Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum.

Serums

About this product

A stabilized vitamin C serum combining 25% vitamin C derivatives with glutathione and additional antioxidants, designed to brighten skin and provide environmental protection.

Full ingredients

Water/Aqua/Eau, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C/Antioxidant), Dimethicone (Silicone/Emollient), Glycerin (Humectant), C9-12 Alkane (Solvent), Ascorbyl Glucoside (Vitamin C/Antioxidant), Silica (Texture Enhancer), Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract (Plant Extracts/Antioxidant), Hydrogenated Lecithin (Emollient), Polyglyceryl-6 Polyricinoleate (Emulsifier/Suspending/Dispersing Agent), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Texture Enhancer), Xanthan Gum (Texture Enhancer), Glutathione (Antioxidant), Ergothioneine (Antioxidant), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract (Plant Extracts/Antioxidant), Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer (Suspending/Dispersing Agent), Cetyl Alcohol (Emollient), Caprylyl Glycol (Humectant), Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate (Antioxidant), Coco-Caprylate/Caprate (Emollient), Tocopherol (Vitamin E/Antioxidant), Sodium Citrate (Ph Adjuster), Sodium Phytate (Chelating Agent), Hexylene Glycol (Humectant), Ethylhexylglycerin (Humectant), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract (Plant Extracts/Antioxidant), Urea (Humectant), Mannitol (Humectant), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Emollient), Sodium PCA (Humectant), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract (Plant Extracts/Antioxidant), Polysorbate 60 (Emulsifier), Sorbitan Isostearate (Emulsifier), Trehalose (Humectant), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C/Antioxidant), Glucose (Humectant), Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract (Plant Extracts/Antioxidant)

Guru Score

77%

Yay

8 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This serum earns consistent praise for brightening uneven skin tone and delivering clinically effective doses of vitamin C that work well for sensitive skin without irritation. Most gurus love the formula and antioxidant pairing, though a few note it ranks below other options at the price point of around $62-65 for one ounce. A few prefer different actives like azelaic acid or sorbic acid for their own routines, and one reviewer found it less impressive than competing products at that cost.

Synthesized from 8 expert reviews · most recent take November 2026

What they liked

Gentle enough for sensitive skin
Creamy, moisturizing texture
Layers smoothly under makeup and sunscreen

What they flagged

Expensive for the bottle size

Best for

Mature skin

Type

SerumsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Vitamin CVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Sephora → Amazon → Google →

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Scan it in the shopFree iPhone app. Scores in the aisle.

What the experts use it for.

The concerns the experts tie this product to, in their own words. Paid and founder takes don't count.

Dull skin4 experts

“This means it's non-irritating, really good for sensitive skin to brighten the skin.”

Dr. Vanita Rattan, watch at 8:53

Irritated or reactive skin2 experts

“This means it's non-irritating, really good for sensitive skin to brighten the skin.”

Dr. Vanita Rattan, watch at 8:53

Dark spots and post-acne marks1 expert

“This one's nice worth checking out for a lot of different skin types especially for non-stubborn hyperpigmentation this one might be uh worth checking out”

No BS Beauty, watch at 10:46

Fine lines and wrinkles1 expert

“It can help you to brighten your skin, it can help with collagen, it can help with fine lines, it can help with uneven skin tone -- it's a fantastic product for many different things.”

Dr Alexis Stephens, watch at 3:37

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✓Nay

"Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C plus Glutathione scores 41 out of 100, rated poor by the Yuka app for the same reason."

All 3 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

Treat Pregnancy Stretch Marks

"Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C. So that is this tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. This means it's non-irritating, really good for sensitive skin to brighten the skin."

BEST & WORST Vitamin C in Sephora for skin of colour | Doctor V

"At about 1 to 2% is a sodium ascorbyl glucoside so that would make sense that would take it up to 25%. I'd say a fraction of a percent of glutathione and ideally we want that at the 0.1 to 2% mark so this is actually clinically effective. I actually love this product. I would use this product. I would just say it's a tad expensive."

Yuka App Is Wrecking Your Skin

"Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C plus Glutathione scores 41 out of 100, rated poor by the Yuka app for the same reason."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Yay

"This one's got 25% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. It's also got vitamin E and then rice extract and sodium hyaluronate. It's pretty nice serum, but pricey."

All 9 takes from No BS Beauty

Comparing Vitamin C Derivatives 🍊 Best Brightening Vitamin C Serums for Sensitive Skin

"This one's great for brightening your skin. So the Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum for brighten and discoloration, in here we use tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, glutathione, and ascorbic glucoside. We've already talked about a couple of those. Glutathione is a really strong antioxidant, great for brightening your skin."

Paula's Choice Skincare 🍑🍊 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum Review & How to Use

"In terms of the promises I think it delivers on most of them: antioxidant protection, skin brightening, and hydration. It delivers on all those and it feels really nice on your skin. The downside is the price. A full size 1 oz retails for 62 dollars, so it's expensive, which is kind of a bummer because that's a lot of money, and if you're going to use it morning and evening it's going to go within a month."

Morning Skincare & Makeup Routine - Dry, Sensitive Skin, Winter

"I think it does help a little bit with brightening. The glutathione I'm not going to knock it. It soaks in really quick. Normally when I do my routine I apply all my serums and stuff and sunscreen, then I do my hair which takes about 10 minutes, and then it all soaks in. Sometimes vitamin C takes a little bit time to soak in, but since I already did my hair, it doesn't really look like I did it."

Theramid 🍊🍑 Tetramid C.E.F Intensive Vitamin C Treatment Serum Review, How to Use, & Dupes

"The [Paula's Choice] 25% vitamin C and glutathione serum"

Spring Morning Routine - Skincare, Makeup, and Haircare Routine - Dry, Sensitive Skin

"This one's nice in the meantime, but it's not what I would necessarily pick for forever. [...] Especially during the summer, I prefer a sorbic acid because I think it does a better job protecting your skin from sun damage."

Peter Thomas Roth Skincare Best Dupes & Alternatives to Their Most Popular Products

"This one's got 25% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. It's also got vitamin E and then rice extract and sodium hyaluronate. It's pretty nice serum, but pricey."

Drunk Elephant Skincare 🍑🍊 C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum - Newest Formula Review & How to Use

"I wish I wouldn't have purchased it. [...] I could have had four or five bottles of Geek and Gorgeous instead, which is much better on so many levels. [...] I give this one a five out of ten. It's terrible. [...] I won't even hand it down to anybody because [...] I question many things about this formula."

These Paula's Choice Dupes Will Save You Hundreds 💲💲 Paula's Choice Dupes & Affordable Alternatives

"Next up the Paula's Choice 25% vitamin C and glutathione clinical serum which is $65 for one ounce and I did pay for this I finished it it's empty but it was expensive and the main ingredients in here tetral ascorbate escoro glucoside vitamin E apple fruit extract."

Personal Record!! 😁🙌💕 Dozens of May Skincare & Beauty Product Empties - See What I Repurchased!

"Personally I prefer azelaic acid but this stuff was nice on mornings when sometimes azelaic acid is a little bit fussy. You have to apply it, and for me I have to apply it then I need to wait a little bit before I go onto my routine because if I don't sometimes it frosts whatever I apply over it or it just gets a little bit too sticky and ends up peeling. But I like this stuff. I don't know if it's something I'd have to have again."

Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"Really good so concentration price, formulation is all very good for a vitamin C. Really no knock on it. I think it's great."

Abbey Yung

887k subs

✓Yay

"The texture is more lotiony than watery, but it's [...] still lightweight enough to layer without heavy residue, and it's really hydrating. It would be worth looking into if your skin is easily irritated by vitamin C, because unlike other vitamin C serums I've tried, this doesn't give me that stingy feeling. It's definitely a good one, but I still want to keep testing other vitamin C serums since I don't feel my exploration is complete."

Dr Alexis Stephens

582k subs

✓Yay

"Why do I love this product? It can help you to brighten your skin, it can help with collagen, it can help with fine lines, it can help with uneven skin tone -- it's a fantastic product for many different things. And that glutathione antioxidant is going to help to fight off the environmental stressors that promote all of the things that we don't want, so we need something in our daily routine that can help to combat that."

The Budget Dermatologist

725k subs

✓Yay

"The vitamin C in the morning is a great one, it actually has 15% L-ascorbic acid in it."

Sincerely Miss Ash

196k subs

✓Yay

"I've never experienced irritation with this, no dryness nothing. This one also layered up nicely with my other skincare products including sunscreen and makeup. I would recommend to use this in your morning routine but of course you can use this at night time if you wish to. I really like it. I feel like Paula's Choice has some great formulations and this one is really nice especially if you're lacking that brightness and you have that uneven skin tone."

Mad About Skin

734k subs

✓Yay

"I honestly think this is a really well formulated, thought through product. [...] This is genuinely a great product and I would recommend it, particularly if you're looking for a sensitive skin friendly version. [...] The price point is up there, I think it's about £45 here in the UK, that is a lot for a vitamin C serum, but I like the fact you've got glutathione."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin C

Topical vitamin C is an antioxidant with reasonable evidence for dullness and uneven tone. It breaks down in light and air, so how a product is formulated and packaged matters as much as the percentage on the front.

Source: DermNet

Urea

Urea both holds water in the skin and gently loosens dead surface cells. At higher strengths it has good evidence for very dry or thickened skin.

Source: DermNet

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum?

A stabilized vitamin C serum combining 25% vitamin C derivatives with glutathione and additional antioxidants, designed to brighten skin and provide environmental protection.

Is Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum worth it?

Mostly yes. 7 of the 8 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 77%.

What is Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum's Guru Score?

Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum holds a Guru Score of 77%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 8 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum best for?

Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum is generally suited to mature skin.

What is Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum is good for dull skin (4 experts), irritated or reactive skin (2 experts), dark spots and post-acne marks (1 expert) and fine lines and wrinkles (1 expert).

Is Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum good for dull skin?

4 experts who reviewed Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum say it is. Dr. Vanita Rattan put it this way: “This means it's non-irritating, really good for sensitive skin to brighten the skin.”