Dr. Vanita Rattan's YouTube video

The BEST & WORST Vitamin C for brown/ black skin | Dr Vanita Rattan #vitamincserum

21 products · Mar 22, 2026 · Watch on YouTube ↗

  1. @vanitarattan reviewing La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C12 Anti-Wrinkle and Radiance Restoring Serum at 07:36 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • So, this is not airless. That means as long as it's been sitting on the shelf, oxygen has been in here oxidizing this over time7:26
    • This is not opaque. Light is getting through and there's oxygen7:36
    • The negatives are that it's got 12% ascorbic acid. This is a worst for skin of color
    • The fourth ingredient in here is denatured alcohol. That's why you're getting very quick dry feel. This is a problem8:19
    • Denatured alcohol leads to premature aging and because it generates free radicals in the skin, the exact opposite of what the vitamin C is trying to do8:25
    • They also added in fragrance and that's what that beautiful smell is8:32
    • This product is a disaster12:41
  2. @vanitarattan reviewing CeraVe Skin Renewing 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum at 10:28 in a YouTube Shorts video
    CeraVe$28.99
    • The positives in this product are that of course got ceramides. Now, we lack ceramides for the skin of color, so I love that9:49
    • This has got 10% L-Ascorbic Acid, which I don't love for us to be using every morning. It's too much10:28
    • It's not in an airless pump10:34
    • The sixth ingredient they put in here is denatured alcohol. I really expected better from you, CeraVe10:36
    • This one's a definite no
  3. @vanitarattan reviewing The INKEY List 15% Vitamin C Serum at 11:16 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • Airless pump, well done, The INKEY List10:59
    • The other positive is got 15% Ascorbyl Glucoside, which I love, it's a beautiful derivative of vitamin C11:16
    • I actually really like this as a simple, cheap vitamin C11:33
    • If you're thinking about starting vitamin C and you've never done it before, this is a really good place to start11:37
    • You don't get additional benefits, but you are getting what you pay for11:42
  4. @vanitarattan reviewing The Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F at 12:32 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • Number one is it's fragrance-free, which I love12:16
    • It's got coconut alkanes, which is why it's coming out quite oily. I don't think this is going to be ideal for people with acne12:32
    • No other antioxidants in this product, and it's not in an airless pump12:38
    • Actually for me I'd say it's not really worth your time or your money12:44
    • It's one that I'd avoid
  5. @vanitarattan reviewing SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic at 14:09 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • The good news is it is safe, no denatured alcohol, no fragrance, no essential oils14:00
    • It's got 15% Ascorbic Acid, so that's pure vitamin C again, too strong for skin of color14:09
    • It's not in an airless pump14:13
    • The price to make this product is about £2, and they're selling it for £165. So, I don't really like that massive mismatch14:17
    • It's a hard no. I'm sorry
  6. @vanitarattan reviewing Paula's Choice 25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum at 14:59 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • I love the fact that it's an airless pump14:37
    • Positives are it is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which I love. It's a fat-soluble vitamin C, which goes into the dermis to stimulate collagen14:59
    • It's safe, no denatured alcohol, no fragrance, no essential oils15:28
    • There are other antioxidants in this product, which is brilliant15:32
    • It's got glycerin in it, too, so a humectant. So, it's done a lot right
    • The only downside for me probably is the high price point. So, it's £61 for 30 mils. But, if you can afford it, it's a wonderful, wonderful vitamin C, definitely Dr. V approved15:40
  7. @vanitarattan reviewing Medik8 C-Tetra at 16:28 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • The positives of this is that they've used tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, brilliant16:25
    • Downside, they've used citrus peel oil, which can be very irritating, limonene, which is a fragrance16:28
    • There's no other actives in it16:47
    • For me this one is a hard no, unfortunately16:52
  8. @vanitarattan reviewing Sephora Collection Glow Mini at 17:25 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • It's safe, so it's got no denatured alcohol, no fragrance, no essential oils17:22
    • They've used sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which I love, it's a derivative of vitamin C. They've got 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, which I also love, and Ascorbyl Glucoside, so beautiful, three forms of vitamin C17:25
    • It's got glycerin in here, too, so that's very well done17:37
    • This is a pipette. And if they had put this in an airless pump, I would have recommended it. They were so close17:40
    • This is not one that I can recommend. I'm sorry17:59
  9. @vanitarattan reviewing L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Clinical 12% Vitamin C at 18:14 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • The positives of this product are actually the price point, it's at £1618:07
    • But it's in a pipette. It's 12% L-Ascorbic Acid, plus they added in denatured alcohol and fragrance18:14
    • That product is a hard no18:18
  10. @vanitarattan reviewing Garnier Brightening Serum at 19:01 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • This product is actually a disaster. There are no positives with this product18:54
    • They've added in alcohol, denatured alcohol19:01
    • It's got tiny percentage vitamin C, like a fraction of a percent19:04
    • It's got fragrance19:06
    • It's not in an airless pump19:09
    • This one's a disaster. This one is definitely not worth your time and money19:11
  11. @vanitarattan reviewing Drunk Elephant C-Firma at 20:49 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • That is the most innovative packaging I have seen. So, well done, Drunk Elephant20:39
    • It's got licorice root extract, beautiful tyrosinase inhibitor20:49
    • It's got ferment, which is a conditioner for our skin. I love it20:53
    • It's in an airless pump. Well done
    • The only downside is that it's 15% L-ascorbic acid20:56
    • If they'd literally picked any other form of vitamin C, I would love love this product
    • Unfortunately, it's a no for me if you have skin of color21:20
    • If you have Caucasian skin, this is the best by far so far21:22
  12. @vanitarattan reviewing Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% at 22:20 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • The positive of this is that they added ascorbyl glucoside, which I love22:15
    • The third ingredient here is L-ascorbic acid. So, it's better for Caucasian skin than for skin of color22:20
    • The fourth ingredient in here is denatured alcohol22:26
    • They've also added in fragrance in here23:14
    • This one is probably the most disappointing of the lot so far23:49
  13. @vanitarattan reviewing Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C at 24:27 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • This product contains tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, which I love24:21
    • The downside is so bad. It's got limonene, citrus oil, linalool, and glycolic acid24:27
    • Glycolic acid is an ingredient, it's an acid that I would never recommend for skin of color24:35
    • This one is an absolute disaster in a bottle. Please avoid25:06
  14. @vanitarattan reviewing Environ Intense C-Boost Mela-Even Cream at 25:21 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • This product has got ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, which I love. Niacinamide. Airless pump. Brilliant25:15
    • Downsides are that it's got no other actives in it25:21
    • I like it as a vitamin C, but it's unlikely to shift hyperpigmentation in skin of color because it's only literally got one active in it25:25
  15. @vanitarattan reviewing Dr Sam's Flawless Vitamin C at 26:06 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • I love the fact she's put it into an airless pump. Well done25:47
    • It's got tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ascorbyl glucoside, and ectoin26:06
    • I really like the formula. I really like the packaging, but it is expensive26:17
    • If you can afford it, get it, but if you can't, we've spoken about other ones in this video that are more affordable26:26
  16. @vanitarattan reviewing Glow Recipe Vitamin C Serum at 27:02 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • It's not an airless pump. So, even though it looks like a pump, it's not airless, right? So, there's oxygen in here27:14
    • The positives are it's niacinamide, no denatured alcohol, no fragrance, no essential oils27:02
    • The fifth ingredient here is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. Well done27:05
    • The sixth ingredient in here is tranexamic acid, which is a lovely tyrosinase inhibitor27:08
    • Even though it's not an airless pump, I actually really like the formula27:17
    • I quite like the formula27:28
  17. @vanitarattan reviewing Ole Henriksen Truth Serum at 28:12 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • The positives are it's got sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which is great28:10
    • The downside, which is a really big downside, is that it's got fragrance, alcohol, citral, limonene, linalool, not in an airless pump28:12
    • This product, the truth is it's a disaster. Like it needs to be completely reformulated, new packaging. Very sorry, this is a no28:21
  18. @vanitarattan reviewing Gatineau Radiance Enhancing Vitamin C Serum at 29:04 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • Here we've got glycerin very high up, so it's going to be hydrating to the skin29:00
    • The vitamin C they've used is sodium ascorbyl phosphate, but it's below phenoxyethanol. So, you're looking at a fraction of a percent of vitamin C29:04
    • They've added in fragrance as well, plus limonene29:11
    • This is not a good formula29:22
  19. @vanitarattan reviewing Nip+fab Vitamin C Fix Serum at 30:02 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • The only positive with this product is that it's an airless pump29:59
    • Second ingredient in here is denatured alcohol30:02
    • Plus fragrance
    • It's just going to prematurely age your skin. Not really worth your time or money30:18
  20. @vanitarattan reviewing First Aid Beauty Vitamin C Serum at 31:20 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • A beautiful formula
    • They've added acid, colloidal oatmeal, which is great if you've got dry inflamed eczema-prone skin31:13
    • Licorice root extract, a powerful tyrosinase inhibitor for hyperpigmentation31:20
    • It's in an airless pump. I really, really like this product31:25
    • Definitely purchase this product if you've never tried vitamin C before31:27
  21. @vanitarattan reviewing Dr Vanita Rattan Vitamin C Glow Serum at 31:57 in a YouTube Shorts video
    • We've got airless pump at the bottom31:54
    • It comes out like this, so it's an emulsion31:57
    • It absorbs nicely into the skin32:07
    • You get this glow on the skin32:09
    • In here we've added tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate to go into the dermis to penetrate to then stimulate collagen, but also 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid to work on the epidermis to give you a brighter skin tone32:35
    • I added in bakuchiol, niacinamide, ceramides, coenzyme Q10, licorice root extract, and phytic acid
    • The beauty of this product is that it's safe for pregnancy, safe for sensitive skin, and you can use it in the morning33:04

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