July 16, 2018 Charlotte Cho

So did my last blog post about Vitamin C get you a little excited? I hope so :)

Now as promised, here is a little bit of info about shopping for the right Vitamin C serum, because there are a few things you should know...

Is Pure Vitamin C the best?

There are those who say Vitamin C serum in its purest form is the most effective. Ingredient lists show this form of unstabilized Vitamin C as “ascorbic acid” or “l-ascorbic acid.” However, that’s not necessarily the case because it has such a short shelf life.

Pure Vitamin C is easily destabilized by light and oxygen. You can take precautions to prevent that from happening, such as keeping it in a dark bottle and keeping it sealed tight in a cool place away from light, but no matter how well you store pure Vitamin C, its effectiveness actually naturally drops after about a month. You’ll know when it is no longer effective when your formula turns an ugly brown color.

On the flip side, Vitamin C that has been stabilized ( i.e. “Ascorbyl Methylsilanol Pectinate” or “Ascorbyl Palmitate” on the ingredients list) has a longer shelf life of about two years, and it doesn’t have to be stored in a dark bottle.

Some say that stabilized Vitamin C is not as effective, but in my opinion, stabilized Vitamin C is just as effective as the pure form simply because of advances in skin care technology and R&D.

I’ve spoken with research and development skin care specialists in Korea, and they echo my sentiments. There are also tons of studies that show Vitamin C in a stabilized form is just as beneficial.

And call me old-fashioned, but I like it when my products last longer than a month. That’s a lot of serious wastage if you have to buy yourself a new bottle of serum every month when you’re not even halfway done with it.

What concentration of Vitamin C is the most effective?

A lot of skin care products now contain Vitamin C. Studies show anything from 1% to 20% is effective, so don’t think that only concentrations in the double digits are effective! A general rule of thumb: The higher the concentration, the more likely it will cause sensitivity. Vitamin C at 20% has caused my usually non-sensitive skin to react with a stinging sensation and irritation. I’m a firm believer that if your skin is irritated or red, your skin is trying to tell you that it doesn’t like. Beating your skin into submission is a bit counterintuitive, don’t you think?

Now you know a little bit more about Vitamin C, let me introduce you to my Vitamin C pick and why it’s in my current skin care routine: Klairs Freshly Juiced Drop Vitamin C Serum.

It’s second ingredient is ascorbic acid, aka pure Vitamin C, but thanks to the latest Korean skin care technology, the formula is more stable and has a longer shelf life. That’s why it’s kept in this pretty clear bottle…

The concentration of Vitamin C is at 5%, which is gentle enough for sensitive skin. If you’re new to Vitamin C serums, this one is a great one to start with.

When I use it, I can feel my skin feel a little bit of the warmth of the Vitamin C serum soaking into my skin. It causes no irritation, which is great because if my skin is happy, I’m happy.

The results I’ve seen are something to brag about. I’ve consistently focused on the pigmentation around my cheekbones and chin. It has really done a great job fading the acne discolorations around my chin and brightening the brown spots every week I check in.

And because I’m all about getting to the root of my skin issues, I love knowing that I’m preventing pigmentation from the get-go.

How I use the Klairs Freshly Juiced Drop Vitamin C Serum

At night, I use it after cleansing, toning, and essence. I apply it directly onto my skin, then finish off my routine with my eye cream and moisturizer. The texture is slightly oily and even feels like a bit warm as it absorbs quickly and finished off matte on my skin.

In the mornings I add about 1-2 drops into my moisturizer. It really depends on my mood and what my skin is up to that day.

And because price undoubtedly matters, I finish off this review by raving about the price. I really can’t believe it's only $23 for this amazing serum. This is Korean affordable skin care at its best and I can’t wait for you to include it in your regime!

Your reviews

"I was on the fence about incorporating a vitamin C serum into my regimen because I have CRAZY sensitive skin. But I've been gradually increasing and tweaking my K-beauty routine over the past 5-6 months and decided to give this a try. My skin has reacted very well to it so far. I have noticed a subtle brightening in my skin and have experienced zero irritation or breakouts. I have been mixing 2-3 drops in my moisturizer twice daily, which I think helps further reduce the potential for irritation. On the whole, great product!" - Lashlee D.



"I bought this because I read so many reviews saying that it has really helped with acne scars. Not only are my scars getting lighter, it helped with my “angry” acne. After 3 days of use (once in the morning and once at night), my “angry” acne calmed down and went away. My makeup goes on a lot smoother and looks way better. I really love how soft and cool my skin feels after I apply this serum. It’s also a really nice price that fits into my budget!" - Precious L.



"This has become a staple in my routine. I've been burned (literally) before by other vitamin c products, but this has never given me issues and does a really good job at brightening and fading dark spots." - Gabrielle F.

I hope you enjoyed my 2-part series on Vitamin C! Let me know if you have any questions about it or your thoughts on Vitamin C below.

xx charlotte