While stocking your beauty cabinet with K-beauty toners, sheet masks, and more, you might be considering subbing your Western brightening agent for a Korean vitamin C serum. What you should know first is that that vitamin C serums as we know them stateside look a bit different in Seoul.
“Vitamin C is a popular ingredient in Korea, but I’d say it’s less of the star of the show there compared to Western brands,” Michelle Lee, former EIC of Allure and CMO at K-Beauty World, tells Vogue. “Brightening in K-beauty is a category, not a single hero ingredient.” While vitamin C is almost entirely synonymous with brightening in the US, in Korea, brightening can be achieved through a blend of ingredients including niacinamide, tranexamic acid, kojic acid, and rice extract, among others. Board-certified general and cosmetic dermatologist Jenny Liu agrees, adding that vitamin C can assist in “achieving the bright, even-toned complexion that underpins the ‘glass skin’ aesthetic.”
Vogue’s Favorite Korean Vitamin C Serums
- Best Hydrating: Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum, $27
- Best Brightening: Numbuzin No.5+ Vitamin Concentrated Serum, $21
- Best for Hyperpigmentation: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum, $21
- Best Potency: CosRx The Vitamin C 23 Serum, $21
- Best Spicules Serum: VT Vita-Light Reedle Shot 100, $35
So what are the perks of incorporating a Korean vitamin C serum into your routine? Board-certified dermatologist and facial plastic surgeon Dr. Lauren Moy, MD, lists plenty, including targeting hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory marks, dullness, and overall skin radiance. And yes, there is a difference between these products and their Western counterparts. “Korean consumers tend to favor formulas that deliver brightening benefits without compromising the skin barrier, which is why products with gentler derivatives or additional calming ingredients perform especially well,” Dr. Moy explains. Ahead, an edit of the leading Korean vitamin C serums to know.
In This Story
Best for Hyperpigmentation: Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum
Goodal
Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Serum
- Why We Love It: If there were a Korean vitamin C serum voted the most popular in Seoul, it would be Goodal’s. So popular, in fact, that Lee used many o’s for emphasis. “The vitamin C comes from green tangerines from Jeju—unripe tangerines apparently contain significantly more vitamin C than ripe ones,” she says. “There’s also niacinamide and arbutin, so you’re getting a real brightening stack, not just one ingredient doing all the work.” Plus, the texture of this serum is light, non-sticky, and, even better, Lee says it doesn’t pill when layered under makeup. The mild formula fades hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, and blemishes with citric bliss.
- Key Ingredients: Tangerine extract, niacinamide
- Size: 1.01 oz
Best Hydrating: Dr. Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum
Dr. Althea
Vitamin C Boosting Serum
- Why We Love It: A personal favorite of Lee’s, and a particularly TikTok-viral option, Dr. Althea’s formula combines vitamin C derived from sea buckthorn and tranexamic acid for a brightening dynamic duo. “It’s also made with centella and eight types of hyaluronic acid so you’re also getting some soothing and hydrating in there,” she says. Plus, this serum is naturally-derived and a safe choice for those with sensitive skin. “It’s a good example of a brightening product designed to support the skin barrier while still helping improve uneven tone and glow,” adds Dr. Moy.
- Key Ingredients: Sea buckhorn, centella asiatica leaf water, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, glycerin, fig fruit extract, centella asiatica extract, hdrolyzed hyaluronic acid, ceramide NP
- Size: 1.01 oz
Best Potency: CosRx The Vitamin C 23 Serum
CosRx
The Vitamin C 23 Serum
- Why We Love It: Dr. Moy consider’s CosRx’s formula one of the most potent Korean vitamin C serums available. Lee agrees considering this formula to be a bit of an outlier of K-beauty vitamin C serums. “It has a higher concentration of [the antioxidant]: 23% L-ascorbic acid puts it on par with the Western heavy-hitters—probably because CosRx is really such a global brand now,” she says noting it’s affordable price point considering it’s potency. With that in mind, the experts advise introducing the formula gradually, especially for those with sensitive skin.
- Key Ingredients: L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, allantoin
- Size: 0.70 oz
Best Under Makeup: Eqqualberry Vitamin Illuminating Serum
Equallbery
Vitamin Illuminating Serum
- Why We Love It: No, the shimmer you’re seeing in Eqqualberry’s formula isn’t glitter, but micro-encapsulated ceramide drops. “This serum focuses on hydration and luminosity alongside antioxidant support, which aligns well with the Korean skincare philosophy of maintaining skin health while treating pigmentation,” says Dr. Moy. With nearly 9,000 glowing Amazon reviews (pun intended), this pick is particularly lauded for its lightweight texture and gentle approach to brightening.
- Key Ingredients: Acerola fruit water, glycerin, niacinamide, ceramide blend, squalane, turmeric root extract, tocopherol, shea butter, allantoin, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid
- Size: 1.01 fl. oz
Best Beginner-Friendly: DearKlairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drops
DearKlairs
Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop Serum
- Why We Love It: Another popular K-beauty pick on Amazon, DearKlairs formula boasts nearly eight thousand five-star reviews for it’s slow and steady results. “This serum has a gentle 5% pure ascorbic acid formula which is enough to do real work, but also gentle enough for sensitive skin,” says Lee, calling it a good gateway product into the category. Plus, the formula is free from artificial fragrance, as an added benefit for those with sensitized skin.
- Key Ingredients: 5% ascorbic acid, centella asiatica extract, yuzu extract
- Size: 1.18 oz
Best With Glutathione: Numbuzin No.5+ Vitamin Concentrated Serum
Numbuzin
No.5+ Vitamin Concentrated Serum
- Why We Love It: Lee notes that Numbuzin’s serum has become particularly popular thanks to the combo of glutathione and vitamin C. The powerful antioxidant ingredient glutathione is stabilized in capsules to help achieve a bright complexion. Studies show glutathione has anti-melanogenic properties which decrease the production of melanin. Combined with vitamin C and niacinamide, dark spots are targeted efficiently and effectively.
- Key Ingredients: Glutathione, niacinamide, vitamin E, panthenol
- Size: 1.01 oz
Best Spicules Serum: VT Cosmetics Vita-Light Reedle Shot 100
VT Cosmetics
Vita-Light Reedle Shot 100 Serum
- Why We Love It: Those familiar with VT Cosmetics viral spicule serums will appreciate their vitamin-enriched version of the cult-favorite formula. Using patented cica reedles, which are 14 times thinner than a pore, this pick creates microneedle-like channels into the skin that deposit encapsulated vitamin C and E. Meanwhile, a blend of centella asiatica and hyaluronic acid work together to calm and hydrate the complexion.
- Key Ingredients: Cica Reedle, Centella asiatica, hyaluronic acid
- Size: 1.69 oz
Best with Glutathione: Arencia Vitamin C Booster Shot Serum with Glutathione
Arencia
Vitamin C Booster Shot Serum with Glutathione
- Why We Love It: Arencia’s serum is concentrated in both its formula and its viscous texture. “The inclusion of glutathione alongside vitamin C is a powerful combination that can help support antioxidant protection and brighten the appearance of skin,” says Dr. Moy. Meanwhile, panthenol and allantoin help to soothe the skin barrier. “Formulas that pair multiple brightening ingredients together can often deliver a more balanced approach to treating dullness and pigmentation,” she adds.
- Key Ingredients: Glycerin, niacinamide, allantoin, ascorbic acid (10ppm), glutathione, panthenol, tocopherol
- Size: 30 mL
Best Acne-Safe: Purito Pure Vitamin C Serum
Purito
Pure Vitamin C Serum
- Why We Love It: The pursuit of true acne-safe products always feels like a never ending battle. Purito’s vitamin C serum, though, passes with flying colors through every pore-clogging ingredient checker. Here, a blend of low dose ascorbic acid and glutathione help to brighten hyperpigmentation. Meanwhile bamboo water, jojoba esters, and two forms of hyaluronic acid help to impart hydration and calm skin.
- Key Ingredients: Bamboo water, ascorbic acid (5%), niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed jojoba esters, glutathione
- Size: 2.02 fl. oz
Everything You Need to Know
Benefits of Using Vitamin C Serums
To start, there are three main forms of vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and 3-O-Ethyl-L-ascorbic acid. All have varying levels of stability and solubility. But regardless, vitamin C has three main benefits, says David Kim, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City. “For starters, it’s a great antioxidant and keeps the skin cells really healthy. It also has brightening properties, alongside UV protection, so it’s great to use during the summertime.”
What makes Korean vitamin C special?
While Western vitamin C formulas focus on targeting existing concerns, Korean vitamin C’s are more gentle and preventative at a lower cost. Being effective without high concentrations, they are super layerable, fast-absorbing, and accessible to a wider range of skin types.
“In terms of formulation–Korean vitamin Cs will be lighter and more hydrating,” according to Dr. Christine Hall, a general practitioner and aesthetics doctor. “K-beauty places its biggest focus on the skin barrier—restoring, maintaining, and repairing it. Therefore, formulations tend to be gentler–this is achieved through the use of gentler, more stable forms of vitamin C.”
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and K-beauty founders—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.
As it relates to Korean skin-care products, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: ingredients, texture, finish, and the skin care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology.
- Christine Hall, MD, is a general practitioner in medical aesthetics.
- David Kim, MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City.
- Michelle Lee, Former EIC of Allure, CMO at K-Beauty World
- Jenny Liu, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New Jersey and host of the Skin Deep & Unfiltered podcast.
- Lauren Moy, MD, is a double-board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon in Beverly Hills.
