15 Moisturizers With Vitamin C To Help Promote Smooth, Healthy-Looking Skin
December 02, 2024
Between toners, serums, essences, and masks, there are a lot of vitamin C-infused skincare products out there that can help support radiant, healthy-looking skin. One of our favorite ways to incorporate the popular antioxidant into our routines, though, is with a vitamin C moisturizer. Using a vitamin C face cream allows you to reap the benefits of this widely-loved ingredient and hydrate your skin all in one convenient step (no need to layer product after product). If you’re in the market for a new moisturizer and are considering snagging a skin cream with vitamin C, keep scrolling. We’re sharing a look at some of our favorites here, plus details on what, exactly, vitamin C can do for your skin.
What Is a Vitamin C Moisturizer?
A vitamin C moisturizer is, as the name suggests, a facial cream or lotion that contains vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid) in its formula. They typically offer benefits similar to that of a vitamin C serum but are more hydrating, making them a great option for those with drier or more sensitive skin types.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Vitamin C Moisturizer?
Using skincare products with vitamin C can help address a range of skin concerns, including skin tone and texture irregularities. According to the Cleveland Clinic, products with vitamin C may help:
- Brighten the skin: Vitamin C is widely known for its ability to help brighten the skin. Because of this, it’s often found in products designed to help target dark spots and discolorations.
- Protect against external stressors: Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it can protect the skin against the damaging effects of exposure to environmental stressors like air pollution.
- Diminish the visible signs of aging: While nothing can reverse aging, using products with vitamin C can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promote smoother, firmer-looking skin.
Keep in mind that the benefits of a given product will depend on the formula and ingredient concentration. If you have a specific skin concern you’re looking to address—such as dullness or discoloration—we suggest seeking out a vitamin C moisturizer designed to address that need.
Who Should Use a Vitamin C Moisturizer?
A vitamin C cream for the face can benefit most skin types. It’s considered to have an excellent safety profile—and, as noted above, boasts a slew of skin benefits. If you have highly sensitive skin, products with vitamin C may cause minor redness, but the Cleveland Clinic notes that irritation typically subsides with continued use. If you struggle with dull skin, discoloration, or simply want to supercharge your anti-aging skincare routine, a vitamin C moisturizer is well worth adding to your routine.
How To Choose a Vitamin C Moisturizer
When choosing a vitamin C moisturizer, it’s important to consider your skin type and concerns. Richer vitamin C face creams are the ideal choice for those with dry or sensitive skin, as they can help moisturize your skin to keep it feeling nourished, balanced, and healthy. If you have oily or blemish-prone skin, a water-based gel cream may be a better option. Those with combination skin may want to opt for something in the middle, like a lightweight lotion with vitamin C.
Your skin concerns should factor into your choice, too. For example, if you’re looking to address the signs of aging, you may want to consider opting for a moisturizer that contains vitamin C and other anti-aging ingredients, such as retinol. If discoloration is your primary concern, opt for a vitamin C moisturizer designed to help brighten and even the skin tone.
Finally, it’s important to note that there are several forms of vitamin C that can be used in skincare products. L-ascorbic acid is pure vitamin C, but many products contain derivatives, such as ascorbyl glucoside or tetrahexyldecl ascorbate. Take a look at the product’s ingredient label if there’s a specific form of vitamin C you’d like to use.
15 of Our Favorite Vitamin C Moisturizers
Garnier Clearly Brighter Anti-Sun Damage Daily Moisturizer SPF 30
This fast-absorbing vitamin C moisturizer is a great pick for those with oily skin. It contains lipo-hydroxy acid alongside vitamins C and E and provides gentle exfoliation to help brighten the skin. Plus, it’s formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen—saving you a step in your morning skincare routine.
Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Brightening & Smoothing Moisture Treatment
If you’re looking for a richer vitamin C cream for your face, let this luxe formula be at the top of your list. It features activated vitamin C and glycolic acid and provides continuous, 24-hour hydration while helping to smooth and brighten dull, uneven skin.
Skinbetter Science Intensive AlphaRet Overnight Cream
This unique nighttime face cream features a potent blend of retinoids, lactic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E. If you’ve been doing your beauty ingredient research, you know these are some of the most popular skincare ingredients around. Expect to see smoother, firmer skin and less noticeable wrinkles within four weeks of consistent nightly use.
Youth to the People Superberry Hydrate + Glow Dream Mask
Those with dry, dehydrated skin will love the rich, nourishing feel of this overnight moisturizing mask. It’s packed with vitamin C, squalane, and antioxidant-rich fruit extracts and helps hydrate, plump, and brighten dull, dehydrated skin.
Vichy LiftActiv Peptide-C Brightening Anti-Aging Moisturizer
Round out your morning skincare routine with this powerful moisturizer, which vitamin C, phyto peptides, and niacinamide alongside the brand’s signature Vichy volcanic water. Smooth the nourishing, non-greasy formula over clean, dry skin each day and enjoy firmer, smoother-feeling skin over time.
L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Anti-Aging Face Moisturizer
Vitamin C moisturizers don’t have to be pricey to be effective. This drugstore option combines three dermatologist-favorite ingredients (vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid) and helps address multiple visible signs of aging in as little as one week. Plus, it’s non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF Gel
If you don’t like the feel of a heavy moisturizer on your skin, you might love this serum-like vitamin C facial gel. It boasts an ultra-light feel and helps diminish the appearance of discoloration while refining skin texture and tone. The formula is suitable for all skin types, but the gel texture is especially well-suited for those with oily or combination skin.
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Daily Energizing Moisture Treatment for Men
Guys need moisturizer too, and this pick—which contains vitamin C and caffeine—is a great option for sleepy mornings. The invigorating formula helps revive dull, fatigued skin and provides fast-absorbing, non-greasy hydration for a healthy-looking complexion. You can even use it after shaving to help protect skin from irritation.
La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Cream
For a plumped, brightened complexion, opt for this anti-aging moisturizer. It contains vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and thermal La Roche-Posay spring water. The non-comedogenic formula hydrates and visibly plumps the skin, diminishes redness, and helps minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Vichy LiftActiv Peptide-C Sunscreen SPF 30
This vitamin C lotion for the face is a serious multi-tasker. It helps boost skin hydration, improves the look of dark spots and discolorations, and leaves the skin looking firmer within just eight weeks of use. Plus, it’s formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen to help shield your skin from harmful UV rays. Keep in mind that, like any SPF, you’ll want to reapply every two hours (or after sweating or swimming) for lasting sun protection.
Youth to the People Superfood Air-Whip Moisturizer Cream
If you have dehydrated skin, consider adding this vitamin C moisturizer to your morning routine. It helps restore the skin’s moisture barrier in as little as one hour and floods the skin with moisture, delivering up to 48 hours of non-greasy hydration. Since it absorbs quickly, you can easily layer it under makeup without having to worry about pilling or a sticky, tacky feel.
INNBEAUTY PROJECT 10+10 Moisturizer
This powerful pick from indie beauty brand INNBEAUTY PROJECT is a great option for all skin types. It’s made with 10% vitamin C and a 10% peptide complex and, per the brand, helps combat dryness, dullness, and skin laxity.
Facetheory Glow-C Daily Moisturiser
Facetheory’s beloved vitamin C moisturizer contains two versions of the ingredient: ethyl ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. The brand recommends using it daily to help hydrate and brighten the skin and target age-related concerns such as dullness, discoloration, and uneven skin tone.
Dr!driss Major Fade Active Seal Moisturizer
If an uneven skin tone is your main concern, add this brightening daily moisturizer to your morning routine. It’s made with vitamin C, peptides, and ceramides and, per the brand, helps both fade discolorations and protect skin against future hyperpigmentation.
MadHippie Triple C Night Cream
As the name suggests, this rich night cream features three forms of vitamin C in its formula. It’s also packed with nourishing ceramides, shea butter, and antioxidant-rich turmeric extract. According to the brand, it provides deep hydration and dramatically improves the appearance of skin texture and tone with consistent use.
Read more
