Vitamin C serums - does brightening means whitening?

[user1471523870]

Sorry for the dumb question. I am trying to figure out what I need for my skin and I feel like I am stuck in the '90s for anything related to it!
I do clean it and tone it and moisturize it, however now there are all sorts of serums with acids that are supposed to take a layer off your skin, but in different ways!
On top of that I was researching why I should get a Vit C serum and I came across some reviews saying it makes your skin brighter, while others say it whitens your skin. It never occurred to me that it could mean the same thing? By bright I normally think 'light reflecting' sort of effect, like a healthy glow. But would the serum whiten my skin (like take the tan away or fade the sun spots)?

I use it for pigmentation - which is does lighten but it doesn’t seem to lighten the surrounding skin I don’t think?

Otherwise the pigmentation would never disappear as the surrounding skin would lighten at the same rate as the pigmented area (I hope that makes sense)

I don’t know why it only works on areas of pigmentation though!

Just my experience is that it doesn’t lighten skin generally.

I've got very pale skin. I tried vitamin c from the ordinary, and it stained my skin orange. So I don't think it lightens skin!
It initially helped with evening my skin- less blotchiness, which may be the "brightening" effect. After a few days however I was noticeably getting stained. A shame!