COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tocopherol Vitamin E
Squalane
NiacinamideAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin as ascorbic acid and 3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid provide antioxidant activity and melanogenesis regulation, but lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control for your oily shine.
- Niacinamide and panthenol offer general skincare benefits like hydration and antioxidant protection, which you would notice, but these are not targeted for your specific concerns.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 6.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise this serum for its potent ability to brighten dull complexions and fade stubborn acne scars, often noting visible results within a few weeks. The high 23% concentration can be irritating for sensitive skin, and many users dislike the sticky texture and strong scent.
Highlights
Brightens skin Mostly Mentioned
- “noticeable glow”
- “brightens complexion”
- “radiant skin”
Fades scars Mostly Mentioned
- “lightened dark spots”
- “faded acne scars”
- “cleared hyperpigmentation”
Unpleasant smell Mostly Mentioned
- “smells like hot dogs”
- “meaty scent”
- “bad smell”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “great price point”
- “good value”
- “affordable vitamin C”
Sticky texture Often Mentioned
- “tacky finish”
- “feels sticky”
- “like glue”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “sinks in fast”
- “doesn't feel greasy”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “feels moisturizing”
- “hydrating finish”
- “leaves skin supple”
Oxidation issues Sometimes Noted
- “oxidized quickly”
- “turned orange fast”
- “needs fridge storage”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “stung my face”
- “burning sensation”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “leaky bottle”
- “messy dropper”
- “crusty rim”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does COSRX Vitamin C 23 work for combination skin?
COSRX The Vitamin C 23 Serum works moderately well for combination skin because its vitamin C brightens the skin, but it lacks enough ingredients to properly control oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide and propolis or zinc PCA that balance oiliness and hydration without causing extra oil or dryness.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Ascorbic Acid, sodium hyaluronate, and niacinamide make this serum a good fit by brightening and hydrating your skin, though it is missing ingredients for oil control. Treatments that fit combination skin better need ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage oily shine without causing dryness.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums of this type can also be used in the morning or twice a day. A treatment for combination skin needs balancing ingredients that help control oily shine while delivering antioxidants.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use this vitamin C in the morning and your retinol at night to help avoid irritation. This approach keeps your skin calm while still giving you the antioxidant and smoothing benefits of both ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it once a week at first and carefully building up frequency if your skin tolerates it well. It has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients, though a product for combination skin also needs targeted oil control for oily shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin due to a safe formula without harsh ingredients, though some users experience moderate irritation. To better manage oily shine, combination skin needs a treatment with targeted oil-controlling ingredients.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2020A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2024Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 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
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Tromethamine, Panthenol, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Caffeine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Sulfite, Disodium Edta, Glutathione, Adenosine, Acetyl Glucosamine, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Dextrin, Tocotrienols, Tocopherol, Palm Oil, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Niacinamide, Pentylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Methyl Trimethicone, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Beta-Carotene
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
How does it fit your skin?
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