12 Korean Vitamin C Serum Review 2023 | Best Products For Brightening Skin
Vitamin C can do wonders for your skin with its antioxidant properties. Here are the best Korean Vitamin C serums that can help improve your overall skin health and promote collagen production to battle signs of aging, dark spots, pigmentation, and other similar skin concerns.
If your skincare routine doesn’t include a vitamin C serum then choosing one of these Korean vitamin C serums that suits your skin type is one of the best things you can do for your skin, especially if you want healthy, bright, and youthful skin – I mean, who wouldn’t want that?
Best Korean Vitamin C Serum: Quick Summary
| Best Korean Vitamin C Serum | Best For |
| KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop | Smooth Complexion |
| Seoul Ceuticals Day glow serum | Signs of aging |
| DERMALOGY by NEOGENLAB Vitamin C Serum | Skin Brightening |
| PURITO Pure Vitamin C Serum | Damaged Skin |
| Goodal Green Tangerine | Sensitive Skin |
| Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C | Blemishes and Dark spots |
| SKINFOOD Peach Sake Pore Serum | Oily Skin, Acne-prone Skin |
| Mizon Real Vitamin C Ampoule | Hyperpigmentation |
| MISSHA Vita C Plus | Spot Correction |
| Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum | Exfoliation |
| TIA’M MY SIGNATURE C SOURCE | Acne Scars |
Top Picks For Best Korean Vitamin C Serum
- Wishtrend Pure Vitamin C – Best For Blemishes and Pigmentation
- MISSHA Vita C Plus – Best For Spot Correction
- Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum – Best For Open Pores and Exfoliation
- SKINFOOD Peach Sake Pore Serum – Best For Oily Skin
- Mizon AHA 8% Peeling Serum – Best For Acne Scars
Which is the best Korean Vitamin C serum?
Based on our tests and ratings on parameters like ingredients, Vitamin C concentration, application, and formula, we found that KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop is the best Korean Vitamin C serum. KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop contains 5% active ascorbic acid. This helps brighten dark skin and reduce dark spots. This Korean Vitamin C serum also Centella asiatica extracts which is a great ingredient for acne prone skin as it has skin soothing properties.
Top Korean Vitamin C Serum
How to choose the best Korean Vitamin C serum
Choose the best Korean Vitamin C serum depending on your skin type and skin concern. Use a Korean Vitamin C serum based on what results you wish to achieve. If you want, you can use two different serums too, but use them at different times as most Korean Vitamin C serums have active ingredients that might react with each other.
- If you have sensitive skin, use a mild, hypoallergenic serum that won’t irritate your skin as most Korean serums have active ingredients
- If you want to get rid of blemishes and pigmentation, use one with a higher concentration of Vitamin C that also has an exfoliating ingredient like glycolic acid
- If you have dry skin, opt for a serum that includes hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin
- If you have oily skin, use a serum that can control the sebum production in your skin without drying out your skin
- If you want to get rid of blemishes and pigmentation, use one with a higher concentration of Vitamin C
- If you have mature skin, use one that has collagen that will improve the elasticity and act as an anti-ageing serum
Benefits of Korean Vitamin C serum
What I love about vitamin C is that it works for all ages and skin issues. With regular use, I have seen a lot of my friends overcome their skin issues with vitamin C. Since Korean vitamin C serums are so potent, people with sensitive skin might face some irritation. So if you have sensitive skin then opt for a vitamin C serum with lower vitamin C concentration.
Here are some of the benefits of Korean vitamin C serums:
- Promotes Collagen production: Vitamin C stimulates skin cells by increasing the blood flow to the top layers of the skin. This in turn promotes the production of collagen which slows down the skin aging process.
- Intensely Hydrating: Vitamin C also helps lock in moisture in the top layer of the skin
- Skin lightening effect: Vitamin C is loved for its skin lightening properties. This is great for those who want to target hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and blemishes. Vitamin C serums help give your skin a glow, fight skin aging and make your skin look radiant and youthful .
- Skin Repairing properties: Vitamin C is also known for its healing properties. So if you’re dealing with damaged skin or acne scars then vitamin C serums can help heal your skin.
How vitamin C slows down skin aging
Skin aging is a natural process and is inevitable. But we can slow it down and protect it from prematuring. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps us do just that!
A vitamin C derivative, L-ascorbic acid, in a Korean vitamin C serum can be anywhere between 5% – 15% in concentration. This slows down the skin’s aging process by:
- Attacking oxidants caused due to exposure of sunlight which otherwise can lead to premature aging of the skin
- Getting rid of oxidants due to pollutants
- Promoting collagen production
Vitamin C serum can also help prevent hyperpigmentation as it stops tyrosinase enzyme that’s responsible for melanin production.
Where To Add Korean Vitamin C Serum In Skincare Routine
In general, serums are packed with nutrition for the skin which is why adding a serum to your skincare routine is extremely beneficial. And vitamin C is great for your skin and by applying it topically by using a product like Vitamin C serum, you can maximise the benefits.
Vitamin C Serums Oxidise Very Quickly
Vitamin C serums oxidize very quickly which is why it’s extremely important to store it properly. Make sure the bottle is airtight and you store it in a dark, cool place.
Skin Sensitivity
Korean vitamin C serums are high in ascorbic acid this may irritate your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. This is why whenever you first start using potent serums, it’s always better to do a patch test and check how your skin reacts to it.
If the vitamin C serum is highly concentrated and your skin doesn’t agree with the product then there are even chances of burning the skin. So even if you don’t have sensitive skin, always make sure to do a patch test before you apply the vitamin C serum to your face.
If the vitamin C serum agrees with your skin and you don’t see any negative reaction, you can then slowly introduce your favorite Korean vitamin C serum into your skincare routine.
Always make sure to apply a moisturizer after the vitamin C serum. And if you plan on stepping out then make sure you apply sunscreen. This is because high amounts of vitamin C can make your skin a tad bit sensitive than normal.
It’ll take a while until your skin naturally builds up tolerance for Korean vitamin C serum. If you’re new to vitamin C serums, you may feel a slight tingling sensation the first few times you apply it. Which is why I mentioned that you should introduce a Korean vitamin C serum slowly into your skincare routine.
Start with applying a thin layer of vitamin C serum the first few times and then once your skin gets used to it, you can apply more.
If, even after the first few times you apply the vitamin C serum, the tingling sensation doesn’t go away and your skin always feels extra sensitive, you might want to consider opting for a Korean vitamin C serum with lesser ascorbic acid. Any Korean vitamin C serum will mention the percentage of vitamin C in the packaging itself.
How Do I Pair My Korean Vitamin C Serum With Other Skincare Ingredients
There’s a lot of controversy around what skincare products can and can’t be used with Korean vitamin C serums.
For example, a lot of you may have heard that skincare products with ingredients like retinol and niacinamide can’t be used along with a vitamin C serum.
But in reality, there are several skincare products that use both these ingredients.
While I love both these ingredients – vitamin C and niacinamide, I prefer using them in separate skincare products layering them on top of each other. I feel it’s more beneficial to your skin that way.
Why?
Vitamin C helps lighten your skin and niacinamide helps battle signs of aging. Both these ingredients have different pH levels. Vitamin C serum is beneficial to your skin if it has a low pH level and niacinamide is beneficial when it has a higher pH level. Which is why it’s better to layer these ingredients on top of each other rather than using a skincare product that mixes both these ingredients.
Now if you want to continue using retinol (honestly, I’m not a fan of this retinol and here’s why) along with your Vitamin C serum, that’s also fine. But just make sure you don’t use it together. What I mean is if you apply a vitamin C serum in the morning then leave out retinol serum from your morning skincare routine and only apply it in the night. And vice versa.
Why?
This is because both are extremely potent and active ingredients. Layering both vitamin C and retinol might overload your skin and cause irritation.
Tips for using Korean Vitamin C users
Korean Vitamin C serum is great for skin and help you achieve more radiant and youthful skin. However there are precautions you need to take if you’re going to use the best Korean vitamin C serum for you skin type:
- Vitamin C serums are best applied in the morning so it’s a good idea to include a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine and not your pm skincare routine. If you plan on stepping out, wait for a while till the vitamin C serum is properly absorbed into your skin before you step into the sun. Additionally, apply moisturizer and sunscreen after.
- Avoid layering other active ingredients on top of vitamin C serums. You don’t to overload your skin. If you have sensitive skin, you might feel a stinging sensation. If this is persistent then opt for a serum with lower concentrations of vitamin C.
- Make sure you do a patch test before you apply the vitamin C serum on your face. Patch test is especially important for those with sensitive skin or even if you’re unaware about your skin’s sensitivity levels.
- If you have sensitive skin, I suggest you opt for magnesium ascorbyl phosphate-based vitamin C serum and not L-ascorbic acid-based serums. The former are gentler and less likely to cause irritation
- You will find Korean vitamin C serums for varying concentrations from 5 – 30%. I recommend you opt for anywhere between 5 – 20% concentration depending on your skin’s sensitivity levels.
How I tested the Korean vitamin C serums?
Along with the help of certified skincare experts, my team tested over 10+ Korean vitamin C serums to find the best one.
I tested the vitamin C serums based on the ingredients, vitamin c concentration, formulation, efficacy, sensitivity to skin, moisturization and hydration power as well. We then rated each Korean vitamin c serum based on these parameters.
I also considered Amazon customer reviews when selecting the Korean vitamin C serums. According to our tests and ratings by our skincare experts, we found that Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop is the best best Korean vitamin C serum.
KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop: Best Korean Vitamin C Serum
Best Korean Vitamin C Serum For A Smooth Complexion
Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop is our experts overall pick for the best Korean vitamin C serum.
This small bottle of vitamin C serum by Dear, Klairs is just what you need to watch your skin glow day after day.
With a mix of the best ingredients your skin can ever get, and all literally juiced and packaged fresh, it works miracles on your complexion by fading pigmentation, dark spots and evening out the skin tone.
Although it works well for all skin types, it’s best for people with dry skin. I also recommend this product to people who are just testing the vitamin C serum waters for the first time. If you’re vegan, you’ll be glad to know that this product is cruelty-free and contains no alcohol, parabens, and colorant.
Try using this overnight to wake up every morning with brighter skin.
Key Features:
- Contains the active ingredient 5% ascorbic acid
- Brightens the skin and fades dark spots
- Contains centella asiatica extracts
- Soothes the skin and keeps away inflammations
Pros:
- Effective ingredients
Cons:
- Since these ingredients work best when they are fresh, the shelf life of this serum is short once you open it
- Not suitable for sensitive skin
Check out the best Korean vitamin C serum by Klairs below!
Related: Go from oily skin to dewy skin with these amazing Korean serums for oily skin. Check it out!
Seoul Ceuticals Day Glow Serum
Best Korean Vitamin C Serum For Anti-wrinkle & Anti-ageing Treatment
Seoul Ceuticals Day Glow Serum is our experts pick for best Korean vitamin C serum for aging skin.
With a high concentration of vitamin C included, the Seoul Ceuticals Dayglow serum is an effective anti-aging tonic for your skin. The serum tightens the skin, minimizes wrinkles, and adds elasticity to the skin.
As your skin ages, it loses its natural ability to produce sebum and begins to sag. This serum takes care of that and replenishes your skin with all that it needs.
This Korean vitamin C is for everyone. It’s also great for people with skin breakouts, sunburns, and blemishes, as it corrects all this. And for people with dry skin, the hyaluronic acid helps in attracting and locking in moisture to prevent your skin from cracking.
Key Features:
- Contains the active ingredients: 20% vitamin C, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, and Vitamin E
- Ferulic acid increases the effectiveness of vitamin C
- Antioxidant properties of vitamin C slow down the aging of the skin
- Hyaluronic acid attracts and locks in moisture
- Skin stays well hydrated throughout the day
- Vitamin E protects the skin from damage
Pros:
- A hydrating anti-ageing serum
- Can be used by any type of ageing skin
Cons:
- Exposure to sun should be limited, or a good quality sunscreen must be used
Check out the best Korean vitamin C serum by Seoul Ceuticals below!
NEOGEN DERMALOGY Real Vita C Serum
Best Korean Vitamin C Serum For Skin Brightening
Trust Dermology by Neogen Lab to always come up with the highest and most focussed concentrations of active ingredients to ensure that the serum works quickly and effectively.
This Vitamin C serum instantly refreshes the skin and moisturizes it intensely without making your skin greasy. Neogen Dermalogy Real Vita C serum is formulated with a vitamin C derivatise called sodium ascorbyl phosphate. The combination of vitamins B, C, and E nourish your skin from within to give it that smoothness and glow.
This vitamin C serum is best for people with acne-prone skin because it prevents further skin break out. It’s also great for people looking for fast results.
Key Features:
- Vitamin C of 22% concentration is the main ingredient
- Brightens the skin and fades pigmentation
- Vitamin B5 makes the skin stronger
- Vitamin E protects the skin from damage
- Contains niacinamide that is effective in lightening the skin complexion
- Fades dark spots and removes tan
Pros:
- Effective in brightening the skin
- Hydrates well
Check out the best Korean vitamin C serum by Neogen Dermalogy below!
- Related: Best Korean Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Related: Korean Korean Don’t Like Retinol Serum
- Related: Top Korean Serum For Oily Skin
