The benefits of vitamin C? It fades and prevents sun, age, and acne spots, it diffuses the look of fine lines, and it amps up your sunscreens efficacy. So why aren’t you using it? Good question. Cosmetic dermatologists Neal Schultz, M.D. and Simon Ourian, M.D. and celebrity aesthetician Shani Darden weigh in on why you need vitamin C — and the 10 best formulas you should be using.
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Beauty Rx by Dr. Schultz Triple Vitamin C Serum
“When properly formulated as an ester (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) instead of the native acid form (ascorbic acid), topical vitamin C is very effective at reducing excess brown melanin pigment,” Dr. Schultz explains. “It helps to firm (by increasing collagen production) and brighten the skin, even out your complexion, and prevent the major signs of premature skin aging.”
Luckily, Dr. Schultz’s vitamin C serum contains the three most effective forms —Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, and Methylsilanol Ascorbate — that will help you wake up flawless (with regular use, of course).
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Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
With 15 percent ultra-stable vitamin C (THD ascorbate), this serum helps to brighten your skin by minimizing redness and dark spots, while strengthening the skin’s barrier (hello, less breakouts!).
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Erno Lazlo White Marble Dual Phase Vitamin C Peel
Suitable for all skin types, this heavy-hitting, two-step peel is packed with Vitamin C to first gently exfoliate your skin with lactic acid, and then help brighten it for an allover even complexion.
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DCL Dermatologic Cosmetic Laboratories C Scape High Potency Night Booster 30
This collagen-boosting night treatment is packed with 30 percent concentration of L-ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C). The reason it can have such a high potency? The Vitamin C is suspended in a time release, water-free base. To use it, simply apply it over clean skin and slip under your covers. The water in your skin absorbs the Vitamin C over the course of the next six hours, leaving you with a clearer complexion with continued use.
Bonus: It contains essential fatty acids to strengthen and firm skin and provides antioxidant protection with Coenzyme Q10.
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Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask
This soufflé of a face mask has Japanese beautyberry (which protects the potency of the vitamin C it contains from UV light), alpha hydroxy acids from seven types of fruit, (apple, grapefruit, orange, lemon, lime, hawthorn, and jujube), and Tatcha’s signature Hadasei-3, a trio of anti-aging Japanese superfoods.
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The Body Deli Vital-C Serum
This lightweight serum contains Rovisome Vitamin C, which is the most potent and stable form of bio-available vitamin C. It also penetrates the skin’s tissue and delivers stable antioxidants along with Alpha-Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, and cell regenerating allantoin.
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Glossier Super Glow
Give your skin an instant, energizing glow with this blend of vitamin C and magnesium when you don’t get a full eight hours.
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IS Clinical Super Serum Advance Plus
“Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps slow any damage of collagen from sun exposure and aids in repairing skin,” Darden, who tends to celebs complexions like Jessica Alba, says. “It also helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, alleviate discoloration, and promote an even skin tone.”
One of the vitamin C serums she recommends to her A-list clients? IS Clinical. And it’s easy to see why, thanks to it’s 15 percent concentration of vitamin C. “The higher the concentration, the more affecting the vitamin C Serum will be,” Dr. Ourian adds, “however anything more than 20 percent seems to be useless.
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Ole Henriksen Truth Serum
Think of this serum as your skin’s multivitamin. Not only does it contain Ole Henriksen’s trademarked True-C Complex, it has skin-firming collagen, nourishing orange and green tea extracts, is oil free, and hydrating aloe.
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Dr. Dennis Gross C+ Collagen Perfect Skin Set & Refresh Mist
The micellar technology this spritz contains delivers a boost of antioxidants, while collagen amino acids, and energizing vitamin C hydrate and revive stressed skin. The best part: You can spray it on before or after makeup.
Pro tip: “If your skin’s pH levels are kept around a 3.5 [when your skin is slightly acidic and can better absorb clinically-tested potent ingredients], vitamin C formulas can penetrate faster,” Dr. Ourian adds. Wash with a cleanser like Phace Bioactive pH Optimized Detoxifying Gel Cleanser to keep your facial skin at the perfect pH.
