Is Vitamin C The Holy Grail Anti-Aging Ingredient? Does It Work? I’ve Tested Dozens of Vitamin C Serums - Here Are 5 That Actually Work

Wow! This serum is a knockout!

Naked & Thriving was recommended to me last year and ever since I am absolutely in love and so are my patients. Their products are not only of the highest and purest quality and efficacy, but they’re also vegan, certified cruelty-free, and they formulate without synthetic ingredients.

So why is their Illuminate Serum outstanding? Their proprietary formula includes Organic Baobab Seed, Hyaluronic Acid, Bakuchiol, Black Mulberry, Licorice Root, Ferulic Acid, and, of course, Vitamin C!

It is unusual to see so many powerful anti-aging, brightening, and plumping ingredients in one formulation.

I love that they use 3-OEthyl Ascorbic Acid, one of the most stable forms of Vitamin C. The serum is boosted by Ferulic Acid, a powerful antioxidant that has been clinically demonstrated to visibly reduce fine lines and discoloration.¹

Then there is Bakuchiol, the ‘B’ in the name of the serum. This hero ingredient is nature’s solution to harsh Retinol.

Bakuchiol has demonstrated near identical skin benefits as Retinol by significantly decreasing visible wrinkles and dark spots, but without the unpleasant side effects.²

All of this is complimented by Hyaluronic Acid, another potent anti-aging ingredient, that has been shown to help plump skin and support hydration.³

Even more recently I found out that this formula was perfected over four years and the chemists that worked on it have a combined over 30 years of experience!

After just a few weeks of applying this wonderful serum, I noticed that my dark spots appeared lightened, my skin looked firmer, brighter, and more even, and I had an overall luminous, glowy look.

This serum brings a radiance back to your skin that others take notice of, which earns it the #1 spot on my list and making this magic in a bottle an essential step in my routine.

The Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum by Lancôme combines two powerhouse ingredients—Vitamin C and Niacinamide—to formulate my second favorite Vitamin C serum on the market.

I've already talked about the magic of Vitamin C, but let me give you a brief overview of Niacinamide.

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that offers fantastic benefits for your skin. It has been found to help support hydration for your skin.⁴ In addition, Niacinamide has been demonstrated to help even out your skin tone by reducing the appearance of dark spots.⁵

Meanwhile, Ferulic Acid is known to fight off harmful environmental aggressors that can lead to signs of aging, and Hyaluronic Acid has been shown to support hydration.^6 7

Overall, this is a solid choice if you're looking for a Vitamin C serum, particularly if you're looking for something that is designed to reduce the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles and also give you smoother-looking skin.

However, it is on the pricier side, at almost double the price of Illuminate from Naked & Thriving. Also, although Lancôme market it as suitable for all skin types, I have seen reviews from some users who mentioned that it felt heavy or tacky on the skin. So if you have oily skin, I'd skip this one.

Let's talk about my next pick: Estée Lauder's Perfectionist Pro Serum Rapid Brightening Treatment with Ferment²+ Vitamin C.

This serum combines Vitamin C with a fermented Yeast Extract formulation. Yeast Extract is another soothing ingredient that has been shown to have antioxidant properties.⁸ Overall, an excellent choice for achieving the radiant complexion you desire.

The formula is designed to be gentle on the skin, and I would definitely recommend it for those with more sensitive skin types.

While Estée Lauder's Perfectionist Pro Serum is good, I have found that the results are not as impressive as with Illuminate BC+ Brightening Face Serum or Rénergie H.C.F. Triple Serum.

You may have already heard about SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Acid—its reputation precedes itself among the skincare community. And here's why.

This serum is designed to visibly improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, as well as brighten the complexion. It also contains Vitamin E which is known to support skin hydration.⁹

Unfortunately, although SkinCeuticals is a well-established and well-known brand, it doesn't use all-natural ingredients and is not certified cruelty-free, which may be a dealbreaker for some.

Also, its distinct smell could be off-putting to some, especially as it’s close to $200 for a 30 ml bottle. That said, so many women swear by it—and keep going back for more.