Acne is a pain for everyone. You might think that it is just a problem for teenagers. But, while teenagers are disproportionately affected by acne—because of their high hormone levels—anyone at any age can have the problem. Unfortunately, even if you have never had acne problems as a young person, you can suddenly develop them at an older age.
If you are one of the thousands of people affected by acne, never fear. Acne does not have to determine the rest of your life. Using one of the best Vitamin C serums for acne can help you manage and even cure the issue quickly. Today we will provide our top five picks for acne helping Vitamin C serums and discuss all of the important issues around using this amazing product.

Contents
- 1 Top five best Vitamin C Serums for Acne-Prone Skin 2020 – Comparison table
- 2 Top five best Vitamin C Serums for Acne-Prone Skin 2020 – Reviews
- 2.1 1 TruSkin Naturals Tea Tree Clear Skin Serum
- 2.2 2 Amara Organics Vitamin C Serum for Face
- 2.3 3 Foxbrim Vitamin C Serum for Face with Hyaluronic Acid
- 2.4 4 LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Face and Eyes
- 2.5 5 M3 Naturals Premium Vitamin C Serum for Face, Anti-Aging Topical Facial Serum
- 3 What is Vitamin C?
- 4 What are Vitamin C serums?
- 5 Do Vitamin C Serums work?
- 6 Other Vitamin C Treatments for Acne
- 7 What are other conditions treated by Vitamin C serums?
- 8 What to look for in a Vitamin C Serum for Acne?
- 9 What to what out for in a Vitamin C Serum for Acne?
- 10 Pros of Vitamin C srums
- 11 Cons of Vitamin C serums
- 12 Tips for using Vitamin C serums effectively
- 13 Where do I purchase Vitamin C serums?
- 14 Final Words
Top five best Vitamin C Serums for Acne-Prone Skin 2020 – Comparison table
Still a little overwhelmed by all this information. Don’t worry. Here are our top five Vitamin C serums. We have included the most pertinent information in the chart before. We then look at each product in more detail in the following review section.
Images | Products | # | Vitamin C percentage | Active Ingredients | Also Treats | Size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | #1 | 20% | Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, Niacinamide (B3), Salicylic Acid, Tea Tree Essential Oil | Acne scars, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines | 1.76 oz |
|
![]() | #2 | 20% | Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Aloe Leaf, Cassia Angustifolia Seed, Witch hazel, Jojoba Oil, Gotu Kola Extract, Horsetail Plant Extract, Geranium Extract, Dandelion Extract | Wrinkles, greasy skin, skin tone and texture | 1 oz |
|
![]() | #3 | 20% | Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera, Amino Complex, Witch hazel, Jojoba Oil | Wrinkles, free radical formation, sun spots, discoloration, firmness skin tone and texture | 1 oz |
|
![]() | #4 | 20% | Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Leaf Juice, Vitamin E, Jojoba Oil, Gotu Kola, Horsetail Extract, Wild Geranium Extract, Sodium Hydroxide | Skin tone and texture, hyperpigmentation, scars, fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles around eyes | 1 oz |
|
![]() | #5 | 20% | Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Retinyl, Vitamin A, Algae Extract | Aging signs, wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, sun spots | 1 oz |
Top five best Vitamin C Serums for Acne-Prone Skin 2020 – Reviews
If you’ve read our section above that lists the other ingredients to look for in a Vitamin C serum, then you will notice that TruSkin Naturals’ Tea Tree Clear Skin Serum has almost all of the ingredients listed. Not only does TruSkin Naturals provide a product with 20% Vitamin C—the highest amount possible—but they include Retinol, Niacinamide (B3), Salicylic Acid, and Tea Tree Essential Oil, all of which have been proven to help reduce acne and its damage to your skin.
Because of its potent formula, people with sensitive skin should be extra careful about the amount of product they use on their faces. It is recommended that you start with just one application a day at first to see how your skin will react.
Most reviewers note that this product changed their lives by curing or greatly reducing the signs of their acne. You too can reap these great benefits by purchasing TruSkin Naturals Tea Tree Clear Skin Serum today.
Amara Organics claims that their Vitamin C serum for the face “clears up and prevents breakouts, shrinks pores, and minimizes acne scars. So, essentially, this serum helps with all acne-related problems. It will also provide other benefits associated with Vitamin C serums like fading age spots, getting rid of wrinkles and fine lines, and improving your skin’s tone.
You can be sure that you will receive the gains that Amara Organics claims because they back up their product with a 100% money-back guarantee. There is no timeline, questions asked, or returns required. This just goes to show that when a company has made a great product, they are not afraid to stand behind it.
As anyone with acne knows, it does more than just create pimples, it will also give you scars. That is why it is important to find a Vitamin C serum that heals your skin as well as your acne. Foxbrim understands this well, and so has created a serum that combines Vitamin C with Hyaluronic Acid.
Foxbrim’s Hyaluronic Acid is sourced from Vegan-friendly materials, so can be used by people of any animal-rights philosophy. The introduction of Hyaluronic Acid helps to retain the moisture in your skin, which reduces the appearance of wrinkles as well as scarring. Since Vitamin C can cause some dryness in your skin, its pairing with Hyaluronic Acid in this serum is a perfect combination.
4 LilyAna Naturals Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid for Face and Eyes
If you want therapeutic grade ingredients that are still plant-based and natural, then you should look real hard at LilyAna Naturals’ Vitamin C Serum. All of their ingredients are plant-sourced so that Vegans and Vegetarians don’t have to compromise their values just to get healthy skin.
LilyAna Naturals also leave out all parabens, artificial coloring, and fragrances in their serum, so there will be nothing to irritate your skin. Even people with the most sensitive and damaged skin can use their product without worry.
Finally, LilyAna Naturals’ Vitamin C serum stands out on our list because it is formulated for the skin under your eyes as well as that on the rest of your face. The versatility of the serum help makes it extremely popular with customers. For example, of almost 2000 reviews on Amazon, it still has a 4.5 rating.
5 M3 Naturals Premium Vitamin C Serum for Face, Anti-Aging Topical Facial Serum
No what skin blemish you may have, M3 Naturals’ Premium Vitamin C Serum has the solution. It contains an overload of antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E. These antioxidants help fight skin damage done by environmental factors like pollution and UV rays.
Additionally, M3 Naturals puts Hyaluronic Acid and Retinyl in the serum to reduce the signs of acne scarring and the condition of nasty-looking blemishes. Finally, the aloe and algae extract in the ingredient list calm and smooth your skin.
With all of these amazing, natural, and pure ingredients, it is no wonder that it is Amazon’s #1 Best Seller in Facial Polishes.
What is Vitamin C?
Before talking about the amazing effects of Vitamin C serums, you need to know what Vitamin C is and how it works. Probably self-evidently, Vitamin C is a vitamin. You may also see it advertised under the name L-ascorbic acid. It, along with Vitamin B and Folate, is a water-soluble vitamin that is present in many foods, most famously citrus fruits like oranges.
Vitamin C has been used for centuries to help reduce signs of aging. In fact, there is some anthropological evidence that shows the topical use of Vitamin C as far back as the Tang Dynasty (618-917) C.E.
Humans need Vitamin C for the production of collagen, L-carnitines, and other neurotransmitters. Additionally, Vitamin C is important for protein metabolism. We’re not going to go any further into the science behind Vitamin C—this is more than enough science talk for today’s article. But, suffice it to say that we all need to get a specific amount of Vitamin C daily for our bodies to function properly.
Vitamin C goes by many different names. If you see a product with Vitamin C ester, ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl ascorbate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate on a label, the product has Vitamin C in it.
What are Vitamin C serums?
Wondering what all of this has to do with Vitamin C serums? Like the rest of our body, our skin needs Vitamin C to work properly and look its best. Additionally, skin does not produce Vitamin C on its own, so it needs a little help from you.
If you are struggling with acne, your skin’s need for Vitamin C is even greater. Vitamin C serums provide a highly concentrated distillation of the vitamin—and other materials in the product, see below. The liquid that results is usually odorless and can be used on its own or put into your favorite moisturizer.
Serums are significantly lighter than other acne topical treatments like creams or moisturizers. This can help reduce acne since serums do not clog pores.
Because they are such a highly concentrated liquid, it is recommended that you only use a drop or two of a Vitamin C serum. Too much could damage, instead of help, your skin.
Do Vitamin C Serums work?
This is probably your biggest question. And the short answer is, yes, Vitamin C serums do work effectively as skincare treatments for acne.
Their antioxidant properties and production of collagen help to keep our skin smooth and taut. Collagen is a protein and is abundantly found in our connective tissues. Vitamin C helps prevent the production of free radicals, which come to us from many factors, including environmental ones like pollution and sun damage.
Also, Vitamin C prevents the synthesis of melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives our skin and hair its color. The more melanin you have, the darker your skin and hair. An overproduction of melanin can cause dark or red spots on your skin. By blocking melatonin production, Vitamin C serums reduce the appearance of these unsightly spots.
Other Vitamin C Treatments for Acne
While our article today focuses on Vitamin C serums that are best for acne, there are other treatment options you can choose to heal your skin.
Vitamin C (Oral) supplements
If you’ve ever taken Vitamin C for a cold, then you are familiar with the benefits of orally consuming the vitamin. Ingesting Vitamin C can boost your immune system, which can help your entire body. When your immune system is functioning properly, you get sick less.
Acne outbreaks can indicate a problem with your immune system, so by making it healthier, you will be working to reduce your acne. However, many reviewers note that orally ingesting Vitamin C does not seem to work as well or as quickly as topically applying it to trouble areas.
Vitamin C Creams
You will sometimes see Vitamin C creams instead of serums. Many creams will include moisturizing agents as well, which reduce the number of products you need to put on your face. Creams and moisturizers can cause oiliness or clog pores, which can make acne worse. So, they must be used with caution.
What are other conditions treated by Vitamin C serums?
Because Vitamin C serums increase the production of collagen in your skin they can help stop the effects of aging. In fact, when searching for Vitamin C serums, you will likely see the words “anti-aging” or “youthful” on the bottle.
The presence of these words doesn’t mean that the serum doesn’t treat acne as well, it just indicates the major target market for Vitamin C serums. You can use Vitamin C serums to help keep your skin looking youthful as well as acne-free. However, because there is a lot of variability in the ingredient proportions in the serums, you will want to continue reading to learn about the best Vitamin C serum formulas that treat acne specifically.
What to look for in a Vitamin C Serum for Acne?
Because Vitamin C serums do not work as effectively when they’re alone, there are some other ingredients you should see when looking at the label. All of the ingredients listed here help reduce acne and its symptoms like redness and scarring.
One final thing you should look for in your Vitamin C serum is the amount of Vitamin C. Different serums will have different concentrations. For acne, more is better. Most people recommend looking for a product with 5-15% of Ascorbic acid or 1-20 % of Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate/Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (two other forms of Vitamin C).
What to what out for in a Vitamin C Serum for Acne?
There seem to be a million Vitamin C serums on the market. Some are better than others. One way to tell the bad Vitamin C serums from the good ones is the ingredients used. Here are a couple of ingredients that you should stay away from.
To recap, here are some of the most important pros and cons of Vitamin C serums that you should keep in mind before making a purchase.
Pros of Vitamin C srums
Cons of Vitamin C serums
Tips for using Vitamin C serums effectively
With Vitamin C serums, a little goes a long way, since it is a very potent material. So, when using your Vitamins C Serum there are some steps to follow that will make sure you’re getting the most benefit.
You should repeat this process twice a day, preferably in the morning and at night. Always follow the instructions on the label of your specific product.
Important Note: Before using a Vitamin C serum, you should dab a drop or two on your skin to make sure you do not have a negative reaction. People with sensitive skin should be especially careful when using this product.
If your skin becomes red or dry at this initial stage or while using the serum, you should reduce your use to once per day. Visit your dermatologist and stop using the serum if the symptoms do not go away within a week.
Where do I purchase Vitamin C serums?
Vitamin C serums are popular enough that they can be purchased at most stores with a beauty department. Your largest selection throughout the country will be at Walmart, Target, Ulta Beauty, or Walgreens.
You can also purchase Vitamin C serums online. The biggest, and cheapest, distributor of online beauty products is—of course—Amazon. We’ve included links to Amazon’s product listings for all five Vitamin C serums listed above.
Final Words
Acne can be a pain, both literally and figuratively. So, if you are looking to control and stop an acne outbreak, we recommend checking out one of the options on our list of the best Vitamin C serums for acne-prone skin.