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.
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
Original video from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing 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.