If you deal with discoloration or hyperpigmentation, you know the struggle of finding the right skin care routine to help even out your complexion. The best vitamin C cleansers can come in handy for this—most are packed with brightening antioxidants and fruit enzymes to gently slough away dull, dead skin and protect it from free radicals. What you’ll be left with? A brighter, more radiant complexion with less noticeable dark spots.
“Including vitamin C cleanser in your regimen is a smart way to multitask and streamline since most people are inclined to at least wash their face every day,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in NYC. To help you find the best one for your specific skin type, we spoke with dermatologists and polled Glamour testers for their very favorite picks. Our top overall is Naturium Vitamin C Complex Cleanser because of its efficacy, price point, and potent blend of two forms of vitamin C plus fruit antioxidants—it managed to instantly brighten our tester’s skin after consistent use. We also found other formulas we loved for mature and sensitive skin types.
The best vitamin C cleansers, at a glance
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How we tested
Our team of Glamour editors and contributors started by evaluating ingredients based on dermatologist’s feedback. The best ones had a blend of vitamin C and antioxidants that worked together to combat discoloration and minimize the appearance of dark spots. During tests, we noted the texture and overall experience of washing, checking to see if it thoroughly cleansed. The ones that made it on this list were pleasant to use, lathered nicely, and didn’t dry out our face post-wash. Our favorites were also highly effective at removing makeup and made our skin appear more even-toned and bright after weeks of use.
Best Overall: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Cleanser
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- Pros: Affordable; easy to use; you can even wear it as a face mask for five minutes and wash it off
- Cons: Smells medicinal
This affordable vitamin C cleanser made it to the top of our list because we found that it clarified and added radiance to our skin just as well as the more expensive cleansers on this list. It has a lightweight gel formula that creates a gentle lather and is packed with two forms of vitamin C—phytic acid and orange-fruit water—to help nourish skin and reduce the appearance of uneven skin tone.
Testing notes: “I was extremely impressed with this cleanser the first few times I tried it,” says Glamour commerce writer Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “It’s quite lightweight and easy to lather on—a little goes a long way—and it does a great job at removing makeup, excess oil, and dirt,” she says.
Best Drugstore: La Roche Posay Brightening Facial Cleanser
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- Pros: Noncomedogenic, which is great for combination skin and breakouts
- Cons: A little drying
Dr. Nazarian is a massive fan of this drugstore face wash because it’s incredibly effective. “This cleanser combines vitamin C with vitamin B3, which is one of my favorite hydrating vitamins because it improves skin tone and helps strengthen the skin barrier, so together they make a great combination,” she says.
Testing notes: “The vitamin C in this cleanser does its job in bringing out a natural glow,” says Glamour senior analyst Loneeja Talukdar, who has sensitive skin. “My face feels smooth, refreshed, and visibly brighter after each use. Plus, it didn’t irritate my skin or trigger any breakouts, which is always a concern for me with active ingredients. Overall, it’s a great option if you’re looking for something that not only helps with dullness and uneven texture, but also supports acne-prone skin without being harsh. I’d highly recommend it if you want a glow boost in your daily routine.”
Best for Sensitive Skin: Murad Essential-C Cleanser
- Pros: Gives skin radiance without making it look slick or greasy; suitable for daily use
- Cons: Pricey; will need to double-cleanse for heavy makeup
Another favorite of Dr. Nazarian’s, this rich cleanser is great if you have oily or acne-prone skin. “It combines vitamin C with two other antioxidants—vitamin A and vitamin E—for added protection and hydration. ” she says.
Testing notes: “This cleanser is so gentle and doesn’t leave my skin dry or tight after washing. If you have extremely dry or sensitive skin, this will keep your barrier hydrated after washing. I bring this one into my rotation when my skin feels irritated. I wish there were more suds from lathering, though, because I have to use more product than my other cleansers and micellar water to get rid of my eye shadow,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
Best for Hyperpigmentation: Youth to the People Superfruit Facial Cleanser
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- Pros: Effectively brightens and evens out skin tone
- Cons: Glass bottle is a little clunky
Stubborn dark spots and uneven skin patches have nothing on this hardworking cleanser packed withAHA, BHA, and papaya enzymes to help even tone and minimize large pores. It helps target hyperpigmentation and dull skin thanks to the ginger root and yerba maté.
Testing notes: “I’m obsessed with this cleanser for when my skin is feeling particularly dull, especially after I’ve had a long night out. It instantly wakes me up, smells heavenly, and does a great job of soothing and ridding the areas of redness and darkness on my face, particularly around my nose and under my eye area. After using it for about a month, it’s extremely hard to go back to anything else—my skin is super clarified and bright,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Best for Oily Skin: RoC Multi Correxion Revive + Glow Gel Facial Cleanser
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- Pros: Gives skin a glowy finish post-wash; affordable at only $10
- Cons: May not be suitable for dry, sensitive skin
This gel cleanser combines vitamin C and glycolic acid to visibly brighten skin and slough off dead cells. It contains hydrating glycerin to help ensure that skin won’t feel stripped after use and will leave you with a softer, more radiant complexion over time.
Testing notes: “It’s great at removing makeup daily and gives off a lot of suds, which I appreciate in a cleanser,” says Glamour’s Calle. “You just need a few pumps to get a fresh wash, and it even removes most of my eye makeup. I still use a bit of micellar water for the leftover mascara, but I really like this for my oily, combination skin because it doesn’t dry it out and I feel squeaky clean.”
Best for Uneven Texture: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cherry Dub Pore Purify’r Gel Cleanser
- Courtesy of brand
- Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cherry Dub Pore Purify’r Gel Cleanser
- Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cherry Dub Pore Purify’r Gel Cleanser
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- Pros: Reduces excess oil; evens out skin texture; has a luxurious feel
- Cons: Has fragrance, which might be irritating to some
With uneven skin tone often comes uneven texture, which is why this cleansing gel is a favorite. It has a blend of vitamin-C-rich Barbados cherry, niacinamide, and aloe vera juice to hydrate the skin and improve the look of large pores and acne scars.
Testing notes: “This is by far one of the most enjoyable cleansers I’ve ever tried,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “Not only does it smell heavenly, it also lathers really well and makes your skin feel super refreshed (especially if you apply it in circular motions). After using it for about two weeks, I noticed a difference in my textured areas, particularly on my chin where I have a lot of acne scars. My skin feels a lot softer, and overall my pores look less apparent.”
Best for Travel: Olay Cleansing Melts + Vitamin C Face Cleanser
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- Pros: Easy to travel with; affordable; fragrance-free
- Cons: Might take a few minutes for the pad to fully dissolve
If you have sensitive skin and are prone to redness, we love this vitamin C face wash that’s water-activated and helps even out skin tone. The tiny square pads transform into a lathery wash packed with vitamin C and hydrating hyaluronic acid to help illuminate the skin. They’re so portable that Glamour’s Calle likes to pack these in her travel makeup bag.
Testing notes: “Olay’s water-activated facial cleanser is fun to use. The tabs have the consistency of a paper towel, and it melts as you add water. It lathers up generously, and there were more than enough suds to cover my face, and I would even say I didn’t need the complete tab. I have combination skin that’s on the oily side, and the cleanser left it squeaky clean—it’s a clean rinse. I’ll enjoy using these melts on days when my face is feeling particularly greasy. My serums applied nicely after the fact and my skin looked brighter and radiant,” says Glamour contributor Charlotte Twine.
Best for Glowing Skin: OleHenriksen Truth Juice Gentle Glow Daily Cleanser
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- Pros: A little goes a long way so it will easily last you a few months
- Cons: Can cause irritation to extremely sensitive skin types
For a boost of brightness, we recommend adding this glowy daily cleanser from OleHenriksen. It contains orange-fruit water for hydration, PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) that target uneven texture, and botanicals (orange, lemon, rose hip, and sea-buckthorn extracts) that help condition the skin. It has a creamy lather and feels satisfying while it exfoliates.
Testing notes: “I really loved this cleanser from the minute I tried it,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary. “It has a creamy texture that lathers super well (as you can see in my video) and makes your skin feel clean but non-stripped. After testing this one for about a week, I was pretty impressed with how radiant my skin was looking.”
Best for Mature Skin: Rodial Vit C Brightening Cleanser
- Pros: Rejuvenates the skin; instantly brightens and softens
- Cons: Has fragrance, which can be irritating to some
Mature skin types will love this vitamin C cleanser that’s ultra hydrating and helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles thanks to a fruit acid complex that gently improves cell turnover. It has vitamin C and glycolic and lactic acid, which also help boost radiance. It also contains blood-orange water to refresh the skin.
Testing notes: “This cleanser is a zippy, refreshing way to start the day, from its scent to the super-clean feeling on my skin after using it. However, it is a tad drying, something that’s mentioned in a few reviews of this product. That was solved by putting on a moisturizer immediately afterward. And definitely do not get it in your eyes. But my skin was undeniably soft after use, as well as gleamy and glowy. I felt like it lightened the dark age spots on my cheeks a bit,” says Twine.
Best on Amazon: TruSkin Vitamin C Cleanser for Face
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- Pros: A great antiaging face wash if you’re looking to firm skin and reduce the appearance of lines
- Cons: Can be a little harsh and stinging on sensitive and dry skin
If you’re just testing the waters with a vitamin C cleanse, we recommend starting with this brightening face wash available on Amazon. It has vitamins C and E, rose-hip oil, and aloe vera to gently hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier for a more firm complexion. We also love that it removes makeup so well that there’s no need to double-cleanse.
Testing notes: “This one is a great beginner-friendly vitamin C cleanser if you’re looking for more radiant skin overall. It feels really nice, has a silky application, lathers well, and a little goes a very long way—so the bottle will last you some time. I like that it has aloe vera, which is quite soothing and unique to vitamin C cleanser formulations. It’s a great pick if you have acne-prone skin, or if you’re prone to redness, like me,” says Glamour’s Kilkeary.
Frequently asked questions
Is a vitamin C cleanser more or less effective than a vitamin C serum?
Vitamin C serums may be more effective than vitamin C cleansers, according to Howard Sobel, MD, cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital, simply because they stay on the skin longer and have more time to be absorbed. This doesn’t necessarily mean that cleansers are not effective at all though. A cleanser formulated with vitamin C is great for brightening the skin, fading dark spots, and evening skin tone if used daily.
Who should use a vitamin C cleanser?
“Anyone and all skin types can use cleansers formulated with vitamin C. For patients with sensitive skin, I always recommend they introduce it slowly into their routine to ensure their skin reacts well to it,” says Dr. Sobel.
How often should you use a vitamin C cleanser?
According to Claire Wolinsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in NYC, vitamin C cleansers are great to use in tandem with a vitamin C serum in the morning. “You can use a vitamin C cleanser daily as long as your skin tolerates them well,” she says.
That being said, if you overdo it with vitamin C, it can cause some skin types to become red and inflamed. “Some people prone to acne can break out if they use too much vitamin C,” says Dr. Wolinsky. So it’s best to start slow and stick to applying a vitamin C cleanser and serum once daily.
What should you look for when shopping for a vitamin C cleanser?
When shopping for a vitamin C cleanser, the dermatologists we spoke with recommend looking out for ingredients that are tailored to your skin type. “If you have dry and sensitive skin, look for products that combine vitamin C with moisturizing ingredients (like hyaluronic acid or ceramides) or aren’t overly foaming,” says Dr. Nazarian. Oily skin types can benefit from vitamin C cleansers that have exfoliating AHAs and BHAs to help reduce excess shine and large pores.
Are there any side effects when using a vitamin C face wash?
While there are no outright side effects of vitamin C face washes, some can be irritating, says Dr. Wolinsky. “It’s best to choose one that also has soothing ingredients like niacinamide to combat any potential irritation,” she says. It’s also key to not mix your vitamin C face wash with other skin care ingredients that exfoliate, like salicylic acid and retinol, which may cause skin sensitivity. After using a vitamin C serum or face wash, it’s also important to follow up with sunscreen.
Meet the experts
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in NYC
- Howard Sobel, MD, cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC
- Claire Wolinsky, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC
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