The 10 Best Korean Vitamin C Serums for Bright, Glassy Skin

If you’re a vitamin C beginner and want to start off with a lower concentration, Klairs is the perfect option if you still want “overall antioxidative benefits and more gradual action,” Yoon says. “I like that it’s also combined with centella to help soothe skin. And importantly, it’s a stabilized formula, which is why even in a clear, transparent bottle, the product doesn’t oxidize and change colors,” she adds.

Key ingredients: Vitamin C, centella asiatica extract

Size: 1.8 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “In the K-beauty world, Klairs is to vitamin C as Joey Chestnut is to hot dogs. They’re known for their unique stabilized form of vitamin C, have won about a gazillion beauty awards, and this is one of the best-selling serums in Korea (Charlotte Cho of Soko Glam was the first one to turn me onto this one). I like it because unlike most vitamin C serums, this one isn’t sticky, doesn’t irritate the skin, and doesn’t smell at all like hot dog water. It’s a reliable morning basic for me, and I used it till the very last drop.” —Kathleen Hou, ELLE beauty director