Clinical Skin's Vitamin C Pro-Collagen Serum Earns An A++ For Skin Elasticity

Skin care doesn't have to be complicated, but if you are going to pare down your routine to just a few steps, vitamin C is one of the best players to keep in the rotation. Ask any derm, esthetician, or beauty expert their all-time favorite skin care ingredients, and chances are they'll name-drop the MVP antioxidant.

It's also one of the best ingredients to invest in; although you can find a variety of budget-friendly vitamin C serums out there, the steeper price tag tends to correlate with better stability (and vitamin C is a notoriously unstable active). 

Vitamin C itself has pro-collagen properties. In fact, the antioxidant is absolutely necessary for collagen production. "If you don't have vitamin C, your collagen can't cross-link to lift and tighten skin," Julia T. Hunter, M.D., founder of Wholistic Dermatology in Beverly Hills, once shared with mbg. And it doesn't just stimulate collagen production; it stabilizes the collagen1 you have, leading to overall wrinkle reduction. 

So if you want to secure plump, youthful skin, you'll want to add vitamin C to your routine, be it via serums and/or supplements. But this Clinical Skin number takes those collagen-enhancing abilities a step further by adding a host of other antioxidants that boost vitamin C's potency. Vitamin E, glutathione, caffeine, and ergothioneine further protect the skin from free radicals and help reduce skin aging; ergothioneine, for instance, has been shown to reduce signs of photodamage2 (a main contributor to skin aging). 

This formula is also housed in a ceramide-rich base, and we likely don't need to remind you how important ceramides are for overall skin health. (We'll just send you over to our full guide to ceramides if you have any questions.) But when it comes to topical ceramides, experts note they actually mimic your moisture barrier, thus helping your skin instantly appear plump and hydrated. 

As for the texture, this serum has a lightweight, watery consistency. It instantly fuses to your complexion and practically disappears upon application. It's also completely fragrance-free, which is an impressive feat with vitamin C; many potent vitamin C serums—namely, ones with ascorbic acid—can smell a bit…foul. (Some people swear they smell like hot dogs.) Other formulas may include citrus extracts to either mask the smell or add a natural vitamin C boost. 

I apply a vitamin C serum every single morning, so it's important I find not only a stellar formula but one that feels enjoyable to apply. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how lightweight the Clinical Skin serum felt in my palms. I liken it to the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum; both are water-based and thin with high-quality ingredients and a steep price tag (Clinical Skin is slightly more affordable at $120 compared to $169).