16 Best Vitamin C Serums For Sensitive Skin You Can Buy In 2023
Pamper your ultra-sensitive skin and combat the signs of aging to look oh-so-young.
Blade TiessenMedical Esthetician
Expertise: Anti-aging
Experience: 34+ years
Blade Tiessen is a certified esthetician and the owner of a renowned anti-aging clinic in Orillia, Canada. He has over 34 years of experience in the esthetics industry and has worked in several premier spas across Toronto, including the pre... more
Shiboli Chakraborti Certified Skin Care Coach
Expertise: Skin Care & Hair Care
Experience: 3 years
Shiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with three years of experience. As an editor, she ... more
Image: StyleCraze Design Team
If you are a skincare junkie, you must be aware of the importance of vitamin C, which is considered a miracle ingredient by many. This ingredient works for almost all skin types, and even if you have ultra-sensitive skin, it will work wonders for you. The best vitamin C serums for sensitive skin will help you achieve an overall brighter complexion.
Furthermore, it is a great OTC treatment to combat aging signs, boost collagen production, and address various other skin concerns. It also offers an even-toned complexion and reduces hyperpigmentation. Keep reading to find out the 15 best vitamin C serums for sensitive skin. Scroll down!
In This Article
16 Best Vitamin C Serums For Sensitive Skin
1. Best Cruelty-Free:TruSkin C Plus Super Serum
The TruSkinC Plus Super Serum is a premium anti-aging serum with an advanced formula that suits all skin types. It is infused with antioxidant-rich vitamin C that strengthens the skin barrier function while neutralizing free radicals.
The formula also contains retinol that boosts collagen production and cell turnover, enhancing the skin tone, elasticity, and texture. Niacinamide acts as a calming antioxidant that improves skin clarity and radiance while also rejuvenating it. Hyaluronic acid, on the other hand, draws moisture into the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles. In this YouTuber’s review, you will get to know more about the benefits of TruSkin C Plus Super Serum.
Pros
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Dermatologist tested
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- PEG-free
- Sulfate-free
- No synthetic colors
- No artificial fragrance
Cons
- Not for daily use
- Strong fragrance from essential oils
Quick Tip2. Best Non-Greasy Formula:The Better Skin Co Epik C Serum
The Better Skin Co Epik C Serum helps tighten, brighten, and revitalize your skin. It is infused with the proprietary Power Trio Complex containing Majestem, vitamin C, and PhytoVie. Majestem firms and lifts the skin, while PhytoVie acts as a shield against environmental aggressors and pollution. Vitamin C provides anti-aging and brightening benefits. This serum is an excellent pick for anyone who is struggling with signs of aging and dark spots.
Pros
- Pleasant scent
- Non-greasy
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free
- Contains Sea buckthorn containing skin healthy fatty acids
Cons
None
3. Best For Skin Barrier:Obagi Professional C Serum
The high-performance Obagi Professional C Serum will help boost your face’s glow. This potent daily antioxidant serum contains 10% pure L-ascorbic acid. It is the most bioavailable form of Vitamin C, allowing for maximum skin absorption and outcomes. The 10% L-ascorbic acid brightens the skin, retains moisture, and minimizes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This serum helps to decrease visible skin damage by fortifying the skin’s barrier defenses. It gets absorbed quickly and gives long-lasting effects.
Pros
- Non-greasy
- Lightweight
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Phthalate-free
- Sulfate-free
- Unscented
- Quickly absorbed
- Suitable for dry and sensitive skin
Cons
- Contains fragrance
- Contains Dimethicone
4. Best Lightweight Formula:Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum
This anti-aging serum from Image Skincare is a multi-benefit solution for all your skin woes. Whether it is wrinkles, dark spots, saggy skin, or environmental damage, this potent formula addresses them all. While hyaluronic acid restores moisture and locks in hydration, vitamin C treats discoloration and uneven tone. This serum hydrates dry and dull skin and adds a dewy glow to it.
Pros
- Non-greasy
- Lightweight
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- No synthetic dyes
Cons
- May cause a burning sensation.
- Contains Cyclopentasiloxane (silicon)
- Contains Petrolatum
- Contains Dimethicone
5. Best Quick-Absorbing Formula:BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner
The Beauty Stat Universal C Skin Refiner is a lightweight gel that tightens the pores and even tones the skin. This serum is formulated with 20% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) to brighten the skin, plump lines, reduce dark circles, and eliminate puffiness. It also contains active green tea that boosts collagen production to reduce the appearance of premature aging signs, tartaric acid to balance the skin’s pH, and olive seed-derived squalane oil to moisturize even the most sensitive skin.
Pros
- Dermatologist-approved
- Gentle
- Quickly absorbed
- No preservatives
- Gluten-free
- Vegan-friendly
- Fragrance-free
- Phthalate-free
Cons
- May cause a burning sensation.
- Not cruelty-free
6. Best For Aging Signs:ELbbuB Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum
This vitamin C serum from ELbbuB is ideal for fighting the signs of aging, improving the complexion, lightening dark circles, stimulating collagen production, and boosting hydration in your skin. It is formulated with a blend of vitamin C and plant-based botanicals like aloe vera, hyaluronic acid, witch hazel, and jojoba oil that target fine lines and wrinkles. They provide nourishment and impart a natural glow to the skin. Vitamin C also increases collagen production to improve skin elasticity, leaving you with younger-looking and healthy skin.
Pros
- Non-sticky
- Quickly absorbed
- No synthetic color
- No artificial fragrance
- No stabilizers
Cons
- May cause breakouts.
7. Best For Sensitive Skin:Herbologia Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum
The Vitamin C Antioxidant Serum from Herbologiais designed to hydrate your skin and enhance its tone, making it look younger and more radiant. It contains glycerylascorbate, a superior vitamin C derivative that eliminates the irritation often caused by l-ascorbic acid. It provides defense against UVA and UVB rays, boosts collagen and elastin production, diminishes dark spots, reduces wrinkles, and thickens the skin layers.
The green tea extract in the serum is rich in epigallocatechin gallate, a potent antioxidant that controls excess oil, restores free radical damage, reduces inflammation, and calms redness in the skin. Grape seed extract acts as another powerful antioxidant that eliminates wrinkles, reduces inflammation, and enhances the skin tone.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Non-irritating
- Suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
None
8. Best Mineral Oil-Free Formula:InstaNatural Superfoods Vitamin C Serum
The InstaNatural Superfoods Vitamin C Serum is designed to nourish your skin with essential vitamins and minerals and awaken the complexion. The blend of vitamin C and niacinamide brightens the skin and protects sit against aggressors. The chlorophyll, spirulina, broccoli, spinach, and kale in the serum work in tandem to impart radiance, improve skin vitality, and energize it to look more vibrant. This serum helps plump fine lines and wrinkles and strengthens the skin barrier in the process. If you want to know more about the InstaNatural Superfoods Vitamin C Serum, click on this video.
Pros
- Quickly absorbed
- Non-sticky
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- SLS-free
- Mineral oil-free
- No formaldehyde releasers
- No synthetic dyes
- Petroleum-free
- No polyethylene glycol
- DEA/MEA/TEA-free
- No unsafe preservatives
Cons
- Can be greasy.
9. Best Alcohol-Free Formula:COUI Vitamin C 20% Serum
The COUI Vitamin C 20% Serum is developed to heal your skin and give it a more youthful appearance. This formula is precisely engineered to provide skin protection and has the highest concentration of pure vitamin C available for treating various skin concerns. It stimulates collagen production, enhances elasticity, repairs damage, and exfoliates the dead skin cells. It also contains hyaluronic acid for deep hydration and glycerin to repair dry and acne-prone skin. The ferulic acid infused in the serum brightens and softens the skin while protecting it against environmental aggressors.
Pomegranate seed oil provides anti-inflammatory benefits and protection against free radicals, and the lemon and orange extracts help treat acne while imparting a glow. The serum also contains citrus essential oils that reduce pimples, unclog pores, and eliminate blackheads. The beta-carotene and phloretin enhance skin tone and elasticity, neutralize free radicals, and stimulate cell turnover to boost overall skin health.
Pros
- Dermatologist-tested
- GMO-free
- Paraben-free
- Cruelty-free
- Alcohol-free
Cons
- Expensive
- May cause breakouts and skin irritation.
10. Best Oil-Free Formula:La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum
The Vitamin C Serum from La Roche-Posay is designed to target fine lines and wrinkles while helping you achieve more radiant skin. It is formulated with a triple anti-aging complex comprised of 10% pure vitamin C, salicylic acid, and neurosensine that refine the skin’s texture and are gentle on sensitive skin.
While vitamin C hydrates the skin and adds radiance, salicylic acid works to purify the skin. It also helps enhance the skin tone. The La Roche-Posay prebiotic thermal water provides hydrating, soothing, antioxidant benefits to the skin, and the glycerin seals moisture to prevent dryness. The La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum will work wonders on your skin. For more information, check out this video.
Pros
- Dermatologist-tested
- Non-comedogenic
- Oil-free
- Quickly absorbed
- Non-greasy
- Paraben-free
Cons
- Contains fragrance
11. Best Skin-Firming Formula:Valentia Vitamin C Serum
The Valentia Vitamin C Serum is all you need for youthful, radiant skin. It contains plant-based ingredients like aloe vera, Kakadu plum, acai berry, and green tea extracts that help soothe and nourish the skin. The ferulic acid-based vitamin C serum also has several other skin-friendly ingredients like acerola fruit, mango, papaya, mulberry, and pomegranate that help restore your luminous glow. Regular use of this serum in your daytime routine will help smoothen and brighten the skin. It also helps diminish dark spots and blemishes and tightens the skin. The serum works with your skin’s microbiome to not only improve skin texture but also protect it from environmental pollutants and stressors. It is suitable for sensitive, acne-prone, and oily skin types.
Pros
- Contains natural ingredients
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Phthalate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Formaldehyde-free
Cons
None
12. Best Non-Comedogenic:EclatNatural Skincare Vitamin C Serum
With a plethora of benefits under its belt, the Eclat Vitamin C Serum is your one-stop solution for smooth and damage-free skin. It is full of antioxidants that prevent and repair imperfections, imparting a natural glow to your skin. The potent blend also protects the skin against harmful UV rays and prevents pigmentation by stimulating melanin production. It also shields the skin against free radicals.
This serum has anti-inflammatory properties wherein the antioxidants boost the skin to repair itself and correct damage. The major antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid have anti-carcinogenic properties that claim to prevent skin cancer. Hyaluronic acid boosts skin hydration, plumps wrinkles and fine lines, and makes the skin soft and supple.
Pros
- Non-greasy
- Non-comedogenic
- 100% vegan
- Dermatologist-approved
- Value for money
- Paraben-free
- Silicon-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Contains fragrance
- May cause breakouts.
13. Best Natural Ingredients:Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
The Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is designed with natural ingredients that work brilliantly on acne-prone and sensitive skin. Apart from vitamin C, this face serum contains a blend of vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, konjac root, and ferulic acid that can double up the healing process to help reduce signs of aging and give you a fresh and youthful look. The face serum has clary sage in it, which works as a natural toner and works to even out extremely dry or oily skin.
Pros
- Cruelty-free and vegan
- Contains natural ingredients
- Works on sensitive and acne-prone skin
Cons
- Has a yellow tint
14. Best For Skin Nourishment:TruSkin Vitamin C, E & Hyaluronic Acid Professional Facial Serum
This serum from TruSkinis designed to make your skin softer, more radiant, and even-toned. Vitamin C acts as a potent anti-aging ingredient with powerful antioxidant benefits. It is combined with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E to address various skin concerns, including saggy skin, dullness, fine lines, age spots, and wrinkles. This gentle formula also contains hazel, aloe, and jojoba oil that nourish the skin and provide ample moisture.
Pros
- Cruelty-free
- Phthalate-free
- Fragrance-free
- Paraben-free
- GMO-free
- Sulfate-free
- PEG-free
Cons
- May cause purging.
15. Best For Skin Elasticity:Cellex-C Serum For Sensitive Skin
The Cellex-Cserum is a pH-balanced formulation specifically designed for sensitive skin types. It is a gentle serum with Cellex-C complex that targets visible signs of aging. The pine bark extract infused in the formula aids in maximizing the anti-aging benefits of vitamin C. Within 8 to 10 weeks of regular use, it visibly reduces fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and saggy skin by boosting the skin’s resilience and elasticity. It makes your skin firmer and smoother and enhances its tone, texture, and overall radiance.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Oil-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Quickly absorbed
Cons
- Expensive
16. Best UV Protection:{save} Anti-pollution Vit C Booster
The {save} Anti-pollution Vit C Booster is an ideal choice for evening out the skin tone, reversing photoaging, and preventing premature aging. It is formulated with highly potent, antioxidant-rich vitamin C that reverses free radical damage and adds a dewy glow to the skin. It reduces the appearance of dark spots, improves discoloration due to sun and age, and makes your skin youthful and radiant.
This serum also contains ectoine, a deeply hydrating ingredient with impressive skin-repairing properties. It provides defense against UV rays and pollution while fighting the effects of dehydration and oxidative stress. Ectoin is also known for its ability to calm and soothe irritation, making this serum a top pick for sensitive skin.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Vegan
- Phthalate-free
- SLS-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Silicone-free
- No artificial fragrances
Cons
None
Did You Know?Infographic: What Not To Combine With A Vitamin C Serum
Various bioactive compounds like vitamin C are added to skin care products to deal with issues like acne, aging, and hyperpigmentation. While each ingredient benefits your skin in a unique way, some can cause trouble if accidentally combined. Go through the infographic below to learn about the four ingredients that must never be combined with your vitamin C serum.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
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A good Vitamin C serum must be a part of your skincare regimen! Vitamin C fights premature signs of aging while offering a beautiful glow to your skin. Vitamin C serums also cater to reducing hyperpigmentation while enhancing your skin tone. You should choose Vitamin C serums that can improve your skin’s texture and reduce fine lines, patches, and wrinkles. However, it is better to avoid those Vitamin C serums that contain parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
Shiboli Chakraborti, the author of this article, is a certified skin care coach and a passionate writer about makeup and skin care products. She has carefully researched user reviews and feedback over multiple online platforms to put together this buying guide and product list of the best vitamin C serums for sensitive skin. The products included in the list are mild and will not irritate sensitive skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is vitamin C serum suitable for sensitive skin?
Yes, vitamin C serum is suitable for sensitive skin. But start with a lower concentration of vitamin C if you have sensitive skin.
Can I use vitamin C serum every day?
Yes, apply vitamin C twice daily for the best results.
Can vitamin C make you break out?
Yes, vitamin C can cause purging or initial breakouts in most skin types. However, it is temporary and goes away after a short while.
How long does it take for vitamin C serum to work?
Vitamin C serum takes 1-4 months to show visible results on the facial skin.
How do you know if vitamin C serum is working?
Your skin starts looking brighter and more hydrated, and the appearance of blemishes and hyperpigmentation reduces with regular application of vitamin C.
What are the side effects of vitamin C serum?
Skin irritation, redness, tingling sensation, and inflammation are common side effects of vitamin C serum.
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