7 Brands Share What Sets Their Popular Vitamin C Brighteners Apart

Beekman 1802 Golden Booster Brightening Serum ($28)

“Vitamin C has superpowers, but if you have sensitive skin, traditional vitamin C products can also cause redness, itching, peeling and skin irritation. What makes Beekman 1802’s Golden Booster Brightening Serum so special is the amla berry, a super berry that not only has 20 times more vitamin C than an orange, but is shelf stable. Our serum is formulated specifically for sensitive skin and is an effective yet safe alternative to traditional vitamin C serums that can lead to skin irritation.”

—Dr. Brent Ridge, cofounder of Beekman 1802

Alphascience Tannic [CF] Serum ($115)

“Although we know how effective pure vitamin C is, scientists all around the world have tried to stabilize it at high temperatures like in the human skin. Cofounder of Alphascience, Dr. Alfred Marchal, an organic chemistry and antioxidant expert has finally managed to create the third generation vitamin C complex and ultimate antioxidant serums, proven to be not only stable at high temperatures but resistant to oxidation for a longer time than in the past.”

—Julien Revol, cofounder and CEO of Alphascience 

Joanna Vargas Rescue Serum ($150)

“My Rescue Serum is pure vitamin C, meant to literally save your skin from the ravages of the sun and pollution that cause cell mutation in the skin. When used daily, vitamin C can soften wrinkles, erase fine lines and make the skin softer while increasing the glow factor. The types of vitamin C I use in this formula stabilize each other. This product has no preservatives so it’s very pure and the squalene balances out the C so it feels hydrating but light as it goes into the skin.”

—Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of Joanna Vargas Skin Care

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner ($80)

“We use one of the highest levels of pure vitamin C available in an over-the-counter cosmetic product—20% pure L-ascorbic acid. We have three patents on the ability to encapsulate pure vitamin C so that it does not degrade or oxidize, like many competitors whose products turn orange brown. We are the only company that has this technology given the exclusive patents.”

—Ron Robinson, founder of BeautyStat

Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum ($85)

“The THD ascorbate we use in our formula is an advanced derivative of vitamin C that converts to L-ascorbic acid once it touches the skin through an enzymatic reaction. The benefit of this is that L-ascorbic acid is a notoriously unstable ingredient and often oxidizes in the bottle to dehydroascorbic acid. While dehydroascorbic acid still is beneficial to the skin, it can further react and oxidize to chemicals that do not have the same Vitamin C levels. THD ascorbate is not only more potent, but it’s stability means you get a high-impact dose of fresh vitamin C every time you apply it.”

—Sunday Riley

Saint Jane The C-Drops 20% Vitamin C ($90)

“I’ve had a love affair with vitamin C for years, but the perfect blend just didn’t exist for me. I wanted an intensely potent level of vitamin C, such as 20%, for its brightening benefits blended with ingredients that are renowned for their calming properties together in a meticulously clean formula. The type of vitamin C I sourced for The C-Drops comes from Japan and is encapsulated in glycerin to ensure deep yet gentle absorption into the dermal layer. This unique vitamin C technology when paired with CBD creates a brightening elixir that brightens and nourishes the skin without irritation.”

—Casey Georgeson, CEO and founder of SAINT JANE

Colleen Rothschild Vitamin C Treatment Complex ($65)

“The workhorse in this creamy formula is THD ascorbate, a potent antioxidant known to be the most stable of all vitamin C forms and is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive or reactive skin. Because the skin’s surface is made up of skin cells held together by lipids and THD ascorbate is lipid-soluble, it helps ingredients move more freely to areas of concern. In addition to the highly effective vitamin C, this hardworking formula includes a bouquet of skin-brightening botanical extracts such as bearberry, licorice and mulberry to help amplify and take your antioxidant protection, overall radiance and skin clarity to the next level.”

—Colleen Rothschild