Best vitamin-C serum for oily skin
Skinceuticals Phloretin CF
If you’ve got oily skin, Russak recommends trying this often-overlooked sister product of our best overall serum. Its formula is similar to C E Ferulic and contains L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid, but does not contain pore-clogging vitamin E, “making Phloretin CF the better choice for oily skin types.” Phloretin CF is also good for those with melasma, a common skin pigmentation disorder, because the light serum is especially effective at combating “increased pigment production, which usually occurs due to UV exposure,” according to Russak.
Best vitamin-C serum for acne-prone skin
This Clinique serum is a good option if you’re acne-prone — and also worried about your vitamin C degrading. It contains salicylic acid, which is a known acne fighter, and comes in a powdered form. Vitamin C is more stable as a powder, says Gonzalez, and is less likely to be degraded by light or oxygen. This one is a bit more DIY than any of the others on this list, because there are two components: The first is a powder cleanser that you combine with water and gently massage into the skin and then rinse off. The second is a serum designed to be mixed with whatever daily moisturizer you use. Both contain 10 percent L-ascorbic acid — which is the minimum recommended concentration and good for someone who is new to the ingredient.
