Whenever you talk about the best Vitamin C serums in the market, these 5 products will inevitably show up. I’ve used all of these and I am going to summarize here the pros and cons of each of them below.

Obagi Professional C Serum
Cellex-C Advanced-C Serum
Murad Environmental Shield Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment
Replenix Vitamin C Pro Collagen Serum

Obagi Professional C Serum

Obagi is always on the different best Vitamin C serum lists for a reason.

This top-tier product is very gentle and therefore an excellent choice for sensitive skin. You can use this even right after medical spa treatments. It’s a good choice for all skin types.

It is also well known for its deep penetration for better absorption into the skin. It absorbs extremely well and does not feel oily at all on the skin. It’s also safe for daytime use.

It comes in 10%, 15% and 20% concentrations and beginners should definitely start with the 10%. Most users can see a noticeable difference in acne scars lightening and skin brightening.

If you have sensitive skin, then read no further – your definite choice for a vitamin C Serum would be Obagi.

10%

Obagi Vitamin C Serum 10% - Professional C Serum Skin Care – Contains Concentrated L Ascorbic Acid - Helps Minimize the Appearance of Wrinkles, Brightens Skin, and Retains Moisture- 1.0 Fl Oz.

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15%

obagi Vitamin C Serum 15% - Professional C Serum Skin Care – Contains Concentrated L Ascorbic Acid - Helps Minimize the Appearance of Wrinkles, Brightens Skin, and Retains Moisture- 1.0 Fl Oz.

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20%

Obagi Professional C Serum 20%, Vitamin C Facial Serum with Concentrated 20% L Ascorbic Acid for Normal to Oily Skin, 1.0 Fl Oz Pack of 1 Product Name

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Also, the Obagi C serums do not oxidize. Everyone says vitamin C serums can last only 3 to 4 months. I took the Obagi serum that I opened 6 months ago and applied it on my body, it still did a wonderful job of brightening and lightening on it. I was very impressed.

Cellex-C Advanced-C Serum

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Next is Cellex C which is a well-known vitamin C serum that’s been around for a long time. This is water-based and therefore lightweight. The best thing about Cellex-C excels in is definitely how it feels on the skin. The light texture makes sure it won’t go on oily at all on your face.

A 17.5% concentration of vitamin C helps boost collagen production which creates suppler, firmer and plumper skin. Hydrolyzed ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid boost collagen in our skin and the resveratrol neutralizes free radicals. It’s really effective in improving firmness and elasticity.

It’s water-soluble so it’s extremely friendly for oily skin types. On the other hand, it has tiny particles/crystals that form inside the bottle. When you first open a new bottle of Cellex-C, the serum should be a light, buttery, clear yellow color with no particles floating in the liquid. The product will age a bit over time and eventually develop these crystals that seem to be floating in the liquid.

Murad Environmental Shield Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum

Murad Vita-C Glycolic Serum - Environmental Shield Skin Brightening Vitamin C Face Serum - Hyperpigmentation Treatment Backed by Science, 1 Fl Oz

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Murad’s Vitamin C serum might stand out with its strong smell, but is also very effective in doing its job. This serum would feel oilier than the other products above and therefore probably works best for combination and dry skin types.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment

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SkinCeuticals is the fastest out of these products to oxidize (the serum turning darker yellow). The product itself is good for dry skin. It contains 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% Alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), and 0.5% Ferulic acid. There are a lot of other products that try to copy this formula, come close but never 100%.

It applies well on the skin and can be used alongside other products such as their B5 serum. If you use this in the daytime, make sure you are well protected by sunscreen. And be mindful of the amount you apply, as you don’t want to overdo it on your face.

Replenix Vitamin C Pro Collagen Serum

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formerly known as Citrix Vitamin C Pro-Collagen Brightening Serum

Replenix has a 20% vitamin C complex, so it’s one of the high ones on the concentration scale. It has ascorbic acid, along with Ascorbyl Glucoside and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and the natural brightener arbutin. You will feel it getting absorbed as you apply it, so it won’t leave you a heavy feeling at all. I do like the way it sinks into the skin. Therefore, it will work even for those with oily skin.

Both the Replenix and Murad are excellent at brightening and evening out your skin tone. As long as you work up your skin’s tolerance to them, they will work out really well for you.

Even though vitamin C serum should not be as irritating as vitamin A serums, but we should still phase it in nevertheless. Start with a lower concentration before moving to heavy-duty concentrations. Also start off with no more than once or twice a week if you have never used one before.

If you are displaying any intolerance to vitamin C serums, you will notice really dry skin, almost immediately. So you can just wash off the product, and give your skin extra hydration. Discontinue the vitamin C serum for now and re-introduce it in a few days or a week again at an even lower concentration.