Best Korean Vitamin C Serums you can get in Australia for 2024
You know COSRX for the cult snail mucin essence – now say hello to your “most flawless skin” with another top-rated serum.
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New to skincare and don’t know where to start? Don’t fret, besides the basics of a cleanser and moisturiser, a vitamin C is a great place to start investing in.
Not only does a vitamin C serum brighten the skin and fade dark spots, but they also fight signs of ageing, working as an antioxidant to get rid of pesky fine lines and wrinkles.
And if you’re keen to dabble into the world of K-Beauty, the one thing you need to know is that the Koreans are all about an epic glow.
Think of the term ‘glass skin’ – it’s all about a smooth, hydrated and radiant complexion.
So it makes complete sense to start incorporating a K-Beauty Vitamin C serum into your routine – and luckily, we’ve rounded up our top picks for you to choose from below.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR’S PICK: BEST K BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM
COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum, $52 at Adore Beauty
COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum
Why we love it: The high-concentration of vitamin C will seriously transform your skin.
What to consider: Might not be ideal for beginners as the vitamin C percentage is quite high.
Formula: Serum
Size: 20ml
Best for: All skin types
What You Need To Know
You may know COSRX for their cult snail mucin essence, but the magic doesn’t stop there.
The Vitamin C 23 Serum is formulated with a combination of 23 per cent vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and allaontoin to give you a totally radiant complexion.
The vitamin C is ascorbic acid, which is the most active and purest form of vitamin C.
Say goodbye to fine lines and wrinkles and say hello to brighter skin, complete hydration and antioxidant protection.
If that’s not enough to convince you, the top-rated serum has also received glowing reviews online, especially over on TikTok, with users claiming it gave them the “most flawless and glass skin”.
BEST K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM FOR BEGINNERS
KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop, $32.19 (down from $39) at Amazon Australia
KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop
Why we love it: It’s a low concentration that’s also super hydrating and brightening.
What to consider: Some users felt it was a little too greasy on the skin.
Formula: Serum
Size: 35ml
Best for: All skin types
What You Need To Know
If you’re new to vitamin C, you may not want to go straight in with something super concentrated – the KLAIRS Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop serum is the perfect example of something that’s going to give you results with a lower formula.
Containing five per cent stabilised pure vitamin C in a hypo-allergenic and naturally-derived formula, this popular K-Beauty serum is designed to exfoliate dead skin cells and improve the look of pigmentation.
It’s also racked up over 6,000 five-star ratings on the Amazon website, with customers calling it their “holy grail” and noting it works to “brighten my skin”
BEST BUDGET-FRIENDLY K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM: UNDER $30
Beauty of Joseon Centella vitamin C Light On Serum, $25.25 (down from $28) at Amazon Australia
Why we love it: Affordable price tag and airtight packaging.
What to consider: May not be suitable for very sensitive skin.
Formula: Serum
Size: 30ml
Best for: Most skin types
What You Need To Know
Who doesn’t love an affordable beauty buy? The Centella Vitamin C Light On Serum is a super moisturising face serum to hit two skin concerns – pigmentation and dehydration.
And that’s all thanks to the brilliant combination of 68 per cent centella asiatica extract and 10 per cent 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid.
We also love that the packaging ensures it’s protected from both light and air.
The Beauty of Joseon Serum has received mostly positive reviews from Amazon shoppers – “easy to apply and not too thick” said one user, with another commenting that it’s “worth the money”.
BEST HYDRATING K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM
GOODAL Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum, $37.29 at Amazon Australia
GOODAL Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum
Why we love it: Great pick for both dry and sensitive skin types.
What to consider: Can sometimes be hard to get your hands on.
Formula: Serum
Size: 40ml
Best for: All skin types
What You Need To Know
Pumped with 70 per cent green tangerine extract, this skin-loving and antioxidant-rich fruit water serum promises to give you a totally radiant and glowing complexion. It’s also packed with niacinamide, arbutin and centella asiatica to really get in there and hydrate your skin, without any irritation.
Amazon Beauty shoppers can’t stop raving about this unique serum, commenting it “feels amazing on my skin and definitely a brighter complexion after only a few days”.
Another user said it’s “amazing for sensitive skin”.
BEST EXFOLIATING K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM
INNISFREE Vitamin C Brightening Serum, $55 at Adore Beauty
INNISFREE Vitamin C Brightening Serum
Why we love it: Reviewers report it feels super gentle on the skin.
What to consider: Higher price tag than other serums on the market.
Formula: Serum
Size: 30ml
Best for: All skin types
What You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a serum with multiple benefits, the INNISFREE Vitamin C serum is one of our top picks.
It’s expertly formulated with dual vitamin C to help brighten and target dullness, while green tea enzymes work hard to break down dead skin cells to really enhance the absorption of all that vitamin C goodness.
It’s also got niacinamide to even out your skin tone, hallabong peel extract for added antioxidants and five types of hyaluronic acid to really plump and hydrate your skin.
Talk about a skin-loving cocktail!
Five-star rating Adore Beauty customers say they get “instant glowing skin” after using it, with another reviewer calling it “super gentle” on their skin.
BEST K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM FOR SENSITIVE SKIN TYPES
Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum, $30.22 at Amazon Australia
Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Glow Serum
Why we love it: Specifically formulated for sensitive skin types.
What to consider: Some users reported it didn’t have a nice smell.
Formula: Serum
Size: 30ml
Best for: All skin types
What You Need To Know
Sensitive skin types should steer clear of high-strength vitamin C serums because too much of a good thing can sometimes feel way too irritating.
The Some By Mi Galactomyces Pure Vitamin C Serum is a great example of the perfect combination of ingredients – 75 per cent galactomyces (which is known for its moisturising benefits), 30,000 ppm of vitamin C and niacinamide to totally brighten the skin and leave you with a radiant complexion.
Five-star rating Amazon shoppers ensured this serum feels “so hydrating” and “makes the skin glow”.
BEST K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUM-ESSENCE HYBRID
LANEIGE Radian-C Brightening Treatment Essence, $58 at Adore Beauty
LANEIGE Radian-C Brightening Treatment Essence
Why we love it: An essence like this is a great addition to a K-Beauty skincare routine.
What to consider: Higher price tag than other serums on our list.
Formula: Water-based essence
Size: 150ml
Best for: All skin types
What You Need To Know
OK now this is a bit different to the rest of the products on our list, but we had to include because the formula sounds amazing.
K-Beauty routines almost always include an essence, which you’re meant to use after cleansing and before your serums.
They’re usually water-based like this one from LANEIGE.
It’s packed with vitamin C to brighten, super berry complex for added antioxidants and caffeine to soothe the skin and provide anti-inflammatory effects.
Five-star rating Adore Beauty shoppers noted its “brightening” and “hydrating” effects, also commenting that they “unexpectedly loved this”.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING K-BEAUTY VITAMIN C SERUMS
When choosing K-Beauty vitamin C serums to include in our list, we evaluated several factors:
Price: If a product is priced highly, then is it worth the money? Or if the price tag is more budget-friendly, are you still getting bang for your buck?
Skin type: Different skin types may require different vitamin C serums – we’ve included picks that have added exfoliation or hydration benefits, or may be more appropriate for those with acne-prone skin or acne scars.
Formula: Is it a lightweight liquid formula that easily melts into the skin or a stickier serum that needs time before applying other products on top?
Ingredients: How strong is the percentage of vitamin C and will it actually make a difference to our skin?
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
With hundreds of vitamin C serums available, it’s impossible to test all the beauty products out there. Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
When it comes to choosing the best Korean vitamin c serum, we also spoke to Sadaf Razi, Adore Beauty’s editor, to get some advice on how to incorporate it into your skincare routine.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHO CAN USE A VITAMIN C SERUM?
According to Sadaf, anyone can use vitamin C products.
“Vitamin C is ideal for those who want radiant, bright glowy skin. It’s an absolute hero for antioxidant and collagen boost, to ensure you wake up each day looking and feeling fresh. Plus it gives protection against free radical damage, photo damage and pollution.”
WHEN SHOULD YOU USE A VITAMIN C SERUM IN YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE?
For maximum results and radiant skin, Sadaf recommends vitamin C to be used every morning.
“Pop it under your SPF for double antioxidant and free radical protection. Vitamin C and SPF are the ultimate power couple!”
If you have a vitamin C based eye cream, it’s also recommended to use this in the morning as it can help brighten dark circles.
CAN YOU USE A VITAMIN C SERUM EVERYDAY?
Short answer is yes, but long answer is it depends on your skin.
Sadaf explains “each person’s skin sensitivity is unique and for some it might be too much. However, if you can tolerate it, it should be part of your daily routine.”
CAN YOU LAYER VITAMIN C WITH OTHER ACTIVES?
Because it’s such a potent antioxidant, Sadaf recommends pairing vitamin C with supporting ingredients in your skin care routine - think niacinamide and ferulic acid (in fact you’ll find a lot of high-performing vitamin Cs are often formulated with ferulic acid).
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