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11 Best Korean Vitamin C Serums for Dry, Sensitive, and Combination Skin

Jason Park
Published by: Jason Park
Last updated:

Finding the best Korean vitamin C serum can be a tough nut to crack, especially when it’s not your area of expertise. 

And while there are 50+ different bands out there, they’re usually very overrated or don’t deliver the features you need.

I’ve spent more than $340 on Korean vitamin C serums and the best one is the Calming Serum from Beauty of Joseon.

Want to dive deeper into other vitamin C serums?

Let’s get started.

Our Pick
Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum
Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum
  • Key Ingredients: Green Tea Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol
  • Best Overall
  • Size: 30 ml
Best Premium
Dermalogy Real Vita C Serum
Dermalogy Real Vita C Serum
  • Key Ingredients: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Citrus Fruit Extracts
  • Best For: Dry Skin
  • Size: 32 g
Best Budget
Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum
Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum
  • Key Ingredients: Centella, Purslane, Witch Hazel, Ginkgo Extracts 
  • Best For: Hyperpigmentation
  • Size: 50 ml

A Quick Look at The Best Korean Vitamin C Serums

11 Best Korean Vitamin C Serums Reviewed

Best Overall: Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum

Pros:

Easily one of the best Vitamin C serums on the market

Brighter skin, fewer breakouts and better overall texture

Keeps your skin hydrated throughout the day

Cons:

Can get a bit expensive

Bottle is quite small and doesn’t last very long

Trying to find the best Korean vitamin C serum is not an easy task. Opening multiple tabs, reading reviews, and looking at the different ingredients can be time-intensive.

And even then, you don’t know which one to get.

Say hello to Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum. 

This is by far the best serum out there. Not only does it contain green tea extract, which is scientifically proven to improve the skin.

But it’s also extremely affordable. You don’t have to waste your time anymore on finding new vitamin C serums. 

Everything you need is simplified in this serum. All the ingredients are mixed perfectly together, and it’s also EWG-approved

With this serum, you can improve your skin with a few drops. No need for additional products that’ll never work anyway.

You’ll be able to sleep comfortably without worrying about breaking out again.

Eating instant ramen at night?

No problem! This serum automatically restores your skin while also giving you a youthful look. 

Now, if you’d rather waste your time and are okay with your current skin, then there’s no need to get this now. But 180 days from now, you’ll regret not using this today!

It’s like your crush you always wanted to approach but never got the confidence to ACTUALLY do it.

From there, your crush went on to date someone else, and still, to this day, you think about it…

… don’t make the same mistake and start using this vitamin C serum TODAY. You won’t make the same mistake twice, right?

Right???

My Experience with the Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum

Whenever I wake up and my face feels puffy and swollen, this is usually the product that keeps my skin looking good. It doesn’t fix everything, but it at least keeps my skin feeling somewhat restored. Especially, whenever I eat ramen at night my face tends to get puffy the next day.

I’m convinced that this serum will change your whole outlook on K-beauty products. BUT, you have to follow the process and use it for at least 30 days to get the most out of this.

If you’ve got some change to spare and like trying out new Korean skincare products, then this is the ONLY vitamin C serum you’ll ever need to invest in.

“But, what if I don’t like it?”

No worries, move on and try another vitamin C serum that works for you.

At the end of the day, it’s all about trial and error with these products. Sometimes you find a product that works exceptionally well for your skin, while it doesn’t work for others.

Let’s take a look at the ingredients

Ingredients

“Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Saccharum Officinarum (Sugarcane) Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, MeliaAzadirachta Flower Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Propolis Extract, Diethoxyethyl lSuccinate, Betaine, Octanediol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyquaternium-51, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Sodium Phytate, Dextrin, Tocopherol”

The bolded words are the ingredients that are the main difference makers in this serum.

Many scientific studies have shown that Panthenol, also known as Vitamin B5 creates a barrier around the skin, which protects itself from stress and other dangers.

Plus, it keeps the skin moisturized for a very long time.

The other ingredient is Centella Asiatica Extract, which is known to prevent your skin from getting itchy or irritated. If you have a very sensitive skin type, then this might be a lifesaver for you.

And trust me… I know how it feels like to deal with sensitive skin. It’s not something that goes away in a few days. Most of the time it takes about 1 to 2 weeks before you see any results.

If you want to try it yourself…

You can buy it from a trusted store like YesStyle or Stylevana. (beware of fakes!)

Or you can read my full review here.

Best for Dry Skin: Dermalogy Real Vita C Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Citrus Fruit Extracts
  • Price: $$$
  • Best For: Dry Skin
  • Size: 32 g

Getting rid of dry skin can take time…

… a lot of time!

You want to have moisturized skin all day long, but finding a Korean vitamin C serum that works feels like a whole job by itself.

What if there was a vitamin C serum that kept your skin moisturized all day long?

This is it.

After you’ve started using this, the serum will nourish the tired skin to prevent it from getting dry.

Cutting-edge ingredients backed by scientific studies make it easy to prevent your skin from getting extremely dry or flaky. 

These ingredients are citrus fruit extract, hyaluronic acid, and many more.

Once you’ve started using this and added it into your routine, you can then see the results forever. 

Say goodbye to dry skin.

You can use this every single day, and your skin tone will improve without any additional money, energy, or time.

Built a steady and strong Korean skincare routine using this vitamin C serum that guides you through your skincare journey.

Plus, this vitamin C serum is very light on the skin. It’s recommended to apply it once in the morning including in the area around your neck.

Start using the Dermalogy Real Vita C Serum today!

Best for Hyperpigmentation: Propolis Vitamin Synergy Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Centella, Purslane, Witch Hazel, Ginkgo Extracts 
  • Price: $$
  • Best For: Hyperpigmentation
  • Size: 50 ml

Your skincare routine can be more overwhelming to think about than the 44,958 products that are available online.

Because when it comes to finding the right products, you need the right vitamin C serum to achieve the best results.

What if you could use a serum that is by far the best one for hyperpigmentation.

Well, this is it.

This vitamin C serum made by iUNIK is one of the most popular serums on the market. The serum focuses on ingredients such as Ginko extracts and Witch hazel.

These ingredients have a long track record of proven results.

This serum helps you take your skincare routine to the next level. From enhancing your skin tone to removing dead skin cells, this serum does it all.

Get started with this serum today and add it to your routine.

You can then be the best version of yourself and don’t have to ever worry about breakouts again.

Plus, you’ll have more confidence, and your friends will be jealous of how smooth your skin is.

iUNIK’s vitamin C serum lets you improve your skin with a few drops while having the main benefits of anti-aging, preventing wrinkles, and strengthening your skin.

Best for Acne Scars: All Day Vitamin Brightening 

  • Key Ingredients: Sea Buckthorn, Castor Oil, Niacinamide
  • Price: $$
  • Best For: Acne Scars
  • Size: 30 ml

Dealing with acne scars is something that hundreds if not thousands of people deal with. It’s a huge problem in society, and while there isn’t any one-size-fits-all.

This Korean vitamin C serum does prevent it from getting worse.

I’m not saying that this will heal your acne scars, but it’ll definitely prevent it from breaking out even more.

The All Day Vitamin Brightening is packed with scientific-backed ingredients such as cica, panthenol, and flower oil to minimize acne-prone skin.

Turn your acne scars into smooth skin by using this serum once a day, plus give your skin the treatment it needs.

Best of all, you’ll be able to improve your skin without any additional products. 

No need to waste your precious time on testing out new vitamin C serums. You can see the results within weeks and say goodbye to acne scars.

With Korean vitamin C serums like this, it has become easier than ever to improve your skin. Since all the ingredients are there, you only have to apply it every morning to enjoy the benefits.

Best for Sensitive Skin: Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Tuber Magnatum Extract, Adenosine
  • Price: $$
  • Best For: Sensitive Skin
  • Size: 30 ml

Nothing is worse than realizing you have sensitive skin and can’t use 99.99% of the products your friends recommend.

Without a results-proven vitamin C serum for your skin, you’ll likely waste hundreds if not thousands of dollars on serums that’ll be a waste of money.

You want a vitamin C serum that has a proven record of delivering results for people with sensitive skin, plus not worrying about getting breakouts.

Look no further than the Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum.

This vitamin C serum is by far the best one for sensitive skin. Never worry again about getting irritated skin, redness, or breakouts from products you thought were “safe”.

Add this into your skincare routine today, which lets you go on about your day without needing to waste energy.

Plus, you can safely recommend this to all of your friends, so you never have to deal with horrible breakouts again.

This serum contains pure Vitamin C that lets you brighten the skin in a natural way. 

Use this every morning to enhance your sensitive skin and create a protective barrier around it. 

Best for Dark Spots: 20% Vitamin C + E Ferulic Acid Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Ascorbic Acid, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol
  • Price: $$
  • Best For: Dark Spots
  • Size: 30 ml

If you’re waking up with dark spots every single day, then it’s probably time to start using this serum.

You probably need a serum that focuses on improving dull skin, which often leads to dark spots. Without wasting your time, this is the best Korean vitamin C serum for dark spots.

You want a serum that reduces the dark spots on your face within days. You’re using tons of makeup to cover the dark spots and fail to do it.

Look no further than the Timeless vitamin C serum.

With this serum, you can identify all the dark spots using one product – everything from dark circles around the eyes, blemishes, and an unbalanced skin tone.

You’ll be able to fix all those problems, as well as improve your overall skin texture.

Remove the skincare products that don’t work, and start using this today.

Plus, you’ll be able to save at least $20/mo and get better results than any other vitamin C serum out there.

This vitamin C serum lets you do more than just that. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and can be used for all skin types.

Best for Oily Skin: Centella Green Level Buffet Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Cica Extract, Ceramide, Collagen
  • Price: $
  • Best For: Oily Skin
  • Size: 60 ml

Are you juggling too many skincare products in creating your routine?

Before you give up on another 8 vitamin C serums, why not use a serum that has all the features to improve your oily skin?

Even better, why not without wasting a single minute of time?

Start using Centella Green Level Buffet Serum today.

If you’re fed up with testing products over and over again… and still can’t find the right ones that work for oily skin, this serum is here to save the day.

This serum is infused with 49% of cica extract, which is backed by many scientific studies. Simply apply this serum every morning in a few seconds to prevent your skin from getting extremely oily.

With a serum like this, you can strengthen your overall skin barrier and prevent excess sebum from building up–minus the energy you need to spend on testing new products.

Never worry about your skin getting extremely oily at work, college, or anywhere else.

This vitamin C serum is always improving, and with the ingredients that this has, it’ll be sold out very soon.

Best for Glow: Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Sea Buckthorn, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol
  • Price: $$$
  • Best For: Glowing Skin
  • Size: 30 ml

Get glowing skin within weeks, instead of months and sometimes even years,

The Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum saves you time and money with over 800+ 5-star reviews that are reviewed by experts, and easily improve your skin overnight.

With a comprehensive ingredient list, this vitamin C serum is here to help you get glowing skin as fast as possible. You can also brighten your skin with this serum.

Access the hidden skin layer other serums can’t get to and let this serum absorb into it. Our experts have tested over 50+ brands out there, and this is by far the best for glowing skin.

Especially if you don’t want to waste hours researching products that you’ll likely throw out anyway.

The serum contains highly concentrated ingredients such as pure vitamin C, sea buckthorn, and allantoin. 

You can go out with confidence and be proud of your glowing skin. Shortcut your way to perfect healthy skin with this serum.

Best for Combination Skin: Melano CC Vitamin C

  • Key Ingredients: Tocopherol Acetate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate, Isopropylmethylphenol
  • Price: $
  • Best For: Combination Skin
  • Size: 20 ml

Combination skin can be hard to deal with, especially when you don’t know where to get started.

And while there are thousands of products out there, they’re usually extremely confusing with features you don’t need.

Want to get rid of all that and just improve your skin with one product?

Meet the Melano CC Vitamin C serum.

Thanks to the amazing ingredients, this vitamin C serum is extremely lightweight and is fully packed with healthy nutrients.

Based on that data, you know you’re getting your money’s worth.

100% better skin overnight is something that people think isn’t achievable. Now, I’m not saying that it is, but this serum definitely does some of that.

And even better, this serum makes your combination skin glow like no other. Unlike many other serums, this one actually delivers.

And boy, oh boy, you’ll be surprised when you start using this. Don’t wait too long because you’ll likely regret not using it a few months from now.

When your skin is all red and irritated, you wish that you started using this today.

Best for Beginners: Vitamin C Brightening Serum

  • Key Ingredients: Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Betaine
  • Price: $$
  • Best For: Beginners
  • Size: 30 ml

Just getting started with Korean skincare?

You’re ready to improve your skin and get that glass skin but don’t have time or know-how to build the perfect routine.

You need a Korean vitamin C serum that lets you improve your skin and save money at the same time.

This is the serum you need.

A few drops in the morning does wonders, and you’ll definitely notice that after a few weeks. No need to add additional Korean skincare products to your routine. 

Start by using this serum and slowly build front here. Once a month, you can add new products, but don’t go too fast. Your skin needs to adapt to the routine. That’s how you’ll get hat glass skin.

Especially when you’re still a beginner to Korean skincare, thousands of people make the mistake of impulse buying products and waste thousands of dollars.

Don’t be like that, and start your way slow and steady. Get the perfect routine at once, and you will save at least $1,000 on products that you don’t need.

Best Budget: Freshly Juiced Vitamin C

  • Key Ingredients: Centella Asiatica Extract, Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid
  • Price: $
  • Best For: Budget
  • Size: 35 ml

Don’t want to waste a lot of money on vitamin C serums?

And you still want all the features of the other serums to get the best skin possible.

Well, lucky you.

The last one we saved is the most underrated Korean vitamin C serum on the market. For the price, you get almost all the features of the other serums while paying the lowest price.

Save money and get that glowing skin with the Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C serum.

Fill up your bank account while preventing your skin from getting worse, as well as using the most underrated vitamin C serum on the market.

You can use this vitamin C serum once a day, and you’ll almost notice the results instantly. Unlike any other vitamin C serum on the market, this one is the best for students.

Not only do you save money, but you can also get that glass skin that everyone is talking about.

Start using this vitamin C serum today, and bring your glass skin to life.

Korean Vitamin C Serum Buying Guide

How To Choose The Best Korean Vitamin C Serum

Choosing the best Korean vitamin C serum isn’t as hard as you think. Back then when there wasn’t as much information out there on the internet as today.

It was basically testing testing, and more testing.

However, these days there are a ton of different sites out there with useful information. So here are the 3 things to look for when buying a Korean vitamin C serum.

Skin Type: Always look at your skin type before buying any product. It doesn’t matter if you’re buying a cleanser, moisturizer, or vitamin C serum. Without knowing your skin type, it’s likely to go very wrong.

This has happened many times and… it’s not something you want to experience. 

Now, identifying your own skin type is quite easy. Look at your skin and see if it’s dry, oily, or normal. If you don’t know how to do that, it’s always better to consult with a dermatologist. They are specialized in this field and can help you with that.

Consider testing out new products if you’d rather do it alone. But it’ll most likely cost you some money and skin problems along the way.

Size: Looking at the size of the bottle is important. You don’t want the serum to run out after a week or two. Most serums will last you up to 2 months when used every day.

However, this is when you go for a 30 ml serum. There are smaller bottles that’ll run out quicker, try to avoid that. In the end, it’ll also save you a lot of money.

Price: The price is something that is overlooked. People only look at the results and impulsively buy the product.

You never want to do that because it’ll just be a waste of money. These types of people also buy Korean skincare products they never need.

Don’t be like that and pay the right price for the right products.

Ingredients: Always look at the ingredients when buying a Korean vitamin C serum. Unless you want to damage your own skin purposely.

…I don’t think you want to do that. Avoid ingredients that your skin can’t handle. For example, if you have oily skin, try to avoid alcohol-based products.

These tend to damage the skin even more.

Our Verdict

After all, the best Korean vitamin C serum is the Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum. Unlike any other serum out there, this one improves the overall skin tone and prevents your skin from aging while also preventing your acne-prone skin from getting worse.

It’s a Korean vitamin C serum that does all of that. Plus, it’s very affordable for anyone out there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How often should you use a Korean vitamin C serum?

Korean vitamin C serums should be used every morning.

Q. Are Korean vitamin C serums better than regular ones?

Generally speaking, Korean vitamin C serums have less harmful ingredients and are in that case, better than regular ones.

Q. Are Korean vitamin C serums worth it?

Yes, Korean vitamin C serums are densely worth it. If you’re serious about improving your skincare, it’s a no-brainer.

Q. Are Korean vitamin C serums good for your skin?

Yes, Korean vitamin C serums are good for your skin. As long as you use the right products that suit your skin type, you’re good to go.

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    About The Author

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    Jason Park

    Jason has been living in Seoul for over 4 years, and during that time, he has experienced many of the city's hidden stores. He loves to write about his experiences and share them with others. Jason has been quoted and referenced by different major media companies like Mashed, Distractify, ThePrint and TastingTable. In his free time, he likes to watch Korean dramas and learn more about Korean culture.

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