Best Drugstore Vitamin C Serum: Cerave vs. L'Oreal vs. The Ordinary?

• The Difference & Reviews

| CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum

Google Users Rating: 4.0/5

Walmart: $20.97/30ml (up to 4% cashback)

Walgreens: $24.99 (up to 6% cashback)

Rite Aid: $25.99 (up to 4% cashback)

Key ingredients: 

- 10% Pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid): As the purest form of vitamin C, this ingredient helps visibly brighten and even skin tone.

- Three essential ceramides: Locks in moisture and helps maintain the skin's natural barrier.

- MVE Technology: Continually releases moisturizing ingredients for all-day hydration.

- Hyaluronic acid: Attracts hydration to the skin's surface and helps your skin retain moisture.

Packaging: Unlike most serums, this formula is housed in a metal tube, not a bottle, because this packaging keeps the vitamin C from oxidizing, ultimately impacting its effectiveness. 

Texture: Most Vitamin C serums come in a very liquid form. But this one has a more emulsion-like texture. However, it leaves quite some residue on your face. You need to wait a while for it to dry.

Fragrance: If you're sensitive to strong scents in your skincare products, then this face serum is for you!  It's completely odorless so there's nothing to worry about in that department.

Review: This is a lightweight serum that works well under a moisturizer, but people with oily skin may want to skip the moisturizer altogether. Ideal for any skin type, even sensitive skin.

"This was the first-ever vitamin C [serum] I'd ever tried and I saw results within two or three days," said one shopper. "My skin looked brighter and I had this 'natural glow.'

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| L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum

Google Users Rating: 4.5/5

Walmart: $14.95/30ml (up to 4% cashback)

Walgreens: $29.99 (up to 6% cashback)

Rite Aid: $25.99 (up to 4% cashback)

Key ingredients: 

- 10% Pure Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a vital antioxidant naturally found in skin; It is recommended by dermatologists to boost radiance, brighten skin, and help neutralize free radicals that may lead to visible signs of aging.

- Hyaluronic acid: Attracts hydration to the skin's surface and helps your skin retain moisture.

Packaging: Since it is safely packaged in a metal tube, it isn't exposed to light or air nearly as much. One downside to this is that there is a possibility of clogging. 

Texture: It is a gel/lotion consistency and goes on the skin very smooth/silky and absorbs quickly. It does not leave a residue.

Fragrance: If you're sensitive to strong scents in your skincare products, then this face serum is for you!  It's completely odorless so there's nothing to worry about in that department.

Review: One shopper said: "Immediately after a few days of using this I noticed my skin started looking smoother and firmer and after a few months, it looks more even in tone and I find my skin is just overall more cooperative . I have been happy with the results I have been seeing, and will continue to purchase this serum."

Because of the high amount of silicone, the skin feels more matte. But if you have oily skin, it can still feel a little greasy in hotter or more humid weather.

| The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%

Google Users Rating: 3.8/5

Sephora: $7.00/30ml (up to 5% cashback)

Selfridges: $6.50 (up to 7% cashback)

Feelunique US: $7.20 (up to 9% cashback)

Key ingredients: 

- 23% pure L-Ascorbic Acid: A pure, powdered L-ascorbic acid suspension visibly brightens the skin and helps to fade dark spots and discoloration while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and improving the skin's overall texture.

- 2% Dehydrated Spheres of Hyaluronic Acid: Not only does hyaluronic acid help smooth the skin's surface, but it's also wonderful for hydration, drawing moisture into the skin, and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

The Formulation: Vitamin C products are typically hard to stabilize and lose efficacy quickly. The extremely fine powder used in this formula (which is suspended in liquid) is meant to ensure that the skin receives the most direct exposure to vitamin C, making it extremely potent. 

Packaging: A white and grey tube that keeps Vitamin C away from the light and air that would make it go bad faster. However, it always dispenses too much product so be very careful when squeezing it out of the tube. You can't put excess on your skin (too much vitamin C can irritate your skin), but you don't want to throw it away either. That would be a waste!

Texture: It is a lightweight, runny white cream that gets absorbed into the skin quickly. However, you can feel the powder under your finger tips and on your skin. The first couple of applications cause your skin to tingle and feel like a slight burning sensation. This goes away in due course.

Fragrance: It's completely fragrance-free, so don't worry about creating additional sensitivity issues.

Review: One shopper said: "I personally diluted this with a different serum or cream w/very simple, basic ingredients when I first started incorporating into my routine and gradually transitioned to applying the suspension by itself (I still only use this about once a week). I personally use this for combating any dark spots or hyperpigmentation since it's done a great job fading those concerns for me as well as combating any overall dullness. "

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension has a thin liquid consistency and a slightly greasy, gritty, and powdery feel that takes some getting used to. If this vitamin C product is too strong for your skin, you can mix it with your moisturizer or another cream-based product to dilute its strength until your skin can build a tolerance. While this product is intense and not the best option for sensitive skin types, if your skin can tolerate it, it's a transformative product. 

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