Index / The Ordinary / Vitamin C
The Ordinary

Vitamin C.

The Ordinary Vitamin C
Serums

About this product

A water-based vitamin C serum designed to deliver antioxidant benefits, brighten skin tone, and support the skin barrier.

Serums

The Guru Index verdict

68%

Mixed

~Mixed · 68%
6Reviewers
4Approved
1Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus largely praise this serum as an affordable entry point to vitamin C, noting its lightweight, watery texture and antioxidant benefits for brightness and skin barrier support. The recurring caution is that vitamin C tolerance varies widely, so starting with The Ordinary's low concentration formulations and patch-testing is wise before upgrading to stronger versions. One dermatologist flagged the oily finish from coconut alkanes and lack of airless packaging as drawbacks, particularly for acne-prone skin, making it a mixed pick depending on skin type.
Synthesized from 6 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Vitamin CFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid 30.0%, Polysilicone-11, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Ascorbic Acid

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.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
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"The negatives are that it's got coconut alkanes, which is why it's coming out quite oily. I don't think this is going to be ideal for people with acne. No other antioxidants in this product and it's not in an airless pump. So, actually for me, I'd say it's not really worth your time or your money. Even though it's not that expensive, it's one that I'd avoid."
Approved
"I'm doing a vitamin C serum and not just for my face, literally whole body. This is not expensive, you guys. And now they made it in a 4 oz bottle. It's very, very watery. You don't need much. A couple squirts and you rub it on your whole body, everywhere. It's an antioxidant, so it's great for your skin. It's also an active ingredient. It helps to even out that skin tone and brighten the skin, more even complexion. Discoloration can be helped with things like vitamin C."
Approved
"I also got a vitamin C serum from The Ordinary, which is water-based. It's super light. Vitamin C typically works to make your sunscreen work better. It helps protect your skin from free radical damaging antioxidants. So using that, I would wash your face or cleanse it or wipe it off, put that on first and then a moisturizer and then sunscreen."
Approved
"Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants that is available. Not everyone vitamin C suits, so you really need to figure out, start with something like a low concentration. Maybe experiment with something from The Ordinary, and something which is a little more potent. Start with something simple. If you get rashes or irritation with something which is as low as 3 percent and 5 percent, then vitamin C is not for you. But if vitamin C suits you, try using gentle vitamin C like a 3 to 5 percent. Then move up to a 10, 15, and by the time you are around 25 you can literally go to a 15 and 20 percent. So slowly start incorporating the right antioxidant for you. Figure out your antioxidant that is going to be one of the best things you are going to do from an anti-aging perspective."
All 2 takes from Nipun Kapur
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"Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants that is available. Not everyone vitamin C suits, so you really need to figure out, start with something like a low concentration. Maybe experiment with something from The Ordinary, and something which is a little more potent. Start with something simple. If you get rashes or irritation with something which is as low as 3 percent and 5 percent, then vitamin C is not for you. But if vitamin C suits you, try using gentle vitamin C like a 3 to 5 percent. Then move up to a 10, 15, and by the time you are around 25 you can literally go to a 15 and 20 percent. So slowly start incorporating the right antioxidant for you. Figure out your antioxidant that is going to be one of the best things you are going to do from an anti-aging perspective."
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"You can opt for brands like Inkey List or The Ordinary, or whatever fits your budget."
Approved
"You can start introducing vitamin C in the AM because that's going to help with the skin barrier. It's also going to help with your inflammation, it's going to reduce inflammation, and it's also going to help with almost as an antioxidant for your skin because if you have rosacea that's untreated the skin is essentially bare, it's open, and pollutants and everything like that damage the skin. So introducing a vitamin C is a very good step."
All 2 takes from Dr. Somji Skin
How to Effectively Treat Rosacea | How To Use The Ordinary Skincare for Rosacea
"You can start introducing vitamin C in the AM because that's going to help with the skin barrier. It's also going to help with your inflammation, it's going to reduce inflammation, and it's also going to help with almost as an antioxidant for your skin because if you have rosacea that's untreated the skin is essentially bare, it's open, and pollutants and everything like that damage the skin. So introducing a vitamin C is a very good step."
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"There's some good formulations with The Ordinary as well. Just experiment with vitamin C because you won't be good with every type."
~Mixed
"I was out of the vitamin C I used the Ordinary Vitamin C instead."
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