Welcome to the WH Lab, where we rigorously test health products to find out which items deserve a place in your wellness toolkit
Finding a tenner in the pocket of your jeans. An absorbing episode of your favourite podcast. A spontaneous rainbow. Sometimes life conspires to inject a bit of brightness intoyourday.Butforamore reliable dose, you’d be wise to add a vitamin C serum into your skincare routine. In your diet, it supports your immune system, but when applied topically, vitamin C can keep free radicals (think: pesky pollution particles) at bay while defending against hyperpigmentation and dullness. So if there’s one ingredient that will instil new life into your weary skin, it’s vitamin C. But with the market for serums more crowded than your local bougie brunch spot on a Sunday morning, and prices ranging from affordable to investment, you might struggle with where to start. That’s where the WH Lab comes in. We’re sharing the serums that helped our team of testers take a step in the bright direction.
01
Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Serum, £95, Boots
Overall score: 81/100
Ease of use: ●●●●●
Design: ●●●●●
Performance: ●●●●●
Giving that Goldilocks level of glimmer and a perfectly priming base, this star of a serum was a panel-pleaser. It left skin looking plump and radiant, but this serum was more than just love at first swipe; testers noticed boosts in brightness, firming and hydration. Dullness, we bid you adieu.
The WH Lab verdict: Behold a skin-softening A-lister in the world of vitamin C with the credentials to match.
Key specifications:
Size: 30ml
Fragrance-free: No
02
Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum, £58, Boots
Overall score: 75/100
Ease of use: ●●●●●
Design: ●●●●●
Performance: ●●●●●
Dispensing the right amount in a single pump, this orangehued hydrator was beautifully absorbent and non-greasy. It gave the testers an immediate glow, but its blend of vitamin C and polyhydroxy acid also ensured a long-lasting and durable brightening effect.
The WH Lab verdict: Silky-smooth in texture, this serum left our panel of testers obsessively stroking their softer, sleeker and altogether more splendid-looking skin.
Key specifications:
Size: 30ml
Fragrance-free: No
03
No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum, £19.95, Boots
Overall score: 73/100
Ease of use: ●●●●●
Design: ●●●●●
Performance:●●●●●
Scarring can leave a shadow lurking after your acne heals, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Good old vitamin C is the go-to remedy, and this No7 bargain not only smells glorious, but the pipette-style bottle
