How to choose a vitamin C serum for your skin
Concentration, formula and packaging decide everything — here is how to pick a vitamin C serum your skin will actually thank you for.
Walk down any beauty aisle and vitamin C seems to be everywhere — yet no two serums behave the same. Concentration, formula type and packaging decide whether your serum brightens or quietly oxidises in the bottle. Here is how our therapists help clients choose.
Start with the right strength
Beginners do best with a 10 to 15 percent concentration: enough to fade dark spots and boost glow without irritating a barrier that is still adjusting. Seasoned skin can step up to 20 percent, but more is not automatically better — consistency beats intensity every time.
Check the derivative
Pure L-ascorbic acid works fastest but is the most temperamental. Derivatives such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid trade a little speed for far better stability, which makes them kinder to sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Packaging is part of the formula
Vitamin C breaks down in light and air, so an opaque, airtight pump will always outperform a decorative clear dropper left on a sunny shelf. Store your serum cool, dark and sealed — and if it turns deep amber, it is time for a fresh bottle.
Still unsure? Bring your current routine to the studio and we will map a vitamin C step that fits your skin, your mornings and your budget.