Vitamin C, Brightening and Antioxidant Serums

Antioxidant Serums for Face

An antioxidant serum is a lightweight treatment you apply before moisturiser to help support your skin against everyday stress like sun exposure and pollution. This page brings together antioxidant face serums built around vitamin C, ferulic acid, resveratrol and other antioxidants, and the formulas range from simple to fairly involved. Adore Beauty is an official stockist of every brand listed here, so you can compare them in one place. If you already know you want vitamin C, the vitamin C serums page narrows it down.

Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid Antioxidant Serums

Vitamin C is the best known antioxidant in skincare, and a vitamin C antioxidant serum is often paired with ferulic acid. The Medik8 Super C Ferulic 30ml is a clear example of that combination. The Ordinary Resveratrol 3% + Ferulic Acid 3% takes a different route, pairing resveratrol with ferulic acid instead of vitamin C, so it is worth a look if you want to try an antioxidant serum without vitamin C. Putting the two side by side is the quickest way to work out which kind of antioxidant serum for face and neck you prefer.

Other Antioxidant Serums to Compare

Not every antioxidant serum is a vitamin C serum. The Aspect Phyto-Defence Super Antioxidant Serum is sold as an all-round antioxidant serum, which makes it a simple place to start if you are hunting for the best antioxidant serum without a big vitamin C hit. If you are shopping for an antioxidant serum for dry skin, look at hydrating and hyaluronic acid serums as well, since many routines layer the two. For dullness or dark spots, head to pigmentation serums, and for fine lines try anti-ageing serums. Niacinamide often sits alongside antioxidants too, and you will find those in vitamin B and niacinamide serums.

How to Use an Antioxidant Serum

Apply a few drops to clean skin in the morning, press it in, then follow with moisturiser and a broad-spectrum SPF. An antioxidant serum does not replace sunscreen. Patch test first and introduce one new active at a time. If your skin is sensitive, start every second day and build up. A little tingling can happen with vitamin C, but stop using it if you get burning or redness that does not settle. Give any new serum a few weeks before you judge it, and if you have a skin condition, speak to a doctor or pharmacist first.

Frequently Asked Questions About Antioxidant Serums