Vivier makes eight vitamin C serums, graded across four potency levels. They are not interchangeable — the right one depends on your skin type, whether lines or pigmentation is your main concern, and how much vitamin C your skin already tolerates.
- Sensitive skin, or new to vitamin C
- Serum 10 — the entry point, 10% L-ascorbic acid, all skin types including sensitive.
- Oily or combination skin
- Kinē-C — 10% L-ascorbic acid with two peptides, formulated for normal, combination and oily skin.
- Lines and firmness are the priority
- QuintiSerum for a strong all-rounder, or GrenzCine Serum if budget is not the constraint.
- Dark spots and uneven tone are the priority
- Serum 30 — the highest-strength brightening option, hydroquinone-free.
- You want one serum that does a bit of everything
- C E PEPTIDES — vitamin C, vitamin E and three peptides, for normal to dry skin.
How Vivier's four levels work
Vivier grades its vitamin C serums into four levels. The level is not a quality ranking — it describes intensity and how targeted the formula is.
- Level 1 — Serum 10. The starting point. Straightforward 10% L-ascorbic acid, tolerated by sensitive skin.
- Level 2 — Kinē-C, C E PEPTIDES, Radiance Serum. Same vitamin C territory, but each adds something: peptides, vitamin E, or brightening actives.
- Level 3 — QuintiSerum, Serum 30, Advanced Skin Lightening Serum. Higher concentrations and more specialised. This is where you go for a specific, stubborn concern.
- Level 4 — GrenzCine Serum. Vivier's most advanced anti-ageing formula, built on Polyamine-DAB with vitamin C alongside it.
Start where your skin is, not at the top. A Level 1 serum used consistently outperforms a Level 3 serum you stop using because it was too much. If vitamin C is new to you, Serum 10 is the sensible first bottle.
All eight serums compared
| Serum | Level | Skin types | Key ingredients | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serum 10 | 1 | All skin types, including sensitive | 10% L-ascorbic acid USP | Getting started |
| Kinē-C | 2 | Normal, combination, oily | 10% L-ascorbic acid USP, 2 peptides | Oilier skin |
| C E PEPTIDES | 2 | Normal to dry | 10% L-ascorbic acid USP, vitamin E, 3 peptides | All-round anti-ageing |
| Radiance Serum | 2 | All skin types | 8% L-ascorbic acid USP, 2% arbutin, resorcinol | Gentle brightening |
| QuintiSerum | 3 | Normal to dry | 12.5% L-ascorbic acid USP, 2.5% Et-VC, vitamin E, 5 peptides | Lines and volume |
| Serum 30 | 3 | All skin types | 20% Et-VC, 10% L-ascorbic acid USP | Stubborn dark spots |
| Advanced Skin Lightening Serum | 3 | All skin types | 10% L-ascorbic acid USP, 2% hydroquinone USP | Short-course pigment control |
| GrenzCine Serum | 4 | All skin types | Polyamine-DAB, 10% L-ascorbic acid USP | Advanced anti-ageing |
Read the chart by concern rather than by level. For fine lines, the rating climbs from Serum 10 through to GrenzCine. For hyperpigmentation, it peaks at Serum 30 and the Advanced Skin Lightening Serum. GrenzCine scores highest of all on lines and volume but lowest on pigmentation — which is exactly why the level number alone is the wrong thing to shop by.
What makes Vivier's vitamin C different
Two things run through the whole range.
L-ascorbic acid USP, not a derivative. Every Vivier vitamin C serum is built on L-ascorbic acid — the pure, bio-available form. It has the smallest molecular size of the vitamin C forms, and unlike stabilised derivatives it does not need to convert in the skin before it works.
The IntraDermal System (IDS). Vivier's proprietary delivery system micro-encapsulates the L-ascorbic acid in glycol with a lipid tail. Vivier reports it delivers 2× more vitamin C retention in the skin overall and 4× more in the dermis, and resists oxidation for more consistent potency.
The practical takeaway: comparing two vitamin C serums on percentage alone is misleading. A well-delivered 10% can outperform a poorly delivered 15%, which is why Vivier's Level 1 and 2 serums hold their own against higher-percentage products elsewhere.
Every serum, one by one
Serum 10
- Vitamin C 10% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Skin types All, including sensitive
- Price $130
The plainest formula in the range, and the one to start with. No peptides, no brightening actives — just well-delivered vitamin C. If your skin has reacted to vitamin C before, this is the one to try. Shop Serum 10
Kinē-C
- Vitamin C 10% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Also has 2 peptides
- Skin types Normal, combination, oily
- Price $198
The only serum in the range specifically formulated for oilier skin. Same vitamin C strength as Serum 10, with two peptides added. Shop Kinē-C
C E PEPTIDES
- Vitamin C 10% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Also has Vitamin E, 3 peptides
- Skin types Normal to dry
- Price $222
Vivier's best-known serum and the closest thing the range has to a default choice. Vitamin C plus vitamin E is the classic antioxidant pairing; the three peptides push it toward firmness. Shop C E PEPTIDES
Radiance Serum
- Vitamin C 8% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Also has 2% arbutin, resorcinol
- Skin types All skin types
- Price $181
The gentlest way into brightening. Slightly less vitamin C than its Level 2 siblings, but arbutin and resorcinol are both tyrosinase inhibitors, so it rates higher on uneven tone than anything else at this level. Shop Radiance Serum
QuintiSerum
- Vitamin C 12.5% L-ascorbic acid USP, 2.5% Et-VC
- Also has Vitamin E, 5 peptides
- Skin types Normal to dry
- Price $276
The most loaded formula short of GrenzCine — two forms of vitamin C, vitamin E and five peptides. Rated strongly on both fine lines and loss of volume. Shop QuintiSerum
Serum 30
- Vitamin C 20% Et-VC, 10% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Skin types All skin types
- Note Hydroquinone-free
- Price $220
The newest and highest-rated serum in the range for uneven tone. More on it below. Shop Serum 30
Advanced Skin Lightening Serum
- Vitamin C 10% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Also has 2% hydroquinone USP
- Skin types All skin types
- Price $194
The only serum here containing hydroquinone, and the only one intended for short courses rather than indefinite use — Vivier's own protocol has patients move onto a non-hydroquinone product for maintenance. Worth discussing with a skincare professional before starting. Shop Advanced Skin Lightening Serum
GrenzCine Serum
- Vitamin C 10% L-ascorbic acid USP
- Also has Polyamine-DAB
- Skin types All skin types
- Price $348
Vivier's flagship. It rates highest in the range on both fine lines and loss of volume, and lowest on pigmentation — it is an anti-ageing serum that happens to contain vitamin C, not a brightening serum. Shop GrenzCine Serum
Serum 30, the newest release
Serum 30 is Vivier's high-potency brightening serum and the newest addition to the range. It pairs 20% Et-VC (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid) with 10% L-ascorbic acid USP — a combination no other serum in the line uses — and contains no hydroquinone, so it is not intended to be cycled off.
Et-VC is a stable ethylated vitamin C derivative. Its lipophilic structure gives it dual solubility, so it can move through both the water-loving and oil-loving layers of the skin. In laboratory testing on the ingredient, Vivier reports it inhibits tyrosinase by 47.5% and TRP-2 by 72.6% — both enzymes in the pigment-forming pathway.
In Vivier's consumer study, after twelve weeks of use as part of the Brighten & Restore programme:
was diminished
more even
visibly reduced
Vivier consumer perception study, self-reported agreement after 12 weeks of use as part of the Brighten & Restore Program (Non-HQ). These are participant opinions, not instrumented measurements. Individual results vary.
How to choose in three steps
- Start with your skin type. Oily or combination skin points to Kinē-C. Sensitive skin points to Serum 10. Normal to dry opens up C E PEPTIDES and QuintiSerum.
- Then pick your main concern. Lines and firmness push you up through QuintiSerum to GrenzCine. Dark spots and uneven tone push you toward Radiance Serum, then Serum 30.
- Then match the level to your experience. New to vitamin C, start at Level 1 or 2. Already using an acid or a retinoid comfortably, Level 3 is reasonable.
How Vivier compares to other brands
Vivier is a Canadian pharmaceutical skincare company, and its whole vitamin C range is built on L-ascorbic acid USP with the IDS delivery system — a more consistent approach than most brands, which mix derivative and pure forms across a range.
If you are weighing Vivier against SkinCeuticals, iS Clinical and the other medical-grade options sold in Canada, our guide to the best vitamin C serums in Canada compares across brands rather than within one. This article is the deeper dive on the Vivier range specifically.
Your Skin Solution is an authorized Canadian retailer of Vivier. Every product is guaranteed authentic. Free shipping on orders $99+, and samples with every order.
Shop VivierFrequently asked questions
Which Vivier vitamin C serum is best for beginners?
Serum 10. It is Vivier's Level 1 serum, containing 10% L-ascorbic acid USP with nothing else layered on top, and it is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.
What is the difference between Serum 10, Serum 30 and GrenzCine?
Serum 10 is the Level 1 starting point at 10% L-ascorbic acid. Serum 30 is a Level 3 brightening serum combining 20% Et-VC with 10% L-ascorbic acid, aimed at uneven tone and dark spots. GrenzCine Serum is Level 4 and built on Polyamine-DAB alongside 10% L-ascorbic acid, aimed at lines and loss of volume rather than pigmentation.
Which Vivier serum is best for dark spots and uneven skin tone?
Serum 30 rates highest in the range for hyperpigmentation and uneven tone, alongside the Advanced Skin Lightening Serum. For a gentler option, Radiance Serum combines 8% L-ascorbic acid with 2% arbutin and resorcinol.
Which Vivier vitamin C serum suits oily skin?
Kinē-C. It is the serum in the range formulated for normal, combination and oily skin, with 10% L-ascorbic acid USP and two peptides.
What is Et-VC?
Et-VC is 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a stable ethylated vitamin C derivative. Its structure allows it to move through both water-soluble and oil-soluble layers of the skin. Vivier uses it in Serum 30 at 20% and in QuintiSerum at 2.5%.
What is the IntraDermal System (IDS)?
IDS is Vivier's proprietary delivery system. It micro-encapsulates L-ascorbic acid in glycol with a lipid tail. Vivier reports it enables 2× more vitamin C retention in the skin overall and 4× more in the dermis, and resists oxidation for more consistent potency.
Is a higher percentage of vitamin C always better?
No. Delivery and stability matter as much as concentration — a well-delivered 10% serum can outperform a poorly delivered higher-percentage one. Tolerance matters too: the serum you use consistently beats the stronger one you abandon.
Can I use a Vivier vitamin C serum with retinol?
Many people use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. Vivier itself pairs the two in its Gold Standard Duos. If your skin is sensitive or you are new to either, introduce them one at a time and speak with a skincare professional.
Which Vivier serums contain hydroquinone?
Only the Advanced Skin Lightening Serum, at 2% hydroquinone USP, and it is available in Canada only. Every other vitamin C serum in the range is hydroquinone-free, including Serum 30.
Where can I buy Vivier in Canada?
From an authorized Canadian retailer. Your Skin Solution is an authorized Vivier retailer, so every bottle is guaranteed authentic, with free shipping on orders over $99 within Canada.
Ingredient concentrations, skin type guidance and concern ratings are as published by Vivier Canada. Study figures are consumer perception results, self-reported and labelled where used. Prices shown are current as of 7 August 2026 and may change. Individual results vary. This article is general information, not medical advice — speak with your dermatologist or skincare professional about what suits your skin.