Price: $27 

Where to buy: product is available on select beauty sites (not available on amazon)

Size: 30 mL

Vegan/Cruelty free: Not vegan (Propolis); cruelty free 

Available for Purchase here: https://www.beautypedia.com/products/triple-c-lightning-liquid/ 

Purpose: use this product to even out complexion, to get rid of pigmentation,  =and reduce acne scars, brown spots, or uneven coloring on skin 

Pros: delivers fast results due to an extremely high vitamin C potency

Cons: pricier and smaller quantity than other products, can cause dry and flaky skin, watch out for oxidization (you may want to keep this product refrigerated)

Product Ingredients (watch out for allergies!): Aronia Melanocarpa fruit extract (Black Chokeberry), Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), Butylene glycol, Sodium lactate, Licorice root extract, 1,2- Hexanediol, Pullulan, Sodium hyaluronate, Cassia obtusifolia seed extract, Allantoin

How to Use: Every other night, I incorporated this product by putting 2 drops of the serum directly onto my face after cleansing, and toning, patting it into my face until absorbed. It is recommended that you test this product before fully incorporating it into your skin routine (especially if you have sensitive skin or are new to acids): to test out the product, start by mixing a few drops of the serum in with your moisturizer. If you see no visible side effects, then gradually move to putting this product directly on your skin. It is recommended to use this serum at night. If you use this product before sun exposure, apply sunscreen over it to protect your skin. 

Scent and Texture

This product feels slightly sticky when applied and does not have a scent. This product has a rather thick and oily texture as well as a natural (non-artificial smell). The first time I applied this product on my face, I noticed that it had good coverage and was easily absorbed into my skin with a patting motion. However, it left my skin with a stinging and slightly itching sensation because the vitamin C was so strong. Once I pat this moisturizer onto my face after cleansing and toning my skin, my face had an oily sheen to it— the oiliness was something I wasn’t a huge fan of either. 

Effects after Use

Like I said, the sensitivity to this product lasted for a couple of days before my skin build up the tolerance for its ingredients. The next morning when I washed the product off my face, I instantly noticed that my face felt softer and in a few days it had a brighter and glowing complexion. I had a few blemishes and acne scars that took around three weeks to fade and become really subtle on my skin. 

The Science behind the Ingredients. 

In this part of the review, I will address and break down the uses of the most significant ingredients in this product. 

Vitamin C— Vitamin C is often regarded as the holy grail of skincare. Vitamin C is a treatment for all kinds of complexion and coloring issues ranging from uneven skin tone, rough texture, acne scars, to general dullness. When it comes to your skin, vitamin C acts as a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals. Vitamin C speeds up the skin’s natural regeneration process which helps repair damaged skin cells. Lastly, due to Vitamin C’s high acidity, it triggers the skin to accelerate the production of collagen and elastin to combat the abrasive qualities of the acid. 

Black Chokeberry—  The black chokeberry is similarly loaded with high amounts of antioxidant polyphenols which help neutralize and nourish the skin. It also contains sugar compounds that are really beneficial for retaining moisture in the skin, keeping you hydrated. Lastly the black chokeberry has a high vitamin content, from potassium and zinc to Vitamin B1, B2, B6, and Vitamin 6. 

Licorice root extract— Niacinamide is a super popular skincare ingredient and is a form of vitamin B3 that helps manage acne, pigmentation issues, and wrinkles. Its chemical compounds help repair damage in your skin and protect your skin from sun damage. 

It’s Worth for the Price 

Compared to the other vitamin C serums on the market (view section down below called ‘similar product alternatives’) this product is on the cheaper side of things. Vitamin C serums of this category usually range from around $20 dollars and the most highly quality serums can reach up to $100 or over.  So for a 30 mL bottle of this serum (that will last you months on end), $27 dollars is definitely a cheaper price for the kinds of results that you will see and for how long this product will last you. It’s compact and concentrated and therefore you’re paying for a high potency of the important ingredients.

Things to look Out For

If you’ve never used acid products or vitamin C products on your skin, be careful with this product. The same goes for sensitive skin or naturally dry skin. You must first find out if this product is compatible with your skin or not— if this product is too potent and acidic then it can cause breakouts or dry and flaky skin. Make sure to start with small doses of this product (try one drop) and don’t put it directly on to your skin. Instead, mix it into your moisturizer. This product took a little getting used to. I felt a burning and itchy sensation when I first started using the product but this went away in a week as my skin became accustomed to the vitamin C. Avoid areas on your face with raw or open wounds as it will sting and irritate any sensitive areas. Remember to keep this product stored in the refrigerator, or else it will oxidize in a few months. Otherwise, I highly recommend you to test out a sample of this product before buying the full thing. 

Similar Product Alternatives: 

1. Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C drop ($23): this product is the most popular competitor to Cosrx’s vitamin C serum, and contains 5%  hypoallergenic pure vitamin C serum as a skin rejuvenator 

2. La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum ($40): this product has 10 percent ascorbic acid as well as salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid for a boost of hydration.

3. Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum ($88): this product from Tatcha has 20 percent vitamin c and 10 percent Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) to combat dark spots and dullness

My Overall Impression:I knew that vitamin C had a knack for brightening skin and getting rid of scars by lightning dark spots, therefore a sought out this product because it was cheap and popular.I purchased this product to get rid of uneven pigmentation on my face (from breakout scars and sun exposure). This product has pure 20.5% vitamin C in it, which makes it incredibly potent— I had used vitamin C serums before, and some of them had a tendency to dry out my skin so I was a little worried that this product would do the same thing. However, after a few weeks of use (I just apply a few drops of this serum on my face every other day after cleansing and toning) I noticed that my acne scars were greatly reduced without having any side effects of dry skin. The only side effects I noticed were a slight burning sensation right after application that went away in a few days. This product has a high level of black chokeberry, an ingredient that balances out the high concentration of vitamin C to make sure the skin stays hydrated. Because of its ability to lighten and brighten without drying out my skin or causing any flakiness, I had a great experience with this serum. But keep in mind that it is not a good option for sensitive skin or overly dry skin.

A before and after picture from another user:  

What the negative reviews say: 

• Product was too strong for skin and caused irritation (not good for sensitive skin) 

• Burning sensation on skin after use 

• Causes dry skin and flaking (especially for naturally dry skin)

• Using this product on dry skin can trigger breakouts 

• Product tends to expire quickly (crystallized/oxidized if not properly stored)

What the Positive reviews say: 

• Successful and fast in removing dark spots on skin 

• More effective due to higher potency of vitamin C compared to other serums 

• Gets rid of acne scars 

• Causing glowing complexion 

• Becomes a great daily skin product skin becomes accustomed 

Video Reviews: 

1. Cosrx’s video about the Vitamin C Serum and a review from Youtuber Becky from “The Halfie Product”: //www.youtube.com/embed/u3cVojQ7b2k?wmode=transparent

2. In this video, a popular beauty YouTuber gives her honest review of the product as well as a tutorial on how to use:   //www.youtube.com/embed/VcI7jOptKkY?wmode=transparent