When it comes to powerful active ingredients, vitamin C has earned its place among the best. This multitasking antioxidant goes to work beneath your skin to help protect your skin from sun damage, pollution and other causes of visible aging. It can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, boost the efficacy of your sunscreen and improve dark spots and discoloration to promote a clearer, brighter skin tone.

The virtues of vitamin C are no secret to the LovelySkin staff, and we all have our favorites when it comes to the best vitamin C products. Ready to learn what serums and scrubs are always stocked in our medicine cabinets? Here’s what our staff has to say about the best vitamin C skin care.

The best vitamin C skin care according to LovelySkin staff

LovelySkin Co-founder and Vice President Nancy Schlessinger:

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

This facial serum from SkinCeuticals is one of the highest-rated items on LovelySkin.com, so it’s no surprise that Nancy Schlessinger, LovelySkin co-founder and vice president chose it as her pick for the best vitamin C skin care. “This serum has helped reduce the look of brown spots over the years along with some sun damage and fine lines,” she says. “Once absorbed, it remains effective for a minimum of 72 hours! My day would not be the same without this product and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do.”

LovelySkin Co-founder and CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger:

LovelySkin LUXE Gels & Acne Care

“LovelySkin LUXE gels contain afaLUXE, which uses vitamin C as well as other antioxidants to exfoliate gradually, but effectively,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO. “Not only do they reverse photodamage, but they also improve post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. These products are my go-to when I see a patient with sun damage or who has had acne and wants their glow back.” LovelySkin LUXE gels come in several different concentrations (9%, 11%, 15% and 19%), so you can start with the lowest and, if you don’t notice any irritation when you’ve finished your first bottle, work your way up to the next level for even more exfoliation benefits.

Director of Product Operations Chrissy K.:

Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex 30%

This face treatment from Revision Skincare definitely deserves a spot on our list of best vitamin C skin care. It combines tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a stable form of vitamin C, with two fellow antioxidants—[vitamin E[(https://www.lovelyskin.com/c/vitamin-e-shop-by-ingredient-skin-care) and ubiquinone—to help firm, brighten and smooth skin as well as protect against damage from blue light from electronic devices. “I love that this formula is gentle while offering a high percentage of vitamin C,” says Chrissy., “I'm not a fan of heavy moisturizers, so I also like how C+ Correcting Complex provides a sheer layer of hydration that plays well with nearly any regimen.”

Site Merchandiser Meg P.:

ELEMIS Dynamic Resurfacing Super-C Serum

Site merchandiser Meg was quick to nominate this serum as her pick for the best vitamin C face product. “I can’t get enough of this treatment! The creamy texture instantly brightens and hydrates my skin,” says Meg “I also love how it is formulated with ELEMIS’ patented Tri-Enzyme technology, which contains papaya extract to help exfoliate and correct any discoloration or uneven skin tone.” It also contains sunflower seed oil and shea butter to help support your skin’s moisture barrier as well.

Retail Associate Noah R.:

Exuviance Vitamin C Serum Capsules

Though vitamin C serums in glass-dropper vials work well at home, they can be tricky to travel with in some cases. Noah relies on these single-use vitamin C capsules from Exuviance to keep up his skin care routine while away from home. “They're a cinch to travel with,” he says. “They’re so smooth and effortless. I love the feel of these capsules when they’re applied.” The capsule form also ensures the formula of maximum-strength vitamin C and vitamin E stay stable by protecting it from light, air and moisture while on the go.

Buyer Ashley T.:

Yon-Ka Vitamin C Serum C20

If you’re a fan of facial oils, this could be the right pick for you when it comes to the best vitamin C face products. With an oil-based formula including apricot kernel, orange, lavender, sunflower seed and cypress seed oils, Yon-Ka’s vitamin C serum goes on like a face oil, providing antioxidant benefits as it sinks into your skin. “This serum is wonderful. In just a few days there was a noticeable difference to my skin,” Ashley says. “It has a nice citrus scent, a super lightweight texture and it instantly leaves my skin feeling hydrated.”

Videographer Jordan J.:

Vivier Vitamin C Scrub

The best vitamin C skin care products aren’t just for your face. This exfoliating scrub can be used on the face as well as body to help soften rough patches and refine skin texture. “The big standout for me with this scrub is how gentle it is,” Jordan says. “It’s not abrasive at all, just some solid exfoliation with a great scent.”

Curious about more vitamin C options? You can shop more of the best vitamin C skin care products to see what’s a good fit for your routine.