From supporting your immune system to boosting collagen production, the best vitamin C supplements are well known for their generous plethora of benefits. But, as vitamin C isn’t produced or stored naturally by the body, it’s vital that we get enough through diet or supplementation — especially as the NHS recommends adults get no less than 40mg a day, but no more than 1000mg a day to avoid unpleasant side effects. Noted.
That’s why in busy periods — when perhaps I’m not getting my five a day — it’s also the one supplement I reach for consistently. I’ve also noticed it has incredible benefits on my skin health, too, most notably my hydration levels and skin firmness.
According to the founder of JSHealth and expert nutritionist, Jessica Sepel, I’m not wrong to do so: “While vitamin C is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables, supplements offer a reliable way to help meet your daily needs or fill in gaps. They can be particularly useful during times of stress or when your immune system could use extra support.”
But not all vitamin C supplements are created equal. So which ones are worth taking and are considered the most beneficial? Over the past few weeks, we — a team of GLAMOUR editors, writers and committed freelancers — have tested a range of capsules, tablets and water-soluble supplements to find the very best. Read on to find out which vitamin C supplements are worth your cash, as well as answers to all your FAQs.
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Disclaimer: Keep in mind that this article isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice, and our recommendations won’t replace a healthy lifestyle and balanced diet.
Meet the experts:
What are vitamin C supplements?
“Vitamin C supplements are a concentrated form of this essential nutrient that supports a wide range of functions in the body,” explains Sepel. “While vitamin C is naturally found in many fruits and vegetables, supplements offer a reliable way to help meet your daily needs or fill in gaps.”
Sepel adds that they can be particularly useful during times of stress or when your immune system could use extra support: “Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means it’s not stored in the body and therefore it’s important to get enough day to day.”
How we test the best vitamin C supplements:
Since 2021, the GLAMOUR team — writers, editors and committed freelancers — has prioritised personally testing a host of supplements — including vitamin D, iron supplements and collagen supplements — to boost your diet and overall well-being. To filter out the best vitamin C supplements from the rest, we scored each on the following criteria:
- Ease of use — Were the capsules easy to swallow? Did the sachets or powders mix well with water?
- Efficacy — What amount of vitamin C do they provide per serving, and what is its potency?
- Taste and ease of use — On a scale of one to five, how pleasurable was the taste, or how easy was the capsule to swallow?
- Value for money — Would they be happy to commit to the weekly, monthly or bi-monthly spend?
For those we haven’t personally reviewed (yet), we paid close attention to the list of ingredients, online reviews, and consulted with industry experts on whether they’d recommend them to their clients. Spoiler: the ones they wouldn’t didn’t make the cut.
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