Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum for sensitive skin
Ascorbic Acid Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Licorice Root Extract Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Lactic Acid
Viola Odorata Extract Hadasei-3 Extract
Rice Ferment Filtrate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best serums for sensitive skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin as Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate and Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate provide potent antioxidant activity and support collagen synthesis, addressing your goals for redness and irritation.
- Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Licorice Root Extract further soothe and reduce inflammation, complementing the brightening effects for your skin.
- The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 3.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is frequently praised for its gentle yet effective formula that brightens the complexion and smooths skin texture, often resulting in a noticeable glow and softer skin. Some users, however, find the exfoliation to be too mild and feel the high price point is not justified by the results.
Highlights
Brightens and adds glow Mostly Mentioned
- “skin is clearer, glowier”
- “complexion is more even”
- “radiant than ever”
- “noticeable glow”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “surprisingly gentle”
- “does not irritate”
- “calming effect”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Smoother skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin is completely smooth”
- “drastically changed texture”
- “pores seem less clogged”
- “softens skin”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “very pricey”
- “hard to justify cost”
- “expensive for vitamin C”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “helped brighten dark spots”
- “fade acne scars”
- “reduced hyperpigmentation”
- “evened out skin tone”
Lightweight and fast absorbing Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-sticky”
- “watery texture”
- “sinks in with zero residue”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “did nothing”
- “didn't notice difference”
- “no improvement in radiance”
- “expected more for price”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “dries a little sticky”
- “tacky texture”
- “felt sticky”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smell is weird”
- “strong scent”
- “smells like hot dog water”
Weak exfoliation Rarely Noted
- “not enough exfoliation”
- “too mild”
- “didn't replace my AHA”
Sources: lovi.care, tatcha.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, mecca.com.au, refinery29.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum a great fit for sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit because it uses gentle vitamin C forms along with licorice root and dipotassium glycyrrhizate to calm redness and irritation without harshness. These soothing ingredients help keep your skin comfortable and smooth while brightening your complexion.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Licorice Root Extract, which help soothe and reduce inflammation. The formulation is also safe and free of harsh ingredients that could cause irritation, while providing antioxidants to address redness.
What does Ascorbic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Ascorbic Acid helps improve skin elasticity and calms redness in reactive and sensitive skin when used properly. Studies show it is generally well-tolerated and provides safe anti-aging benefits for delicate skin types.
What does Licorice Root Extract do for sensitive skin?
Licorice Root Extract helps calm red, irritated sensitive skin by reducing inflammation and soothing everyday discomfort. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works to ease swelling and redness, though chronic use of certain active compounds requires caution.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
Apply this treatment in your evening routine once a week to start, as it is a great fit for your sensitive skin and safe from harsh irritants. You can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with your retinol on alternate nights or separate times to help prevent irritation. This formula is safe for sensitive skin and unlikely to cause harsh reactions when you space out active ingredients.
How often should I use it?
This treatment is a great fit for your sensitive skin and works best when you apply it in the evening. You can start by using it once a week as part of your routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for sensitive skin and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. It helps calm redness and soothe your skin with gentle plant extracts.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 3-in-1 anti-aging topical night serum-in-oil applied once daily decreased wrinkles by 11%, increased skin firmness by 8%, reduced redness by 70%, and improved overall skin quality and complexion in 103 female subjects over 28 to 84 days compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Topical 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, 2022Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Daily application of a cream containing niosomes loaded with purple glutinous rice extract in 20 human volunteers for 28 days resulted in a significant decrease in melanin index and skin roughness by -14.05% and -9.95%, and increases in skin hydration and elastic recovery by +48.73% and +35.98% compared to initial values.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The iontophoretic delivery of hyaluronic acid nanogel-loaded Saccharomyces/Rice Ferment Filtrate significantly reduced advanced glycation end products and mitigated skin stiffening in an ex vivo skin tissue glycation model.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2025Red rice extract suppressed UVB-induced inflammation and skin aging in human skin fibroblasts by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway, leading to decreased NF-kappa B and AP-1 activation, reduced ECM degradation, and increased ECM synthesis compared to UVB-irradiated controls.
Natural Product Communications, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Bis-Glyceryl Ascorbate, Saccharomyces Camellia Sinensis Cladosiphon Okamuranus Rice Leaf Ferment Filtrate, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Crataegus Cuneata Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Juice, Lemon Juice, Citrus Aurantifolia Juice, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Ziziphus Jujuba Fruit Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Carboxyethyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium Edta, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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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