For the better part of the last decade, vitamin C has held a near-legendary status in skincare—the one ingredient dermatologists, editors, and brands could all agree upon. It brightens, protects, and supports collagen production. It’s the product you’re told to use every morning under sunscreen. But in 2026, that once unquestioned dominance of the ingredient feels quieter. Not gone, exactly, but no longer the default solution to better-looking skin.
So, have we hit peak vitamin C?
