COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum for dry sensitive skin
Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Super Vitamin E
Glutathione
NiacinamideHigh
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for your dry skin due to the presence of squalane and tocopherol which provide emollient action, but lacks sufficient humectants for optimal hydration.
- The serum provides excellent brightening and smoothing texture due to ascorbic acid and niacinamide, which are beneficial for hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone.
- The product is generally safe for your dry and sensitive skin, though ascorbic acid and sodium sulfite may pose a slight irritation risk.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis serum is a gentle and effective option for sensitive and acne-prone skin, frequently praised for its ability to brighten the complexion and fade dark spots without causing irritation. Users often note a hydrating and plumping effect, though a significant number find the strong, fishy scent and sticky finish to be considerable drawbacks. Some also mention the need for refrigeration due to the formula's instability and occasional packaging issues.
Highlights
Gentle formula Mostly Mentioned
- “no irritation at all”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “didn't feel any stinging”
Brightens skin Often Mentioned
- “faded my acne marks”
- “skin looks radiant”
- “dark spots seem to be fading”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like tuna”
- “scent is funky”
- “metallic smell”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “quality and affordable”
- “great price point”
- “delivering way better than expected”
Hydrating and plumping Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels hydrated and plump”
- “gives a gorgeous inner glow”
- “moisturizing feel”
Sticky finish Sometimes Noted
- “feels really sticky”
- “hair sticks to face”
- “tacky finish”
Storage requirements Sometimes Noted
- “needs to be kept in fridge”
- “oxidizes quickly”
- “turned yellow fast”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “leaked in the box”
- “hissed when opened”
- “dropper is too runny”
Sources: lovi.care, cosrx.com, sokoglam.com, iherb.com, lyko.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum is a great fit because its ascorbic acid and niacinamide give you smooth skin and bright spots, while squalane and tocopherol keep it soft. It is generally safe for your dry and sensitive skin, though the vitamin C and sodium sulfite inside may cause a slight chance of irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a good fit because squalane and tocopherol help soften dry skin, while ascorbic acid and niacinamide make your skin smooth and bright. Ascorbic acid and sodium sulfite may occasionally pose a slight irritation risk to sensitive skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
What does Vitamin C do for dry sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten and smooth dry sensitive skin while reducing wrinkles and improving elasticity. It is generally well tolerated and unlikely to cause irritation when properly formulated, leaving the skin looking more radiant.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine, applied after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting this serum in the evening helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, but it is best to use this vitamin C serum in the morning and your retinol at night to help avoid irritation on dry and sensitive skin.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it three times a week at first and slowly building up as your skin feels comfortable. This serum helps smooth and brighten the skin, though ascorbic acid may occasionally cause mild irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, though ascorbic acid and sodium sulfite may pose a slight irritation risk. It helps brighten dark spots and make your skin smooth, but because it is a vitamin C treatment, it does not cause purging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005
Ingredients
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Tromethamine, 3-0-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Caffeine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium Edta, Glutathione, Adenosine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Dextrin, Squalane, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Palm Oil, Arginine, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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