Ever looked at the massive variety of K-beauty products that blast on about how much Vitamin C they have? We all know that Vitamin C is good – but how good is it? Is it an essential for your skin? Well, if your skin is looking dull, suffers from hyperpigmentation (dark spots, blemishes) or you are concerned about premature aging of skin – then it is important! And crucially– you have to make sure the product you are using has an adequate dose and is actually delivering vitamin C to your skin cells (as there are many products that just use the title as a gimmick). Read on to find out our top 5 recommended Vitamin C products for your skin – that actually work! 

The word antioxidant is mentioned a lot in skincare – but what does it really mean? Essentially as our cells work, replicate and grow – they produce free radicals, which are dangerous particles that run loose and can damage DNA, structures and lead to premature aging. Antioxidants exist to eliminate these free radicals – targeting them directly and neutralizing them, ensuring cells can grow and repair safely. 

So why do we care about Vitamin C? Essentially Vitamin C is the antioxidant for your skin – it is essentially number 1; which means if you don’t have enough of it generally, your skin lacks protection. We get majority of the vitamin C we need from our diet – eating fresh fruits and vegetables, but our body will only absorb so much, no matter how much you eat. This means, skin can get a boost from directly applying it – as long as the product is designed to penetrate skin cells and has a proper dosage (around 10-20%). 

So, what products follow this criteria, will actually absorb into the skin and provide a genuine, nutritional boost? We vetted the kings of K-Beauty to find the best products to deliver Vitamin C to your cells, safely and effectively. 

Experience a deep glow infusion with this vitamin-rich serum infused with capsules for longer absorption. With a luscious base of sea buckthorn extract (77%) balanced with 5% niacinamide and pure vitamin C capsules, this golden serum is the perfect addition for a boost to your glow. It helps reduce dark spots quickly, whilst providing a rich hydration to your skin. The capsules help deliver a gentler application (making this serum easy to add to any routine) and it is perfect for enhancing your glow under make-up. 

This serum is the ideal choice for reducing acne scars, whilst improving your natural shine. It’s a fun routine addition for young users who want a shine without irritating agents. 

This famous serum is packed full of vitamin C (63 percent!!), extracted from sea-buckthorn water (Hippophae rhamnoides), which also contains minerals and phenols which have shown to also have anti-inflammatory and calming properties. To prevent further irritation, this serum is coupled with centella asciatica leaf water to reduce irritation and 8 types of hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin. It’s designed to be hypoallergenic and not irritate skin, so the additional vitamin C does not cause redness. For those whose skin takes in the serum, it's said to create an amazing brightening effect in a few uses and it absorbs quickly. For anti-aging effect and moisturizing – it gets all the stars – but it can cause breakouts in acne-prone skin and has a risk of irritation due to the high Vitamin C content. 

If you have combination, normal or dry skin – and want the antioxidant effect with anti-aging properties, this is an amazing serum for you! It won’t suit all skin types, though. 

Benton specializes in natural, no-nonsense formulas which means you will get pure ingredients with minimal background noise. This rich, high-quality vegan serum is infused with 20% pure vitamin C, balanced with ferulic acid to stabilize the formula, ectoin for deep-layered moisture and fermented ingredients for a floral boost of probiotics. This rich vitamin C serum is perfect for fine lines and enhancing your natural radiance.  

For mature skin and wrinkles, this serum delivers a noticeable difference with rich hydration, that will have your glow transformed. Couple that with glutathione, vitamin E and apricot oil to provide deep relief to dryness and dull skin. This serum is one of the best for enhancing fine lines and improving your youthful shine. 

Numbuzin’s vibrant vitamin serum is one of the most popular brightening serums in the market, enriched with not just vitamin C, but also 4% tranexamic acid, 5% niacinamide and glutathione. It’s the ultimate dark spot serum to enhance your glow, but without requiring any high doses of irritating agents. This means not only do you get the advantages of vitamin C, but it’s enriched with a variety of other agents to enhance your deep glow. It’s perfect for those who have skin more sensitive to high dose vitamin C, who need a more gentle touch. 

This serum has a base of lingonberry (60%) to boost skin thickness and enhance action of vitamins for refreshed appearance, enriched with hydrating vitamin E, panthenol and ceramides for a luscious hydration that makes this serum an addictive choice. It’s essentially a perfect cocktail of ingredients to keep your skin balanced, healthy and vanish dark spots. 

TIRTIR packs Vitamin C with a careful team of hydrating and anti-inflammatory players to produce a serum that brightens, plumps skin and directly targets hyperpigmentation to reduce. With three types of collagen, it reaches deep into skin to moisturize. It also doubles with centella asciatica extract to soothe and Madecassoside extract (a wonderful antioxidant that works to inhibit melanin production due to inflammation) - it reaches deeply to soothe and promote plump, line-free skin.  

It’s designed to work well within a routine – and blends well with other moisturizers and make-up to provide a seamless addition to any skincare routine. It's suitable for any skin type – but obviously stands out in tackling dull skin, fine lines or hyperpigmentation. 

Vitamin C is a brilliant addition to any routine where you want to glow brighter and look more radiant everyday. It's an amazing addition to help even skin tone, reduce scarring, dark spots and refresh skin texture for a neater shine. It can make a world of difference in a short period of time, so test out a vitamin C product in your routine today!

Looking to start your vitamin C journey? We have it all - from facemasks, to serums, to moisturizers and even sunscreen? Explore our vitamin C range on Arktastic~!

Looking for more ingredient inspiration in K-Beauty? Read our deep dive into the powers of K-Beauty products: 

The Benefits of Honey in Skincare 
The Calming Effect of Heartleaf 

Is Vitamin C for sensitive skin? 
It comes down to your individual skin type – but generally Vitamin C can be quite irritating. If you already struggle with redness or dryness, it will be important to be picky about what Vitamin C products you choose. Vitamin C is an acid after all, so picking a formulation with soothing, stabilized vitamin C will be best.  

If you feel any burning or tingling when using a product, immediately wash thoroughly with cold water. Wrap ice in a towel or wet with cold water and place over face for a few minutes to cool irritation and don’t use product further. 

Why does my Vitamin C serum go into the fridge? 
Not all the above products have to go in the fridge – but for the unstable forms of Vitamin C (pure vitamin C) it’s recommended that products are kept cold to improve shelf-life and prevent loss of ascorbic acid. Spending time unsealed in warmer environments can break down Vitamin C, making the product less effective. 

Does Vitamin C increase sun sensitivity? 
No, Vitamin C does not increase sensitivity to sunlight. It actually is an important protective factor against UV damage – although it is still always, always recommended to wear a good sunscreen whenever you go outside.