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6 vitamin C-packed products our skin can’t get enough of

The clever ingredient can increase luminosity *and* address hyperpigmentation

By Iantha Yu

Beauty Crew Beauty Editor / June 06 2019

Just like how retinol is highly regarded as the go-to for effectively reducing the appearance of fine lines on our face, topical vitamin C is one of the leading skin care ingredients that comes to mind if we want to dial up the brightness in our complexion. Also known as L-ascorbic acid, the skin care benefits of vitamin C are endless: "vitamin C is a potent antioxidant [that can] protect the skin from free radical damage," says facialist Tilly Barnett of No. 13 The Beauty Avenue. "It also helps boost the skin's collagen production, leading to firmer, plumper skin and it can inhibit melanin production [which can] help to lighten pigmentation."

With that being said, here are six vitamin C-rich products including serums and moisturisers that can dial up radiance, STAT.

Murad Rapid Age Spot Correcting Serum

This vitamin C serum delivers a powerhouse blend of L-ascorbic acid and oligopeptides to brighten the skin's surface, as well as niacinamide and plankton extract to even out skin tone and improve skin health. It’s also formulated to reduce the appearance of existing hyperpigmentation *and* prevent new pigmentation from forming with regular use.

Tatcha Violet C Brightening Serum

Sure, this serum can pretty up your bathroom cabinet, but we also like this product for its skin-brightening benefits. Inside, you'll find high concentrations of vitamin C (20 percent, in fact) to help up your complexion's radiance, as well as AHA to gently remove any dead skin cells that are sitting on the surface of your skin. The result? Your face is left feeling soft, smooth and positively glowing.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Antioxidant Protect + Repair Moisturiser

When it comes to hardworking skin care products, you can't go past Sunday Riley. Their C.E.O. Antioxidant Protect + Repair Moisturiser features the hero ingredient of vitamin C to lighten hyperpigmentation (including age spots and sun damage in the form of freckles), and is so quick-absorbing, you can use it during the day underneath your foundation to prep your skin.

Ella Baché Radiance+ Treatment Oil

Look no further if you're after something that addresses dry skin in a single application. Ella Baché's Radiance+ Treatment Oil is 100 percent natural and brings together brightening Kakadu plum seed oil (psst... did you know it's one of the world's highest sources of vitamin C, and contains approximately 100 times more vitamin C than an orange?!), along with soya bean oil to protect the skin, and liquorice root extract to address dark spots.

Youth To The People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask

Yes, you *can* achieve brighter skin with a creamy face mask. This one from Youth To The People contains a dose of vitamin C (of course!) along with some of skin care's most nourishing MVP ingredients, such as vitamin E, squalane, hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum

The serum that gets most beauty editors excited? SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Serum. Besides the fact that it contains vitamin C (if you haven't gathered, we're pretty obsessed with this skin care ingredient!) and vitamin E, this treatment also features ferulic acid, which is known to actually support to function of vitamins C and E and enhance their efficacy.

Looking for a way to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation? Here are eight solutions for treating acne scarring.

What’s your favourite vitamin C skin care product at the moment, and why? Let us know in the comments below.

Main image credit: Sevak Babakhani

Iantha Yu

Iantha is BEAUTYcrew's Beauty Editor, and has been part of the team since the site launched in 2016. Besides pinky-nude nail polish and wispy false lashes, she has a healthy obsession with face masks and skin care ingredients. Her previous work can be found in Virgin Australia Voyeur, Women's Health, and SHOP Til You Drop.