25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum.

Serums

About this product

A vitamin C serum combining 25% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a stabilized vitamin C derivative) with glutathione, designed to brighten skin, support collagen, and protect against environmental damage.

Best for

Mature skin

Type

SerumsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Vitamin CVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

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

80%

Approved

6 experts · Moderate agreement

6Gurus

6Approved

0Mixed

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What the gurus are saying

The stabilized vitamin C in this serum earns consistent praise for delivering results without the irritation that L-ascorbic acid can trigger, making it a solid choice for those with sensitive skin wanting to brighten and even out tone. Gurus highlight how the formula penetrates deeply once applied, then releases active vitamin C in the skin cells, and point to the added glutathione as backup antioxidant protection. One reviewer found the product underwhelming compared to alternatives at the price point, though most others praised the creamy texture, comfortable wear, and easy layering with other products.

Synthesized from 6 expert reviews · most recent take May 2025

Where to buy

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How it works Independent by design. Every take comes from a creator we have no relationship with. We do not ask anyone to review, and affiliate links never move a score.

Every take, in full

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.

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Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.22M subs

✓Approved

"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."

No BS Beauty

89k subs

✓Approved

"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."

Dr Alexis Stephens

580k subs

✓Approved

"I love the Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C Plus Glutathione Clinical Serum. You guys know how I feel about tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate -- it's such a good vitamin C, it's a stable vitamin, and there were a lot more clinical studies this year that showed that. 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. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is basically like L-ascorbic acid -- the vitamin C that has the most clinical data backing it up, but also very irritating to many people's skin, including mine. THD is when the L-ascorbic acid molecule is found in the center of the compound and then surrounded by four hexyl lipids, making it very lipid-soluble, which our skin loves. It means it's going to penetrate the skin better, so once you put this on the skin it can actually get deep down into the skin, and then only once it's in the cell it gets cleaved and the L-ascorbic acid is released. That is why it's very stable and very effective."

The Budget Dermatologist

719k subs

✓Approved

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

Sincerely Miss Ash

195k subs

✓Approved

"This has a creamy serum so I do feel like this is very moisturizing on the skin and it really does keep the skin nice and comfortable. 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

723k subs

✓Approved

"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. I love the fact it's a high dose vitamin C derivative, and as with everything Paula's Choice, they've really thought about the ingredients that they're pairing here to calm, soothe, and deliver maximum results. For me, yeah, I love every single thing about this. I think it's absolutely wonderful."

Frequently asked.

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

A vitamin C serum combining 25% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (a stabilized vitamin C derivative) with glutathione, designed to brighten skin, support collagen, and protect against environmental damage.

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

Yes. All 6 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 80%.

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 80%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 independent expert reviewers we have collected.