The best face cleansers have this one ingredient

Cleansing with vitamin C plays a key role in any routine. Used first thing in the morning and then at night, face cleansers with this ingredient help revive tired skin, support antioxidant levels and address early signs of ageing right from the first step. Over time, skin appears more radiant and even with dark spots looking softer and the complexion fresher and healthier.

What truly sets a vitamin C facial cleanser apart is its versatility. Available in everything from airy mousses to gel textures and in formulas paired with gentle fruit acids, there is a vitamin C cleanser designed to suit every skin type and concern.

Why choose a vitamin C facial cleanser

As a naturally powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is a strong ally in any daily skincare routine. It helps minimise dark spots and discolouration, smooth the look of fine lines and small imperfections and restore a soft, even radiance to the skin. The complexion appears clearer, fresher and more balanced over time.

These benefits can begin at the cleansing stage. A vitamin C cleanser, used as the first step of your routine, helps remove impurities while gently brightening the skin and preparing it for what follows. “In cleansers, stabilised vitamin C derivatives act at the epidermal level to reduce oxidative stress, inhibit tyrosinase activity and support collagen synthesis,” explains Dr Gagan Raina, cosmetologist and aesthetic medicine specialist at Arisia Skin Clinic. The result: a subtle boost in clarity and radiance before you even reach for your serums.

Vitamin C’s value in modern cleansers isn’t only skin-deep; it also supports the formula itself. “While it isn’t a primary surfactant, its molecular structure allows it to interact with surfactants, polymers and emulsifiers, helping influence micelle organisation and formulation stability,” says Dr Geeta Mehra Fazalbhoy, founder of Skin & You Clinic. Its antioxidant strength also helps protect both the cleanser and its active ingredients from oxidative stress, so what you’re using stays effective for longer while leaving the skin feeling fresher post-rinse.

Pairing it with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, vitamin E or other antioxidants further enhances vitamin C’s effects, boosting hydration, supporting the skin barrier and amplifying its smoothing and plumping benefits.

Vitamin C in a cleanser vs a treatment step

If you already use a vitamin C serum, the idea of adding it to your cleanser might feel redundant, but the roles are different. Leave-on treatments are designed for prolonged contact and deeper action, while a face wash works in short, targeted bursts.

Perfect for daily use, this creamy cleanser removes dirt, sebum and eye makeup. The non-stripping formula eliminates impurities from the face, leaving the skin refreshed and energised. Their Vitamin Complex (vitamin C derivative and pro-vitamin B5) also helps soothe the skin.

Youth To The People Papaya + Vitamin C Superfruit Cleanser

Designed to wake up tired skin and powered by vitamin C and enzyme-rich papaya, this cleanser gently exfoliates while cleansing, helping to smooth texture and restore clarity. Skin is left visibly brighter, without any tightness.

Murad Essential-C Cleanser

A refreshing gel formula designed to protect skin from daily environmental stressors. Infused with vitamin C and antioxidants, it gently cleanses while helping to defend against pollution and dullness. Skin is left feeling clear, resilient and energised after every wash.

The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Cleansing Polish

Infused with vitamin C and gentle exfoliating particles, it helps buff away dullness while leaving the skin looking clearer and more radiant. The texture strikes a balance between effective and non-abrasive, making it ideal for days when skin needs a visible, instant boost.

This article first appeared on Vogue.it