COSRX The Vitamin C 13 Serum for mature skin
Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Super Vitamin E
Glutathione
NiacinamideHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for mature skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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, this serum effectively targets wrinkles and fine lines with ascorbic acid and adenosine, promoting collagen production and skin elasticity. The combination of ascorbic acid and 3-0-ethyl ascorbic acid offers excellent brightening and evening of skin tone for visible anti-aging effects.
- Tocopherol and squalane provide antioxidant activity and support collagen synthesis, further enhancing the benefits for your skin.
- The product has a favorable safety profile with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
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 Vitamin C 13 a great fit for mature skin?
This serum is a great fit because ascorbic acid and adenosine help smooth out wrinkles while boosting firmness. Additionally, vitamin E and squalane provide antioxidant support, and ascorbic acid together with 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid helps brighten dark spots and even out your skin tone.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for mature skin?
This serum is a great fit for mature skin because it contains ascorbic acid and adenosine to smooth fine lines, along with tocopherol and squalane to support firmness. It also includes niacinamide and glutathione to help even out your skin tone and boost radiance.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
What does Vitamin C do for mature skin?
Vitamin C helps mature skin by smoothing out wrinkles, brightening dark spots, and boosting firmness. It works by encouraging collagen production to keep skin looking youthful and radiant.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for mature skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps mature skin by deeply boosting moisture, improving elasticity, and smoothing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Regular use keeps the skin looking plump and soft while supporting overall firmness and hydration.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Skin Research and Technology, 2024
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for mature skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening helps keep your routine 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 by applying this vitamin C in the morning and your retinol at night to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Using them on alternate nights or waiting a few minutes between layers also helps if your skin is sensitive.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is put in your evening routine once a day for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure, though some serums with actives may also be used in the morning or twice a day. It has a favorable safety profile with no risks of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin since it has a safe formula without harsh ingredients. It helps smooth fine lines and brighten your tone while keeping your skin calm.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal 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
A 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 a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Topical 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 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, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical 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 glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005Topical 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, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006
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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