Vitamin C is an amazing ingredient with a whole host of fabulous skincare benefits.

But it comes with a massive list of cons if you don't pick the right vitamin C product. Vitamin C can commonly cause reactions and even breakouts. It's highly unstable so only certain types can be used in skincare. It's prone to breaking down and oxidising and basically becoming completely ineffective. Some vitamin Cs only have a shelf life of just three months.

So finding the right one is a mind field of trial and error. I, myself have tried more than a few. While there were a few missteps and breakouts along the way, I discovered a handful of vitamin C serums that are worth their weight in gold. Here are the ones that worked best for me.

 

Youth to the People 15% Vitamin C + Clean Caffeine Energy Serum

With a winning combination of vitamin C and caffeine, this serum is sure to put some pep in your step. The caffeine aids in depuffing your skin and also soothes and can desensitise your skin - perfect when used in combination with vitamin C to negate the reactiveness it can cause. Given the high percentage, I predicted my skin would hate this serum. So, it was an extremely pleasant surprise to find how tolerable this product is.

This formulation has a concentrated 15 percent which is where you start to get the real benefits of vitamin C beyond brightening and prevention of skin damage. In high enough percentages, vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis - essentially is encourages your skin to make more collagen. So, this serum is an excellent daytime addition to anti-ageing routines. Although the bottle has been designed to filter out all UV light, still keep this one out of the Sun.

 

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum

This is the only vitamin C serum that I can say has caused absolutely no noticeable sensitivity issues at all. Not even mildly. Not even on a bad skin day. It's the one I recommend to anyone who normally has issues tolerating vitamin C.

At 15%, it is a high enough percentage for you to get the brightening, antioxidative and collagen synthesis benefits of the active. And the added PHA gives a light, very top level exfoliating effect to help your skin stay extra bright. Just know, that because of the added exfoliation, you will need to be diligent with your SPF when wearing this one. Or you could increase your likelihood of sun damage.

 

Dr Barbara Sturm The Good Vitamin C

I knew this would be a good one even before trying it. Dermatologist Barbara Sturm uses Australian kakadu plum in her formulation, which has one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C and is also one of the most stable. She combines this with a fusion of other types of vitamin to create a potent mix that brightens and protects.

Since this formula uses kakadu plum, it should have a longer shelf life that other vitamin C products - with the caveat that you store it correctly and keep it out of the Sun. The other wonderful thing about this serum in particular is its added zinc. Zinc is the key ingredient in salves for damaged skin owing to its protective properties. The included zinc in this instance helps to heal and protect reactive skin.

 

The Inkey List Vitamin C serum

This is an odd one because once you rub it in, it has a powdery finish. Unusual but it makes sense since vitamin C starts in powder form. It's one of the few I've tried that you can feel a tingling sensation from. It's not unpleasant but it definitely lets you know that it's working.

The concentration and percentage isn't listed, but I did get good brightening results from this one when I used it consistently. The powdery finish was also great for my oily skin and helped mattify my complexion. And at the price point, you can't really go wrong.

 

Sand and Sky Emu Apple Dreamy Glow Drops

Another product harnessing the power of kakadu plum. It also includes vitamin C from Australian emu apple. These hardy Australian botanicals mean this serums is extra stable and, according to the brand's founder in an interview with RUSSH, should have a shelf life of two years.

This serum also has five types of hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated at all levels. It glides onto your skin and leaves it feeling super bouncy. Despite the high concentration of active ingredients, it didn't cause any breakouts or irritation.

 

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum

The key selling point of Biossance products for me is that most of them come infused with the brand's own plant-based and skin-loving squalane. In this formulation, the squalane helps to nourish and protect your skin as the vitamin C gets to work. It's quite a potent formula but it didn't cause any extra reactiveness in my skin. Use it consistently, every day for best results. As with most clean beauty products, it has no chemical preservative so you'll need to keep it out of the Sun and use it within a year.

 

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%

Kudos to Obagi for managing to create a stabilised 20 percent vitamin C serum. It's no mean feat. If you want the anti-ageing benefits of vitamin C, not just the brightening, get acquainted with this product. This one is designed to trigger collagen synthesis and the growth of skin elastic fibres.

Just know that 20% is a very concentrated percentage and it might take your skin some getting used to. Also, wash you hands after you apply it because it can leave yellow marks on fabric.