14 Best Vitamin C Serums for Dark Skin to Get That Desired Glow
Vitamin C serum is one of the skincare products that beauty enthusiasts have been loving ever since it came into existence. Because, why not? They have the magical power to address all your pesky skincare problems that other products have failed to cure. These best vitamin C serums for dark skin are specially curated to fade away all the patches, pigmentations, melasma, and acne spots single-handedly. Not only that, but they are also an excellent source to brighten up the skin while minimizing the appearance of early aging signs. Board certified dermatologists claim that these potent serums have the capability to boost collagen production and repair your skin from within.
It is now that simple to get the best skin of your dreams with these magical potions! Based on our first hand experience, here, we have curated some of the best products available online that have some rave reviews. Take a look at our comprehensive list to grab one today!
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
Murad Vita-C Glycolic Serum
TruSkin Vitamin C Serum Facial Serum
Eclat Skincare Vitamin C Serum
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
Tree of Life Vitamin C Serum
ELbbuB Vitamin C 20% Anti-aging Serum
ADVANCED CLINICALS Vitamin C Anti-aging Serum
Neutrogena RAPID TONE REPAIR 20% Vitamin C Serum
Mad Hippie VITAMIN C SERUM
In This Article
14 Best Vitamin C Serums for Dark Skin
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1Best Overall
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum
Combat pigmentation, dry skin, and dullness with Mario Badescu's Vitamin C serum. Suitable for all skin types, this serum is also enriched with sodium hyaluronate which visibly reduces signs of aging. It retexturizes the skin, reduces the appearance of pores, and gives you a healthy glow. Moreover, it restores the skin's luminosity which aids in having a healthy skin barrier. An Amazon user penned, "The texture was fantastic, really sinks into your skin. No funky smell, easy applicator. Great quality and inexpensive."
- Value for money
- Smoothens skin texture
- Unclogs pores
- Reduces signs of aging
- Some may not like the fragrance
Murad Vita-C Glycolic Serum
When in doubt, opt for Murad's Vita-C Glycolic serum. The luxe formula made with premium ingredients is absolutely essential to your AM routine. It almost instantly reduces hyperpigmentation and dark spots. While vitamin C acts as a powerful antioxidant, glycolic acid gently exfoliates the skin. Suitable for all skin types, this serum restores your skin barrier. Get healthy, glowing skin with regular application of this serum.
- Instant results
- Hydrating serum
- Smoothens texture
- Expensive
TruSkin Vitamin C Serum Facial Serum
TruSkin has come up with one form of vitamin C that suits all skin types, including oily, sensitive, dry, and combination to get the desired glow without any kind of pigmentations and pesky spots. Also loaded with botanical hyaluronic acid, MSM, and vitamin E, the facial serum not only brightens up the uneven skin tone but also boosts hydration and nourishes the skin at the same time. Addedly, it ensures that the effective ingredients help to minimize the visible aging signs for a youthful appearance.
- Skin-friendly
- Potent serum
- Fights free radicals
- Brightens skin
- Hydrates skin
- Calms skin
- Smells bad
Eclat Skincare Vitamin C Serum
The vitamin C serum for dark spots is packed with an effective formula consisting of key ingredients like aloe vera, MSM, retinol, jojoba oil, and vitamin C and E to reduce hyperpigmentation while ensuring a well rejuvenated, hydrated, and smooth skin that will fetch compliments without doing much. The product contains nature-powered pure forms of vitamin C that unlocks glowy skin without causing any irritation or redness in the short run. Addedly, the lightweight formula gets quickly absorbed into the skin which promises a lasting radiance in just 2 weeks.
- Fades dark spots
- Ensures radiance
- Promotes skin's regenerative properties
- Works as an anti-aging product
- Cruelty-free
- Lightweight formula
- Not for sensitive skin
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
The brand boasts of coming up with a patented technology featuring 10% pure vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and 3 essential ceramides that promise to brighten up the face while repairing the skin barrier and retaining the moisture levels at the same time. Developed by dermatologists, the vitamin C serum is non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, and paraben-free to ensure the best results out of the product. It also provides antioxidant benefits that promote even skin tone without making the skin feel heavy and uneasy.
- Brightens skin
- Protects natural barrier
- Non-greasy
- Lightweight
- Ensures radiant complexion
- Packaging prevents oxidation
- A bit too strong
Tree of Life Vitamin C Serum
The dermatologically-tested formula not only brightens and smoothes your skin, but also fades away your dark spots and aging signs for overall benefit. It visibly bestows you with glowy skin while improving the texture of your skin surface. Addedly, apart from vitamin C, it also consists of organic aloe vera, jojoba oil, and witch hazel that also soothe the skin and minimize the appearance of your pores. Last but not the least, the lightweight and non-sticky formula promises that it gets quickly absorbed by the skin without leaving a trace.
- Intensely moisturizing
- Minimizes pores
- Lightweight formula
- Cruelty-free
- Vegan-friendly
- Dermatologically-tested
- Dropper doesn't work
ELbbuB Vitamin C 20% Anti-aging Serum
The plant-based formula of the brightening serum for dark skin consists of hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, retinol, and vitamin C that decrease the melanin production for brighter and smoother skin. It also takes the upper hand at stimulating collagen production for a firmer and youthful-looking skin. Furthermore, the product promises to blur out fine lines, wrinkles, and aging spots for an enhanced appearance. The best part? It takes due care of your dehydrated and dull skin and makes it plumper and brighter.
- Makes skin smoother
- Fights wrinkles
- Retains moisture
- Increases collagen production
- Absorbs quickly
- Brightens up skin
- Could be more moisturizing
ADVANCED CLINICALS Vitamin C Anti-aging Serum
Enriched with an effective formulation of vitamin C, soy extract, ferulic acid, and aloe vera, the serum evens out your skin tone while detoxifying the sluggish appearance for an ageless glow. It also promises to deal with dry skin and irritation and help to create a smooth canvas for you, all thanks to the antioxidant-rich formula. The potent formula further encourages collagen production and promotes elasticity for a rejuvenated appearance. All in all, enhancing your radiance couldn't be easier than this!
- Repairs skin
- Diminishes fine lines
- Suits all skin types
- Stimulates collagen production
- Dermatologically-tested
- Cruelty-free
- Could be more moisturizing
Neutrogena RAPID TONE REPAIR 20% Vitamin C Serum
Trust us when we say that it is one good vitamin C serum for hyperpigmentation that contains 20% pure vitamin C. It promises to visibly smoothen and brighten your skin in just 1 week. To note more, the package comes with 30 counts of capsules packed with seaweed that are a powerhouse of potent antioxidants and deal with the skin-aging factors while brightening and evening out the skin tone at the same time. It also visibly reduces the appearance of dark spots and makes your skin appear youthful within a few days. The best part? The serum is paraben-free, fragrance-free, alcohol-free, oil-free, and dye-free.
- Brightens skin tone
- Minimizes fine lines
- Biodegradable
- Paraben-free
- Fragrance-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Leaves cast
RoC MULTI CORREXION REVIVE + GLOW DAILY Serum
The potent formula of the daily serum claims to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles while evening out the skin tone at the same time. It also contains peptides that firm your skin for a youthful appearance. On the other hand, emollients like hyaluronic acid ensure a boost of moisturization for an even plumper look. Besides, it is a lightweight formula that boosts your radiance while leaving the skin refreshed. Last but not least, it combats visible effects of environmental stressors so that you can have the desired healthy skin.
- Lightweight
- Clinically-proven
- Makes skin tighter
- Improves elasticity
- Diminishes fine lines
- Dermatologically-tested
- Irritates the skin
Mad Hippie VITAMIN C SERUM
With powerful ingredients like konjac root, clary sage, chamomile, hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, and vitamin A and C, the serum beautifully plumps the skin by sinking into it without irritating the upper surface. It also works wonders on pesky sun spots, pigmentations, and acne marks to ensure you have an unwavering glow. Addedly, the product brightens and tightens skin while minimizing fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and dark patches to give you the skin that you have always wanted.
- Tightens skin
- Smoothes skin
- Stable formula
- Plumps skin
- Improves skin texture
- Removes discoloration
- Smells bad
L'Oreal Paris REVITALIFT 10% PURE Vitamin C
The L'Oreal Paris Revitalift serum is enriched with 10% pure vitamin C that promises to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, appearance of dark circles, and signs of sun damage for a younger look. Not only that, the potent cream also moisturizes and replenishes the skin for a plumpy appearance. With a protective air-tight metal tube, the brand ensures that the product remains unoxidized, thanks to the technology that facilitates minimal oxygen exposure. Last but not least, the dermatologist validated formula is lightweight in texture that quickly dissolves into your skin without leaving a residue.
- Immediate visible results
- Dermatologically-validated
- Lightweight
- Fragrance-free
- Youthful radiance
- Allergy-tested
- Chemical smell
LUMENE [Valo] NORDIC-C GLOW BOOST ESSENCE
Other than vitamin C, the Glow Boost Essence also contains hyaluronic acid which is known to be the most potent ingredient to maximize the hydration levels for attaining plump and smooth skin. To note, the antioxidant-rich product also consists of exotic ingredients like arctic spring water, and wild Arctic cloudberry to boost the glow and clarify dull and tired skin. The best part? It is vegan-friendly and made up of high levels of upcycled ingredients.
- Clinically tested
- Unique blend of ingredients
- Vegan-friendly
- Boosts radiance
- Intensely hydrating
- Makes skin plump
- Packaging could be better
SKIN & LAB VITAMIN C BRIGHTENING SERUM
The brightening serum by Skin & Lab contains potent vitamin C, vitamin B5, hyaluronic acid, and 15 vitamin blends to soothe the skin and boost radiance to replenish moisture level at the same time. The essential vitamins to fade dark spots work in such a way that they go deeper into skin to give you plumpy and bouncy skin texture for a refreshing look that you have always desired. To note more, the quick absorbing formula is light in weight and leaves no residue, to say the least!
- Brightens skin
- Improves radiance level
- Fades away hyperpigmentation
- Keeps skin hydrated
- Dermatologically-tested
- Makes skin tighter
- Causes a little bit irritation
Now that you have already gone through the product list, take a look at how you can pick the best one for yourself -
How to Choose the Best Vitamin C Serum for Dark Skin?
Here are the parameters to consider when choosing the best vitamin C serum for dark skin -
a) Ingredients- Before you pick your holy grail, take a good look at the ingredients that you need to address specific concerns of your skin. A good vitamin C serum for dark spots and patches must have L-ascorbic acid, kojic acid, arbutin, ferulic acid to brighten up the skin surface with time. On the other hand, nasty ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and paraffin should be avoided to ensure long-term skin safety.
b) Skin Type- If you have oily skin, pick a lightweight formula that will quickly dissolve into the skin. If it has soothing ingredients like tea tree, aloe vera, and green tea extracts, it is even better! On the other hand, for people who have dry skin, a formula loaded with moisturizing ingredients like vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5 will work wonders by boosting the level of required hydration. For sensitive skin people, a dermatologically-tested hypoallergenic formula will suit better.
c) Potency- It is always best to start with a product with lowest potency. Vitamin C serums having 10% concentration will work like a charm for beginners. If you have been using one already, you can definitely go for higher concentration.
Here's how you can use the serum effectively to fetch the best results -
How to Use the Best Vitamin C Serum for Dark Skin?
Take a look at how you can incorporate vitamin C serum into your skincare regime—
a) First thing first, make sure you have thoroughly cleansed your face with a cleansing balm or micellar water to remove all the dirt, makeup residue, sebum, sunscreen, etc.
b) Next, take a foaming cleanser and apply it on your face thoroughly and massage it for 60 seconds before washing it off.
c) Next, pat dry the face with a towel, and immediately apply or spritz some toner over your skin and let it air dry.
d) Now, take your vitamin C serum and apply it on your face with a dropper or clean hand in a patting motion and let it absorb for around 1-2 minutes.
e) Apply your moisturizer, and after that, gently massage your face with it.
f) If it is daytime, don't forget to apply your sunscreen.
Conclusion
So, that's it! We hope you have got a brief idea on which vitamin C serum to include in your skincare routine based on your preference and needs. These best vitamin C serums for dark skin are packed with potent formulas that can diminish the appearance of pigmentations, patches, melasma, aging spots, acne spots effectively. So, through our practical knowledge, all we can say is that if you are a beginner, TruSkin Vitamin C Serum facial serum can be your ultimate buddy. But if you are already into the game and want a quicker result, L'Oreal Paris Revitalift 10% Pure Vitamin C is what you should grab. For people who are skeptical about including the product in their skincare routine, let us assure you that the dermatologically-tested formula of Tree of Life Vitamin C Serum will work wonders on any type of skin! So, which one is making its way to the cart? Grab now before they stock out!
FAQ's
Why Trust Pinkvilla
Our in-house skincare expert, Anoushka, is one of the whom we trust when it comes to picking the right products for our readers! For this article, Anoushka has devoted her time and energy to curate the best vitamin C serums that work wonders on dark spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, etc. Anoushka has carefully tallied the reviews and visited numerous online portals before coming up with the verdict, and we can vouch that you won't regret it!
Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!
Anoushka is certified in Professional Skincare and is a Mass Media (Journalism) graduate from Mumbai University. As a More
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