Trader Joe's

Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum.

Serums

About this product

A vitamin C serum with ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to provide antioxidant protection.

Full ingredients

Water, Ethoxydiglycol, Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Caprylate, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ferulic Acid, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid

Guru Score

79%

Yay

Early verdict · Few reviews so far

What the gurus are saying

This serum duplicates SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic's key active ingredients (15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% vitamin E, 0.5% ferulic acid) at a tenth of the price, and reviewers believe it should deliver comparable results. The caveat: the 15% ascorbic acid at low pH can irritate sensitive skin, so anyone with that concern may want to patch-test first. Those with oily skin may also find the sunflower oil base heavier than expected.

Synthesized from 2 expert reviews · most recent take October 2026

What they liked

Same antioxidant concentrations as SkinCeuticals
Transparent percentages listed on label
Low pH formulation designed for stability

What they flagged

Oilier texture from sunflower oil
15% ascorbic acid may irritate sensitive skin

Type

SerumsDrops & dropper

Key actives

Vitamin C Hyaluronic acidVitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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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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Doctorly

3.59M subs

✓Yay

"This is probably in my opinion the closest dupe I've seen to SkinCeuticals, ingredient list wise and active wise. They have the same concentrations of ascorbic acid, vitamin E and ferulic acid, so the key functional ingredients are the same, though the inactive ingredients aren't identical, they use polyglycerol 10 and sunflower seed oil and citric acid instead of laureth 23."

All 2 takes from Doctorly

Trader Joe’s vs. SkinCeuticals Vitamin C | Dermatologists Compare

When to SAVE & When to SPLURGE on Skincare

"Trader Joe's, even though the virality has it cooking right now, is a little bit more oily. Subjectively, I don't like the experience as much, but it could be another great option for the price point."

The Budget Dermatologist

724k subs

✓Yay

"It's just a very simple, straightforward, yet effective Vitamin C Serum for under $10. [...] I want to note about this is that this has a hefty dose of vitamin C in it, which means it's going to work very well and very fast if you can tolerate it. 15% L-ascorbic acid can be a little irritating and stinging on the skin because it's a low pH, so that can irritate some skin types."

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

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the 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 Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum?

A vitamin C serum with ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to provide antioxidant protection.

Is Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum worth it?

Yes. All 2 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 79%.

What is Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum's Guru Score?

Trader Joe's Vitamin C Serum holds a Guru Score of 79%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 2 expert reviewers we have collected.