Is Vitamin C the Anti-Aging Ingredient for Youthful Skin?

As a Dermatologist I've tested dozens of Vitamin C Serums- Here's the Top 5 serums I'm Recommending to my patients in 2025

Dr. Matt Goker, MD Dermatology

Latest update:  January 2025

Uneven Skin Tone | Fine Lines | Wrinkles | Sagging Skin | Hydration


Most Vitamin C serums overpromise and underdeliver?

Finding the perfect serum that actually works can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack—and wasting your hard-earned money along the way.


Here’s the truth:  Not all Vitamin C  Serums are created equal.

Some forms of Vitamin C, like Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, outperform others like L-Ascorbic Acid. The secret is in the formulation—it must be potent, stable, and free of harmful additives.


As a board-certified dermatologist with years of experience in both cosmetic and medical dermatology, I’ve dedicated my career to uncovering what truly works.   After testing countless vitamin C serums—from luxury brands to under-the-radar gems—I’m thrilled to share the top five.   One stands above the rest.


  1. LeVaye' Cosmetics Vitamin C + Sculpting Repair Serum

This serum is impressive, packed with top-tier ingredients to target dark spots, enhance brightness, and reduce wrinkles.


Dark Spots & Brightening

It features a potent blend of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ferulic Acid, Organic Tumeric Root Extract, and Alpha-Arbutin to enhance skin brightness, reduce dark spots, and even out skin tone. 


Targets Fine Lines & Wrinkles & Collagen Production

It also doubles as a powerful anti-aging serum, targeting wrinkles on the face, around the eyes, and on the neck with Niacinamide, Tridecapeptide-1, Pamitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Panthenol.


Hydration

Additionally, its powerhouse formula includes Organic Rosehip seed oil, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Squalane, Cetearyl Olivate, Tumeric, Curcumin, and Alpha Tocopherol to deeply hydrate and support healthy skin.

Pros


  • 96% report brighter looking skin


  • 95% report visibly reduced fine line and wrinkles


  • 97% report smoother feeling skin


  • 94% reduced pores


  • Visibly Brightens Skin / Improves Dark Spots and Uneven Skin Tone


  • Hydrates with top tier ingredients


  • Restores Collagen to improve elasticity


  • For all skin types


  • Fragrance free, Cruelty free, Vegan

Cons


  • Sells out often

  • Does not offer subscriptions

Bottle Size:        50ml | 1.7oz


Price:                     £79    Now  £47.40

SHOP NOW

2. Skin Ceuticals CE Ferulic

SkinCeuticals CE ferulic with Ascorbic acid is a solid vitamin C serum.


It features Ascorbic Acid, and ferulic acid to enhance skin brightness and reduce dark spots.  


It features Sodium hyaluronate and Tocopherol (vitamin E) to help with fine lines and wrinkles. Not as many wrinkle fighting ingredients a the LeVaye' serum


Overall this is a solid choice if you are looking for a vitamin C serum with a couple of novel ingredients to help with wrinkles.

However, it’s on the pricier side, more than double the LeVaye’ Cosmetics serum.


I have seen some reviews on their website that state it irritates the skin and that their customer service has much to be desired.

Pros


  • 39% Reduction in discoloration

  • 36% reduction in Wrinkles

  • Includes Ferulic acid to boost Vitamin C

Cons


  • Not many wrinkle fighting ingredients

  • Many report skin irritation

  • Expensive

Bottle Size:        30ml | 1.0oz

Price:                      £ 141

3. Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C Serum

Let’s talk about my third pick. Sunday Riley CEO brightening serum.


It features Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and glycolic acid to brighten skin and even out skin tone.


It features Squalane, Jojoba Esters, Saccharide Isomerate, and Tocopherol to hydrate the skin.


This serum does contain orange peel, and tangerine oil peel for fragrance and I’ve seen reviews that it is irritating to some skin types.

Pros

  • Brighten with Vitamin C and glycolic acid

  • Hydrates skin

Cons

  • Only one ingredient that may help with fine lines and wrinkles.

  • Contains skin irritating ingredients

  • Contains fragrance that may be skin irritating

Bottle Size:        50ml | 1.7oz

Price:                     £ 94

4. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Serum

You may recognize my next pick, Drunk elephant C Firma serum.


It features ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, and licorice root to brighten skin and even out skin tone.


It features Sodium hyaluronate, pumpkin ferment, green tea, and rice bran extract to help with fine lines, and to smooth out the skin.


This product has to be mixed and I’ve read reviews that it is irritating to the skin and smells bad.


The bottle is very small and expensive.

Pros

  • Brightens skin with vitamin c, ferulic acid, and licorice root.


  • Includes sodium hyaluronate, green tea, and rice bran to fight wrinkles.

Cons

  • Product has to be mixed

  • Contains skin irritating ingredients

  • Many report that it smells bad

  • The bottle is very small

Bottle Size:        28ml | 0.9oz

Price:                     £ 61

5. TruSkin Vitamic C Facial Serum

Last is Trueskin C facial serum.  This is a basic vitamin c serum.


It features Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten skin and even out skin tone.


It features Sodium hyaluronate to help with fine lines.


It features Aloe and Jojoba oil for skin hydration

Pros

  • Brightens skin with vitamin C


  • Hydrates with Jojoba oil

Cons

  • Many report skin irritation

  • Only one ingredient to fight wrinkles

  • Many report sticky texture to the serum

Bottle Size:        30ml | 1.0 oz

Price:                     £ 17

  1. LeVaye' Cosmetics Vitamin C + Sculpting Repair Serum

This serum is impressive, packed with top-tier ingredients to target dark spots, enhance brightness, build collagen, reduce wrinkles, and hydrate the skin.


Brightens Skin / Fades Dark Spots

It features a potent blend of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Ferulic Acid, Niacinamide, and Alpha-Arbutin to enhance skin brightness, reduce dark spots, and even out skin tone. 


Targets Fine Lines and Wrinkles

It also doubles as a powerful anti-aging serum, targeting wrinkles on the face, around the eyes, and on the neck with Niacinamide, Tridecapeptide-1, Pamitoyl Tripeptide-5, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Panthenol.


Hydrates & Builds Collagen

Additionally, its powerhouse formula includes organic rosehip seed oil, Ceramide AP, Ceramide NP, Squalane, organic tumeric, curcumin, and Alpha Tocopherol to deeply hydrate and support collagen production.

Pros


  • 96% report brighter looking skin


  • 95% report visibly reduced fine lines and wrinkles.


  • 97% report smoother feeling skin


  • 94% reduced pores


  • Hydrates with top tier ingredients


  • Restores Collagen to improve elasticity.


  • For all skin types


  • Fragrance free, Cruelty free, Vegan

Cons

  • Sells out often

  • Does not offer subscriptions

Bottle Size:        50ml | 1.7oz


Price:                     £ 79    Now  £47.40

Shop Now

2.  Skin Ceuticals CE Ferulic

SkinCeuticals CE ferulic with Ascorbic acid is a solid vitamin C serum.


It features Ascorbic Acid, and ferulic acid to enhance skin brightness and reduce dark spots.  


It features Sodium hyaluronate and Tocopherol (vitamin E),  to help with fine lines and wrinkles.  Not as many wrinkle fighting ingredients as the LeVaye' serum.


It's on the pricier side, more than double the LeVaye’ Cosmetics serum.


I have seen some reviews on their website that state it irritates the skin and that their customer service has much to be desired.

Pros


  • 39% Reduction in discoloration

  • 36% reduction in Wrinkles

  • Includes Ferulic acid to boost Vitamin C.

Cons


  • Not many wrinkle fighting ingredients.

  • Many report skin irritation

  • Expensive

Bottle Size:        50ml | 1.7oz


Price:                     £ 141

3.  Sunday Riley CEO C Serum

Let’s talk about my third pick. Sunday Riley CEO brightening serum.


It features Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and glycolic acid to brighten skin and even out skin tone.


It features Squalane, Jojoba Esters, Saccharide Isomerate, and Tocopherol to hydrate the skin.


**This serum does contain orange peel, and tangerine oil peel for fragrance and I’ve seen reviews that it is irritating to some skin types.

Pros

  • Brighten with Vitamin C and glycolic acid.

  • Hydrates skin

Cons

  • Only one ingredient that may help with fine lines and wrinkles.

  • Contains skin irritating ingredients

  • Contains fragrance that may be skin irritating.

Bottle Size:        50ml | 1.7oz


Price:                     £ 94

4. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Serum

You may recognize my next pick, Drunk elephant C Firma serum.


It features ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, and licorice root to brighten skin and even out skin tone.


It features Sodium hyaluronate, pumpkin ferment, green tea, and rice bran extract to help with fine lines, and to smooth out the skin.


**This product has to be mixed and I’ve read reviews that it is irritating to the skin and smells bad.


The bottle is very small and expensive.

Pros

  • Brightens skin with vitamin c, ferulic acid, and licorice root.


  • Includes sodium hyaluronate, green tea, and rice bran to fight wrinkles.

Cons

  • Product has to be mixed

  • Contains skin irritating ingredients

  • Many report that it smells bad

  • The bottle is very small

Bottle Size:        28ml | 0.9oz


Price:                     £ 61

5. TruSkin Vitamic C Facial Serum

Last is Trueskin C facial serum.  This is a basic vitamin C serum.


It features Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate to brighten skin and even out skin tone.


It features Sodium hyaluronate to help with fine lines.


It features Aloe and Jojoba oil for skin hydration.

Pros

  • Brightens skin with vitamin C

  • Hydrates with Jojoba oil

Cons

  • Many report skin irritation

  • Only one ingredient to fight wrinkles.

  • Many report sticky texture to the serum.

Bottle Size:        30ml | 1.0 oz


Price:                     £ 17