The best vitamin C cleansers often go unnoticed, but honestly, they’ve become one of the hardest-working steps in my routine. I've learned, sometimes the hard way, that no matter how many actives you layer on, nothing truly works without a proper cleanse first.
If you deal with discolouration or hyperpigmentation, you'll know the struggle of finding the right skincare routine to help even out your complexion. A vitamin C cleanser 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 certainly a very 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 option for your skin, we spoke with dermatologists and polled Glamour testers for their very favourite vitamin C cleansers.
Featured in this article
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How I tested
We take product testing seriously here at Glamour, so I made sure to test each vitamin C cleanser in this edit, assessing ingredients, texture, cleansing experience, and overall efficacy. And because one person’s skin isn’t representative of all skin types, I enlisted the wider Glamour team to trial these cleansers across a range of skin types, tones, and ages, so our findings are as fair and inclusive as possible.
For testing, we swapped out our usual face washes for the vitamin C cleansers featured in this edit and used them consistently for at least a month. We paid close attention to how each formula felt on the skin, how effectively it lathered, and whether it helped improve the appearance of dark spots. We also considered texture, scent, ease of use, and how well each cleanser integrated into our wider skincare routines. Over time, we looked for visible improvements in skin tone. If a cleanser made it into this edit, it’s because it genuinely impressed us.
Why you can trust me
I’ve been a shopping writer for five years now – three here at Glamour, and two writing across titles such as Cosmopolitan, ELLE, and Harper’s Bazaar – so it’s safe to say I’ve picked up a fair amount of skincare knowledge along the way. Product testing is a core part of my job, as is interviewing industry experts and staying closely across the latest skincare launches. I also spend a significant amount of my own time reading up on ingredients and formulations to ensure my recommendations are as informed, accurate, and up to date as possible. When it comes to cleansers specifically, I’ve tested more than 15 products, including a selection of the best vitamin C cleansers featured in this edit.
Best Overall: Naturium Vitamin C Complex Cleanser
- Pros: Affordable; easy to use; you can even wear it as a face mask for five minutes and wash it off.
- Cons: Doesn’t have the best scent.
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.
“I was extremely impressed with this cleanser the first few times I tried it,” says US Glamour commerce writer, Alanna Martine Kilkeary. “It’s quite lightweight and easy to lather on the skin — a little goes a long way — and it does a great job at removing makeup, excess oil, and dirt. All it took was one wash to see a noticeable difference in my skin,” she says.
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Best for Uneven Texture: Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Cherry Dub Pore Purify’r Gel Cleanser
- 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 favourite. 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.
“This is by far one of the most enjoyable cleansers I’ve ever tried,” says US Glamour’s Kilkeary. “Not only does it smell absolutely 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 usually textured areas, particularly on my chin where I have a lot of acne scars. My skin looks and feels a lot softer, and overall, my pores have shrunken quite a bit. This one is such a treat, and it lives up to its claims!”
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Best for Brightening: Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser
- Pros: Removes makeup and oil effectively; leaves skin feeling fresh; creamy texture is gentle; pleasant orange scent; vegan formula.
- Cons: Brightening effect is mild; not suitable for fragrance-free preferences.
This cream-based cleanser effectively removes makeup, excess oil, and impurities, leaving the skin feeling clean, soft, and more refreshed post-wash. Enriched with citrus extracts, its gentle formula makes it ideal for everyday cleansing, while the subtle citrus scent is a welcome touch to your everyday skincare routine.
“This cleanser is perfect for my dry, sensitive skin," says Glamour's Commerce Writer Mayola Fernandes. "It has a soft, creamy texture and a subtle orange scent, which gives it a more sensorial, spa-like feel during use. A little goes a long way and removes my everyday makeup with ease. I’ve been using it for a couple of weeks now, and while the brightening effects are mild, I love the scent and it leaves my skin feeling super soft, so it’s an effective cleanser for daily use.”
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Best for Sensitive Skin: Murad Essential-C Cleanser
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- 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 favourite of Dr. Nazarian, this rich cleanser is a must-try if you have oily or acne-prone skin. “This cleanser combines vitamin C with two other antioxidants — vitamin A and vitamin E for added protection and hydration. It also has a slight foaming effect, and I’d generally recommend it for normal to oily skin types to remove impurities,” she says.
“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. But I wish there was more suds from lathering. I would also recommend using a separate makeup remover for eye makeup. I finished off with micellar water to get rid of my eye shadow,” says US Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
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Best for Hyperpigmentation: Youth to the People Superfruit Facial Cleanser
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- Pros: Provides an energising wash; 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 energising cleanser that has AHA, BHA, papaya enzymes, and ginger root to help even tone and minimise large pores. It helps boost skin radiance and also has Yerba Mate to help wake up and invigorate skin.
“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 US 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.
Get noticeably glowing skin with this gel cleanser that combines vitamin C and glycolic acid to visibly brighten skin and slough off dead cells. It also contains glycerin to help ensure that skin won’t feel stripped after use, and will leave you with a softer, more radiant complexion.
“It’s great at removing makeup daily and gives off a lot of suds, which I appreciate in a cleanser,” says US 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.”
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 or cleansing balm 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.
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 will best tailor to your skin type as well. “If you have dry and sensitive skin, look for products that combine vitamin C with moisturising 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.
Meet the experts
- Rachel Nazarian, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in NYC.
- Howard Sobel, MD, cosmetic dermatologic surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital.
This story originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.
