The question I get asked most at FutureDerm is, what are the best products? Since Paula Begoun already has a product review glossary, and many blogs do individual product reviews, I thought that ranking lists of the best serums, moisturizers, eye creams, and so on and so forth would be value-add for my readers. So, without further ado, here’s the first list: The best vitamin C serums!
#1.) FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic 16+2 Silk Serum
Of course it’s my favorite — I formulated it (together with cosmetic chemists!) FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic 16+2 Silk Serum is an exclusive brightening, tightening serum containing an unprecedented 16% vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid, 2% vitamin E, and 0.5% caffeic acid, all suspended in a state-of-the-art silicone base.
In the spring of 2015, we reformulated the FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic 16+2 Silk Serum to now contain antioxidant grapeseed oil and omega 3-rich avocado oil.
Ingredients in FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic 16+2 Silk Serum:Â Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Dimethicone Crosspolymer-3, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Bis-Vinyl Dimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Aluminum Starch, Octenylsuccinate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed oil, Tocopherol Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide MEA, Fragrance, Caffeic acid.
#2.) [easyazon_link identifier=”B00095W7D4″ locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]Skinceuticals CE Ferulic[/easyazon_link]
It’s a cult favorite for a reason. This was the first skincare product I ever purchased for more than $100. And, twelve years later, I’m still in love with it. It contains 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, and stabilizing antioxidant ferulic acid. It’s a better choice for oilier skin types than my own FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic, owing to its thin ethoxydiglycol base and fast absorbance.
Ingredients in Skinceuticals CE Ferulic:Â aqua / water / eau, ethoxydiglycol, ascorbic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, laureth-23, phenoxyethanol, tocopherol, triethanolamine, ferulic acid, panthenol, sodium hyaluronate.
#3.) [easyazon_link identifier=”B019WCNLOI” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C Serum 20%[/easyazon_link]
Although vitamin C esters haven’t become mainstream in the beauty industry yet, they are starting to pop up from brands like Kiehl’s, Mad Hippie, and Dr. Brandt. This vitamin C serum is my favorite of the new formulations, with 20% vitamin C ester. This gets me super excited because an early study showed that just 2% of the vitamin C ester in this serum (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid) improved skin whitening and radiance after just 28 days of twice-daily application (Cosmetics and Toiletries). This means that 20% could have up to 5-7 times the effect of 15% L-ascorbic acid.
I put this as #3 and not #1 for three reasons. First, it’s unproven. That one study is very exciting, sure, but it’s just one study. With a science background, I need to see these results replicated in at least 3-4 studies before I’m ready to kick L-ascorbic acid to the curb. Second, this serum comes in a 0.55 floz bottle, whereas the others on this list are generally sold in at least 1.0 floz bottles. It only lasts me 2-3 weeks. Third, it’s my own  FutureDerm Vitamin CE Caffeic that is listed as #1 — c’mon! lol. But with all due honesty, those two reasons — not enough studies and the small size of the bottle — are why this is listed as #3 currently.
Read the full Dr. Brandt Power Dose Vitamin C Serum 20% Review.
#4.) [easyazon_link identifier=”B009QZEHAO” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]iS Clinical Super Serum[/easyazon_link]
Sometimes life is hard, but every once in a while, you end up getting a lot more than you pay for. In this case, [easyazon_link identifier=”B009QZEHAO” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]iS Clinical Super Serum[/easyazon_link] is a vitamin C serum with a super-high concentration of vitamin C as L-ascorbic acid (I estimate 15-20%), plus a bunch of other proven ingredients for brightening and hydrating the skin. These include arbutin, pentapeptide amino acids, kojic acid, mushroom extract, and vitamin B5 — all in fairly high concentration, and all in a pentylene glycol base that enables the skin serum to reach your skin in the first place.
So why is it ranked just fourth? Simple — it doesn’t contain vitamin E, which is a network antioxidant that can strengthen the power of vitamin C when the ingredients are used together. That said, you combine this under a sunscreen that is rich in vitamin E, and you have it made in the shade. (Or, rather, in this case, in the sun).
Ingredients in [easyazon_link identifier=”B009QZEHAO” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]isClinical Super Serum[/easyazon_link]:Â Water/ Aqua/ Eau, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Urea, Glucose, Guanidine, Tripeptide-1, Arbutin, Polyporus Umbellatus (Mushroom) Extract, Calcium Pentothenate, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol.
#5.) Paula’s Choice Vitamin C Spot Solution
Here finishing up the notable top 5 is Paula’s Choice Vitamin C Spot Solution. On the one hand, it has a whopping 25% L-ascorbic acid — by far the highest of any of the vitamin C serums on this list, and the highest I have honestly seen on the market at the time of this publishing.
On the other hand, it is ranked fifth because it doesn’t have vitamin E (like [easyazon_link identifier=”B009QZEHAO” locale=”US” tag=”cosmeticswiki-20″]iS Clinical Super Serum[/easyazon_link]), and it also doesn’t have the other ingredients that make iS Clinical Super Serum special, like arbutin, pentapeptide amino acids, kojic acid, mushroom extract, and vitamin B5. At the same time, it is only $55, the most affordable option on this list, and will still likely do the trick on sunspots and uneven skin tone with religious twice-daily use for 6-8 weeks.
Ingredients in Paula’s Choice Vitamin C Spot Solution:Â Cyclopentasiloxane (silicone slip agent), Ascorbic Acid (vitamin C/antioxidant), Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate (emollient), Polysilicone-11 (skin-conditioning agent), Dimethicone (silicone thickener), Polymethylsilsesquioxane (opacifying agent), Disteardimonium Hectorite (dispersing agent), Propylene Carbonate (solvent).
Got a product type you want to see on our Top 5 list? Let me know in Comments, or write to me at nicki[at]futurederm[dot]com!