The Best Vitamin C Serums You Can Buy for Less Than $50

Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient that deserves a spot in every skin-care routine. Known for its ability to brighten skin, fade dark spots and boost collagen production, vitamin C serum is the multitasking marvel that can transform your complexion. The best part? You don’t need to empty your wallet to reap its benefits.

Incorporating a vitamin C serum into your daily regimen is a smart move for anyone looking to achieve that coveted glow. Whether you’re a skin-care newbie or a seasoned enthusiast, this potent antioxidant can make a noticeable difference in your skin’s appearance and health.

We’ve scoured the market to bring you a curated list of supercharged vitamin C serums, all priced under $50. These affordable options pack a punch, offering impressive skin-brightening and anti-aging benefits. From travel-friendly sticks to potent liquids, there’s a formula here for every preference and skin type.

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Naturium Vitamin C Complex Serum ($21)

Dubbed “youth in a bottle” by reviewers, this potent serum is formulated with a gold and L-ascorbic acid vitamin C complex plus hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, showing proven improvement in fine lines and wrinkles in just four weeks.

• BUY ON ULTA – $21
• BUY ON TARGET – $26

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Live Tinted Superbright 15% Vitamin C Serum Stick ($38)

This solid balm-to-serum formula is a must for jet-setters. It combines a potent blend of vitamin C, ferulic acid, alpha arbutin and vitamin E to seriously lighten dark spots and brighten skin over time.

• BUY ON ULTA – $38
• BUY ON AMAZON – $38

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Provence Beauty Glow Up Luminescent Facial Serum ($25)

This French-bred serum offers immediate and long-term results. Sea buckthorn and three types of vitamin C work to reverse dullness and fade dark spots, while mica provides an instant radiance boost.

• BUY NOW – $25

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Kinship Brightwave Face Serum ($45)

Clinically formulated with vitamin C and peptides, this serum helps brighten, fade dark spots, firm and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in just two weeks.

• BUY ON CREDO BEAUTY – $45
• BUY ON ULTA – $45

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Good Molecules Vitamin C Serum with Oryzanol ($14)

This supercharged serum combines two types of vitamin C with kojic acid and oryzanol. Users say it “helps reduce the appearance of acne scars” and leaves skin “brighter and hydrated.”

• BUY ON ULTA – $14
• BUY ON AMAZON – $14

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iNNBEAUTY Green Machine Serum ($38)

This rich, green-hued serum is powered by vitamin C, tranexamic acid, niacinamide and 15 superfoods. It brightens skin, adds radiance and minimizes congestion all at once.

• BUY ON INNBEAUTY – $38
• BUY ON AMAZON – $38

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Prequel Lucent-C ($23)

This dermatologist-created serum combines 15% vitamin C with ferulic acid and niacinamide to brighten and firm over time, and it works. In four weeks of use, 90 percent of test subjects agreed their skin looked less dull.

• BUY NOW – $23

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Bubble Day Dream ($17)

Tackling both uneven tone and texture, this best-selling vitamin C and niacinamide serum has more than 1,300 five-star reviews for delivering a “healthy glow” and keeping “skin smooth.”

• BUY ON BUBBLE – $17
• BUY ON AMAZON – $15

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Maelove Glow Maker ($33)

With over 11,000 bottles purchased in the last 30 days, this brightening serum is clearly a winner. It blends 15 percent vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E and ferulic acid in a best-selling formula under $40.

• BUY NOW – $33

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Innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Brightening Serum ($32)

This multitasking serum brightens and hydrates in one step. It’s packed with vitamins C and E, ferulic acid, a green tea–derived enzyme, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol and squalane.

• BUY NOW – $32

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Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum ($45)

Powered by five forms of vitamin C, guava and tranexamic and ferulic acids, this serum fades dark spots and boosts radiance noticeably before you finish the bottle.

• BUY ON GLOW RECIPE – $45
• BUY ON SEPHORA – $45

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Typology L32 Radiance Serum ($43)

Made in France, this 99-percent naturally derived serum features 11 percent vitamin C. Its waterlight, non-greasy texture sinks right into the skin without any noticeable fragrance.

• BUY NOW – $43

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Beekman 1802 Golden Booster Amla Berry Vitamin C Brightening Serum ($44)

Amla berry, containing 20 times more vitamin C than an orange, powers this vegan brightening formula that’s safe for sensitive skin types that can’t tolerate traditional vitamin C formulas.

• BUY NOW – $44