16 Best Vitamin C Serums For Sensitive Skin

Even if your skin is healthy, you might find that it starts to look dull and lifeless. Or maybe your old blemishes leave hyperpigmented spots that seem to last for years. 

Either way, a vitamin C serum can help. This simple skin treatment can work wonders, making your face look clear, bright and refreshed. 

Keep in mind that vitamin C is acidic, so if you have sensitive skin you’ll need to carefully select your serum to avoid redness and irritation. Luckily, vitamin C serums have become so popular in recent years that there’s one for every skin type! Here are some of the best vitamin C serums for sensitive skin. 

1. Blu Atlas Vitamin C Serum 

This powerful serum by Blu Atlas delivers vitamin C along with a posse of other skin-protecting ingredients. Vitamin C is in the form of ascorbic acid here, and it absorbs readily into skin. We like that you can treat your skin to less-common ingredients like mulberry root extract too. Like vitamin C, this natural plant extract helps to fade hyperpigmented areas to gradually make your skin tone brighter and more even.  

Thanks to soothing ingredients that help stop irritation before it starts, this vitamin C serum is perfect for those with sensitive skin. Mulberry root extract and aloe vera keep your skin calm without the use of any artificial ingredients. In fact, 97.5% of the ingredients in Blu Atlas’s serum come from natural sources like minerals, plants and fruit. 

2. Vanicream Vitamin C Serum 

As anyone with sensitive skin knows, sometimes it’s not the active ingredient that causes trouble — it’s due to fragrance, dyes and other additives. Vanicream helps you avoid all that with this specially-formulated vitamin C serum. It contains no formaldehyde releasers, parabens, lanolins, dyes or fragrances. 

However, this serum does include one helpful active ingredient in addition to vitamin C: ceramides. These specialized lipids help rebuild your skin’s outer layer, firming it and helping you retain moisture. 

3. Tree of Life Vitamin C Serum 

You may already be familiar with Tree of Life’s natural personal care products. If you aren’t, you’re in for a treat! This natural brightening serum includes vitamin C (of course), but it also has an impressive array of moisturizing and soothing ingredients perfect for those with dry or easily irritated skin. 

This serum includes witch hazel, a natural astringent that helps reduce the size of your pores. But it’s also infused with aloe vera and jojoba oil, two of nature’s best moisturizers. Jojoba oil is especially great, as it works much like your skin’s natural oils. 

4. CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum  

Like other CeraVe products, this great serum is formulated with ceramides to help restore your skin’s natural barrier. Ceramides pair nicely with vitamin C. Vitamin C protects your skin from impurities on the chemical level, but ceramides help create a natural physical barrier. 

Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum is also great for anyone wanting to keep their skin moisturized throughout the day. It’s formulated with hyaluronic acid, one of the best natural humectants! 

We like that this serum contains 10% vitamin C. This concentration is enough to be effective, but not so high that it causes irritation. It’s also fragrance-free, making it a wonderful choice for sensitive skin. 

5. PURA D’OR 20% Vitamin C Serum 

This one isn’t shy about its high proportion of vitamin C — it’s a full 20%! For some people with sensitive skin, this level of vitamin C may very well prove to be too much. But if you’ve found that lower concentrations of vitamin C simply aren’t giving you the results you want, this is one of the best high-potency serums for sensitive skin. That’s because it includes vitamin E and aloe vera to soothe your skin. It’s also free of harsh sulfates and parabens. 

6. Goodal Green Tangerine Vitamin-C Dark Spot Serum 

This eye-catching serum gets its vitamin C straight from nature, as it comes from organic green tangerines. These citrus fruits have 10 times more vitamin C than lemons! They of course have lots of vitamin C, but they also bring plenty of antioxidants to the surface of your skin. 

As a dark spot corrector, this vitamin C serum is ideal if you really want to focus on brightening your complexion. It’s formulated with tiger grass and other soothing botanicals, so your skin can get a full dose of vitamin C without getting irritated. 

7. Honest Beauty Vitamin C Radiance Serum 

With a name like Radiance Serum, this product is sure to deliver bright and beautiful skin. And true to its name, it combines vitamin C with other skin-brightening ingredients. One of these is diglucosyl gallic acid, a special biotech molecule that works as a color corrector for skin. It helps fade hyperpigmentation, but it will also reduce yellowness and redness. 

Radiance Serum includes a couple of other uncommon ingredients. Artichoke extract is great for strengthening skin and reducing sagging. Clover extract contains plenty of antioxidants, and its anti-inflammatory properties are perfect for calming irritated skin. 

8. Pure for Men Facial Serum 

Any vitamin C serum can really be used by both men and women. But as you can see with this Pure for Men serum, some of them are marketed specifically toward men. We like that this serum contains vitamin C in the form of both ascorbic acid and natural citrus oils. 

The vitamin C in Pure’s Facial Serum is stabilized to ensure maximum potency. As it sinks into your skin, your face also gets a refreshing, hydrating blast of lemon and grapefruit essential oils. Thanks to its ultra-citrusy formula, this high-end serum excels when it comes to reversing hyperpigmentation and age spots. 

9. Brickell Men’s Products Vitamin C Booster 

Many of the best vitamin C serums for sensitive skin make a difference in your skin’s appearance and texture. This vitamin C serum for men is ideal for guys who want to smooth out their skin while getting rid of hyperpigmented spots. That’s because it contains glycerin, a natural ingredient known for making your skin soft and smooth to the touch. 

Brickell notes that there are two ways to use this serum. If you want, you can apply it directly to your face like you would with any other serum. You also can mix it into Brickell’s moisturizer or anti-aging cream (or whatever moisturizer you already use). If you have extra-sensitive skin, that’s also a great way to make sure the vitamin C doesn’t make your skin overly dry. 

10. O!GETi Vitamin C Serum Mist 

Want to make your skincare routine as fast as possible? If so, you’ll appreciate that this serum comes in the form of a spritz-on mist. It also has ingredients that really work, as it’s powered by propolis extract, hyaluronic acid, and of course, vitamin C. 

Propolis extract might sound unfamiliar, but it’s a very common ingredient in Korean skincare. Propolis is a resin-like material that honeybees use to fill in parts of their honeycombs. It’s a remarkably potent substance that fights bacteria, viruses and fungi. It also can boost the production of collagen. 

11. Bliss Bright Idea Vitamin C + Tri-Peptide Collagen Protecting & Brightening Serum 

This cheery orange bottle is immediately eye-catching, and not just for the color — it includes proven ingredients that will make your whole face look healthy and bright. Along with vitamin C, a special peptide blend keeps your skin firm and elastic. Bliss claims that when you use this serum regularly, your hyperpigmented spots will be less noticeable in 28 days. 

We like that Bright Idea is gentle enough that you can use it morning and night. If you find that your skin needs a little extra soothing, you can also combine it with Bliss’s matching moisturizer. 

12. LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Serum 

This one is more than just your average vitamin C serum — it includes a host of gentle, moisturizing ingredients perfect for keeping sensitive skin happy. The LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Serum contains an impressive 5% of hyaluronic acid to draw moisture to your skin and keep it there. Vitamin E, aloe juice, and jojoba oil all work together to deliver lasting moisture that won’t clog your pores. 

This serum’s ultra-hydrating formula isn’t only good if you have sensitive skin. It’s also ideal for minimizing the look of wrinkles to give you plump, youthful skin. 

13. L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum 

L’Oreal Paris makes some of the best facial moisturizers and anti-aging products out there. This is a great vitamin C serum, and it’s especially helpful for anyone looking to combat the effects of aging. It contains 12% vitamin C. L’Oreal says it’s specially formulated to target the three key signs of early aging: fine lines, visible pores and uneven skin tone. 

Some of its anti-aging power is thanks to salicylic acid, a fantastic clarifying agent that also encourages your skin to exfoliate thoroughly. It seems to work: L’Oreal claims that after just eight weeks of use, your skin will look 70% brighter! 

14. InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum 

This all-natural serum includes several plant-derived ingredients to help your skin look and feel younger. One of the most interesting is plant stem cells. These cells have a potent antioxidant effect, and some skincare experts believe they may stimulate the production of new collagen and help fade hyperpigmented areas. So when they’re used alongside vitamin C, they’re sure to make your skin look incredibly radiant! 

This vitamin C serum is also outstanding when it comes to hydrating your skin. Thanks to both sea buckthorn oil and hyaluronic acid, it’s great for keeping your skin looking firm and youthful. 

15. Mario Badescu Skin Care Vitamin C Serum 

Mario Badescu is a respected name in the skincare world, and this vitamin C serum is one that certainly delivers on its promises. It’s built around three critical ingredients — vitamin C, collagen, and sodium hyaluronate. Sodium hyaluronate is a derivative of hyaluronic acid, and it helps to smooth and moisturize. Collagen keeps your skin firm and taut, with potent anti-aging properties. 

This serum is fairly potent, so Mario Badescu suggests only using it every other night. It works very well under moisturizer, so you can easily put it on under your night cream. For an extra boost of vitamin C, the manufacturer suggests using it alongside Mario Badescu’s Brightening Mask with Vitamin C. 

16. Buttah Vitamin C Serum 

This ultra-soothing serum by Buttah was formulated with melanated skin in mind, but it will work well for just about anyone with sensitive skin too. It combines vitamin C with grapeseed oil, a natural oil full of much-needed vitamins and antioxidants. Chamomile extract and ferulic acid soothe irritation to keep your skin feeling moisturized and refreshed. And of course, it includes hyaluronic acid for lasting moisture. 

We like that this one contains vitamin A, a vitamin that’s essential for skin health and skin cell turnover. It also boosts collagen, so it helps you shed old, hyperpigmented skin while growing in new, unblemished layers. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What exactly is vitamin C serum? 

Some people jump on new skincare trends without really knowing what they’re getting into. But before you start a new skincare regimen (or add something to your existing one), it’s wise to have a sense of what the product you’re adding actually does. 

In a nutshell, vitamin C serum is a gel-like product containing a form of vitamin C that absorbs easily through the skin. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, so it protects your skin from free-radical damage from environmental pollutants. It encourages your skin to produce more collagen, so it can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.  

Vitamin C also may help reduce hyperpigmentation (spots of darkened skin, usually where a healed blemish used to be) and brighten your complexion. For one small molecule, it does a lot! 

How does it work? 

If you haven’t heard much about vitamin C in skincare before, you probably want to know just how vitamin C serum works its magic. Here’s how it helps keep your face looking its best. 

Skin protection 

Vitamin C serum is packed with antioxidants, or molecules that can delay or prevent damage to your cells. Experts believe these antioxidants may protect your skin from sun damage (though it’s not a substitute for sunscreen). 

Antioxidants are better known for their ability to fight free radicals, or unstable molecules that cause damage to human cells. Unfortunately, plenty of things that we run into on a daily basis are sources of plentiful free radicals. Cigarette smoke, pesticides and air pollution are just a few. 

You might not see the effects of skin protection immediately, but it will become evident down the line. When your face is protected from free radical damage and sun damage, it’s also protected from some of the effects of aging. 

Skin firming and wrinkle reduction 

People of all ages love vitamin C serum for its ability to make skin look plump and firm. If you’ve been noticing a few fine lines and wrinkles lately, you’ll be relieved to know that vitamin C can help with those too!  

These serums firm up your skin and reduce wrinkles by increasing production of collagen and elastin. Collagen is a fibrous protein that keeps your skin firm and prevents sagging. Elastin is a protein that lets your skin bounce back from stress. 

How does it do it? The secret is in vitamin C’s extreme acidity. The acid is enough to stimulate your skin to “heal.” When healing from abrasions, your skin naturally makes more elastin and collagen. When you use vitamin C serum every day, your skin will steadily produce elastin and collagen, keeping your skin firm and reducing wrinkles. 

Reduction of hyperpigmentation/skin brightening 

Many vitamin C serums are advertised as being “brightening.” They can brighten your complexion somewhat, but many people love them for their ability to reduce dark spots. Vitamin C reduces the activity of an enzyme that helps produce melanin. When you use it over time, you may find that it makes these spots look less dark. 

Can’t you get the same benefits if there’s a lot of vitamin C in your diet? 

Getting enough dietary vitamin C is important when it comes to maintaining optimal health and immunity. However, to really see all the skin-specific benefits vitamin C has to offer, you need it in topical form as well. When you apply it directly to your skin, it stimulates the production of collagen and elastin and brightens your skin tone. 

When and how should you use vitamin C serum? 

Most experts recommend putting vitamin C serum on once per day. However, there’s not a clear consensus on whether it’s better to put it on in the morning or at night. Some people opt to put it on at the start of the day to form a protective layer against free radicals. Others prefer putting it on at night as a way to undo some of the damage of the day. 

Vitamin C serum tends to absorb best into damp, clean skin, so be sure to apply it after cleansing in the morning or at night. For an extra burst of vitamin C, some skincare experts even recommend prepping your face with a lemon-water rinse beforehand. 

When you’re ready to apply the serum, put three to five drops on clean fingers and gently massage it into your face, much like you’d apply a moisturizer. If you’re also applying sunscreen or moisturizer, be sure to apply your vitamin C serum first. 

Should you get a serum that has other ingredients as well? 

If you’ve spent time browsing different vitamin C serums already, you may have seen that some of the best vitamin C serums for sensitive skin include other active ingredients. Vitamin C does an outstanding job of supporting skin health on its own, but if you find an additional ingredient that suits your skincare needs, there’s nothing wrong with getting a multi-purpose serum. Here are some other active ingredients you might find alongside vitamin C: 

Hyaluronic acid 

If you want your vitamin C serum to double as a moisturizer, hyaluronic is a great ingredient to look for. This unique acid is a powerful humectant, meaning it draws moisture to your skin and keeps it there. It’s especially great for anyone not wanting to clog their pores. Some moisturizing ingredients effectively seal moisture in, but they can block pores and cause breakouts. 

Ceramides 

Ceramides offer another way to help keep your skin healthy and moisturized without blocking your pores. These molecules are a type of lipid, and they help rebuild your skin’s outer barrier, especially if it is damaged or weak. That makes your skin look healthy and firm, while also helping prevent moisture from escaping. 

Peptide blends 

Many facial moisturizers and serums contain specialized peptide blends. These molecules will usually help firm your skin, though the exact way they work will depend on the specific peptides. 

Vitamin E 

Like vitamin C, vitamin E may help protect your skin from sun damage. It helps calm inflammatory responses and reduces your risk of scarring from blemishes or abrasions. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant, so it can help protect your skin from free radical damage. 

Salicylic acid 

This beta hydroxy acid is often found in acne medications, but it’s an ideal ingredient for making your skin look fresh and renewed. It helps lift dead skin cells and excess oil, and it also can help even your skin tone. If you want a vitamin C serum that also promotes exfoliation, look for a serum with salicylic acid! 

Aloe vera 

This natural plant extract is full of vitamins and antioxidants that protect your skin from damage. It’s also a great natural moisturizer and it’s one of the best ingredients for calming irritation. If you have sunburn or just dry skin that’s bothering you, aloe vera is a great ingredient to look for. 

Does vitamin C serum ever expire? 

It’s easy to pick up a skincare product, tuck it away in your medicine cabinet, and assume it will last forever. Unfortunately, vitamin C serum can and does expire. Specifically, it oxidizes with the passage of time, losing some of its effectiveness as it does so. 

It’s easy to see the oxidation happening, though. A fresh bottle of vitamin C serum will be clear to pale yellowish. As it’s exposed to air, it will gradually turn yellow, then orange, and then brown. And if it’s really oxidized, it can even turn black. 

If your vitamin C serum has oxidized, stop using it and get a new bottle. It might be ok to use serum that has become slightly yellowish. But the darker it is, the less effective it’s going to be. As it oxidizes, it can start to smell rotten, so you likely won’t want to use it at that point, anyway! 

How should I store my vitamin C serum? 

Now that you know that vitamin C serum can indeed expire, you may want to know how to extend its shelf life as long as you can. How to do that depends on the type of serum you have: water-based or anhydrous.  

Many vitamin C serums on the market are water-based. The vitamin C molecules in these formulas aren’t very stable, especially when they’re exposed to sunlight. That’s why many of these serums come in dark glass or opaque bottles. 

Anhydrous serums are made without water, and they are more stable: they don’t really seem to deteriorate when exposed to sunlight. If you have a water-based formula, it’s critical to store it in a cool, dark, dry place away from sunlight. Staying away from light is less important for anhydrous formulas, but if you really want to make yours last a long time, it’s also wise to store it in a space that is dark, cool and dry. 

What concentration of vitamin C should I look for? 

If you have sensitive skin, the percentage of vitamin C is a critically important factor to consider. After all, you want your vitamin C serum to have enough vitamin C to be effective, but not so much that it causes skin irritation.  

Many skincare experts advise selecting a serum that is more than 8% vitamin C. However, if you have extra-sensitive skin, it may be a good idea to start with an even less concentrated serum. It’s also wise to stay away from formulations with more than 20% vitamin C. Remember that vitamin C is an acid, and large amounts of it can become very uncomfortable! 

Does it have any side effects? 

Like any skincare product, vitamin C serum has the potential to cause certain side effects. And unless you happen to have a severe allergy to one or more ingredients, these side effects are fairly mild. The main potential side effect is skin irritation. This is more likely if you’re using a very concentrated serum.  

But regardless of how concentrated it is, you should always spot-test a new vitamin C serum before using it on your face! Work a tiny bit into your wrist or the inside of your elbow and let it sit overnight. If your skin doesn’t react badly, you’ll likely be able to use it on your face with no ill effects.