Vitamin C is a multitasking superstar antioxidant that neutralizes free radical damage, lightens dark spots, promotes collagen production, and strengthens the skin. It’s also especially important to add to your summer beauty routine because it’s so powerful that it can improve the efficacy of your SPF 30 or higher.
“Most sunscreens only provide up to 99% protection from UV rays, and vitamin C serums can actually act as a booster to that, helping to fill in the missing protection. So not only does it help correct existing damage, but it will help prevent additional damage as well,” explains board-certified dermatologist Dr. Supriya Tomar, M.D.
With the start of summer, investing in the best vitamin C serum is crucial. Which is why I have to share my absolute favorite: Alastin’s vitamin C serum. Layering it underneath your sunscreen can do wonders for treating existing and preventing future sun damage. I’ve been loving mine for several months and even recognized it as a best-in-class product in our inaugural Best New Beauty Awards package. My results have been so fantastic that I gifted a bottle to my mom — and she’s equally obsessed.
Where to Buy
Why I Use Vitamin C Serum
Before I begin my vitamin C serum review, I think it’s important to share why I’m so obsessed with using vitamin C. Dealing with uneven skin tone is not fun. Color correctors and full-coverage foundations help camouflage discoloration, but the results are only temporary. I needed a noninvasive skincare solution that wouldn’t irritate my skin, congest my pores, or lead to acne. That is where Alastin vitamin C serum comes in handy.
The Review
Since there are hundreds of skincare brands available, I’ve tried many other vitamin C products over the years. My biggest issues with them have always been that they’re designed for dry skin types, irritate my skin, or change colors quickly, limiting their efficacy. Having said that, I was most interested in testing Alastin’s vitamin C serum because I haven’t been shy about sharing my love of the brand’s face moisturizer and sunscreen. Given my previous positive testing experiences, I had high hopes for the brand’s vitamin C serum — and I wasn’t disappointed.
Because I have oily skin, face serums infused with a bunch of other moisturizers leave me shiny, and my pores become congested. Although Alastin isn’t listed as non-comedogenic, I haven’t experienced blackheads and pimples while using the C-RADICAL Defense. My skin appreciates the light hydration but doesn’t feel overly moisturized. Don’t worry if you have dry skin: It’s still compatible with your skin type. My mom’s skin is very dry, and she finds the vitamin C serum creates a nice base layer of moisture on her skin.
Alastin C-RADICAL Defense is infused with 15 antioxidants, including sodium ascorbate, a form of vitamin C. To get the most benefits, I apply this face serum in the daytime to provide extra UV protection when I’m exposed to different elements. It also helps guard the skin from pollution, free radicals, and even blue light emitted from my laptop.
The formula brightens my uneven complexion without irritation. Post-acne hyperpigmentation normally manifests after zits disappear, but they’ve been fading quicker when I incorporate Alastin into my routine. It also helps calm redness in my skin whenever I’m dealing overzealous in my product testing. C-Radical Defense is also unique because it helps promote collagen production for an anti-aging effect. I’ll discuss the ingredients in the next section, but overall, I can say my complexion is more even-toned, and I haven’t experienced any negative changes in my skin since using this product.
The Smell, Feel, and Absorption Are on Point
Many vitamin C serums have a fake phony orange tint and faux citrusy smell, which I personally don’t enjoy because I’m from Florida and grew up with an excessive amount of orange trees in my backyard. Alastin C-RADICAL Defense serum, on the other hand, has a light tint and scent that is comforting and not overwhelming. After all, who wants their face to smell like an orange? Certainly not me. I also appreciate that it is lightweight and fast-absorbing. It layers beautifully with other skincare and makeup products, such as my Ultra Light Moisturizer and HydraTint Pro Mineral Sunscreen.
I’m Also Obsessed With the Functional Packaging
Vitamin C is notoriously unstable, so dermatologists encourage using one in a dark bottle. Most of those amber jars are still see-through, but Alastin’s isn’t. Even better? It’s got an airless pump that ensures the formula does not oxidize, change color, or smell bad, so I get to enjoy this vitamin C serum until the last drop.
Plus, if you’re accident-prone (or gifting someone clumsy), it’s in a plastic bottle instead of a typical class jar with a dropper. Given my positive results, I feel confident advising you to treat yourself and incorporate the best vitamin C serum in the game into your beauty routine.
Best Ingredients
Beyond vitamin C, this face serum contains a blend of veggie and plant extracts, moisturizers, and a slew of antioxidants. Here are my top four ingredients that help elevate the Alastin C-RADICAL Defense formulation.
- Green tea isn’t just for drinking. It’s rich in antioxidants to protect the skin from sun damage, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines. Green tea also reduces inflammation from skin concerns like eczema.
- Glycerin protects the skin’s natural barrier, provides hydration, and even has antimicrobial properties to help ward off bacteria and infection.
- Squalane levels start to deplete in our early 30s, leading to dryness and irritation. This emollient smoothes and moisturizes the skin by filling in holes and retaining water. Since squalane is gentle, it’s helpful for treating sensitive skin conditions.
- Bisabolol is a soothing antioxidant that helps calm redness, acne, and rosacea. It’s also moisturizing, brightens dark spots, and improves the skin’s uneven tone.
The Final Word
Look, I totally understand not wanting to spend nearly $200 on a skincare product. Although all vitamin C serums can help improve dark spots, Alastin C-RADICAL Defense provides additional anti-aging benefits, like promoting elastin production. Unlike its competitors, this vitamin C serum is enriched with a total of 15 antioxidants to help supercharge your skincare routine against free radical damage caused by pollution blue light emitted from our smart gadgets. The fast-absorbing formula doesn’t irritate my skin and doesn’t pill under other products, like moisturizers, sunscreens, and foundations. It’s a staple in my beauty routine, which is why it earned a spot in our Best New Beauty Award win and why it deserves to earn a spot in your skincare routine.
Alastin C-RADICAL Defense Antioxidant Serum
More Vitamin C Serums
Have less than $10 to spend on a new skincare product? Try the ELBBUB Premium 20% Vitamin C Serum, which is infused with an impressive 20% concentration of vitamin C. It’s potent, so not ideal for sensitive skin. However, someone who is budget-conscious and is used to using vitamin C will enjoy this option. Next up is the Skinceuticals C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, a favorite of dermatologists and beauty enthusiasts. Notably, it combines pure vitamin C with vitamin E and ferulic acid for enhanced environmental stress protection. Plus, it comes in an amber glass bottle to help stabilize its potency.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Best New Beauty Awards package.
