You've probably heard of vitamin C and its many skin care benefits at this point — but in case you're in need of a refresher, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Nava Greenfield, MD, explains that it helps reduce skin damage by protecting against free radicals. "The skin needs antioxidants to stop and reverse this damage, and vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can work to repair harmed skin cells," she says.
And while the market is flooded with tons of amazing vitamin C products, we talked more with Dr. Greenfield (and other board-certified dermatologists!) about the best holy grail vitamin C products out there (all under $100, which is harder than you might think). So, from serums to lotions, below are 9 products you'll definitely want to bookmark, stat.
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Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, says this serum is a true winner for any skin type: "This supercharged serum contains proteoglycans, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid to help protect against DNA damage, provide moisture to the skin, and to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles," she explains. "This also keeps the skin feeling smooth."
"This is an affordable option for those who are looking to brighten skin tone and improve the appearance of dark spots," says Dr. Garshick of the cult favorite serum. "The addition of alpha-arbutin inside this product gradually reduces those spots over time, making it a great budget-friendly product you can use again and again."
You may have heard a lot about this buzzy brand on Instagram, but Dr. Garshick says this product lives up to the hype. "This lightweight serum contains a good concentration of vitamin C, other antioxidants, and fruit enzymes to help brighten the skin improving signs of aging and photo damage," she explains.
This reasonable vitamin C product doesn't skimp on the glow factor. "This facial hydrator contains a high concentration of vitamin C and other beneficial ingredients to help the skin," says Dr. Greenfield. "These ingredients include soothing chamomile and grape seed, which provides hydration to dull and dehydrated skin."
