens skin
Winner: BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner
[IMAGE OF WINNER]
Drumroll, please. The winner is Hailey Bieber’s favorite vitamin C serum, aka BeautyStat’s Universal C Skin Refiner. As a vitamin C serum, it ticks all of my boxes: It’s more affordable than the other two, has a high concentration of vitamin C, and is incredibly stable. Plus, it gave my skin the most impressive results over the two-week testing period. While it can cause irritation, I simply avoided using it on days when my skin felt particularly sensitive. That’s something I can overlook for such an effective, skin-transforming formula.
To be fair, each of these vitamin C products has improved my skin. I don’t think you can go wrong here. It all depends on your skin concerns, personal preferences, and budget. Personally, I would keep all three on hand to satisfy my vitamin C addiction…
Shop more editor-approved vitamin C serums
Pharmaceuticals
Water-Free Vitamin C Serum 10%
I love Farmacy products and this waterless vitamin C serum is no exception.
Delight
Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Brightening Serum protects and brightens skin
I love this drugstore serum. It combines brightening vitamin C with firming peptides.
BOLD
Citrus Glow Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are the perfect combination to brighten and hydrate.
Dermalogica
BioLumin-C Vitamin C Facial Serum
This vitamin C serum gives skin a bright, dewy look.
innisfree
Green Tea Vitamin C Brightening Serum
The addition of green tea helps maximize the antioxidant power of this serum.
Ally of the skin
Peptides & Antioxidants Advanced Firming Daily Treatment
I love this serum and moisturizer combo. It’s packed with antioxidants that brighten the skin. I swear it makes the most noticeable difference in my skin.
