Skincare · 7 first-hand tests · 7 brands
Vitamin C serums
Tested by hand. Judged side by side. Every one of these vitamin C serums was used by a tester, then scored on the same criteria written for this family, so the verdicts can be read side by side. 1 of them holds a current Beauty 100 rank.
- Judged on
- Brightening formula
- Dosing and packaging
- Value per bottle
- Price range
- $9.99 – $79.00
- In the Beauty 100
- 1
- Newest review
- Nov 5, 2026
All reviews7 reviews
Newest first
Trader Joe's · Vitamin C serumsVitamin C SerumA well-priced way to add vitamin C to the morning“I liked how this serum fitted into my morning skincare.”Insider Beauty testerRead 
Prequel · Vitamin C serumsLucent-C 15% Ascorbic Acid SerumA $23 pump for a proper morning vitamin C step.“I liked Lucent-C as the vitamin C step in my morning routine.”Insider Beauty testerRead 
e.l.f. Cosmetics · Vitamin C serumsSKIN Bright Icon Vitamin C + E + Ferulic SerumAn affordable brightening serum with the percentages spelled out.“Bright Icon did the brightening job I wanted it for.”Insider Beauty testerRead 
Drunk Elephant · Vitamin C serumsC-Firma Fresh Day SerumYou decide when the 15% vitamin C gets mixed.“Once C-Firma settled on my skin, I couldn’t feel any lingering tackiness.”Insider Beauty testerRead 
Garnier · Vitamin C serumsSkinActive Vitamin C Brightening SerumA morning serum that plays well with sunscreen.“The daytime serum sat smoothly under my sunscreen.”Insider Beauty testerRead 
Summer Fridays · Vitamin C serumsCC Me SerumOne pump bottle, one useful serum step.“I liked the hydrated feel of CC Me Serum.”Insider Beauty testerRead 
Beauty 100 · #4Timeless Skin Care · Vitamin C serums20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid SerumAn antioxidant serum for the price.“The Timeless serum felt comfortable under my sunscreen.”Insider Beauty tester
Reviewed by Sarah Chen · Aug 29, 2026Read How a review is made
Tested first, then judged inside its family.
- 1A tester uses it. The quote on every card is from that first-hand test.
- 2Editors judge it on three criteria written for its family, plus evidence, distinctiveness and disclosure.
- 3The verdict comes first. The score out of 5 is the summary, not the point.
Judged on
- Brightening formula
- Dosing and packaging
- Value per bottle