Dr.Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum 30ml

Your first Vitamin C serum — done perfectly. The Dr.Althea Gentle Vitamin C Serum is a beginner-friendly daily-use treatment carefully crafted to fade dark spots and improve skin tone without causing irritation  — built on a deliberately minimal formula of just 19 essential ingredients that cover all the bases: brightening, soothing, hydrating, and anti-ageing, all in one lightweight, water-like serum.

Its innovative oil capsule delivery system is what makes it genuinely unique — as the oil capsules spread on the skin they delicately break, forming a subtle natural moisturising barrier for a refreshing and deep hydration  experience unlike any conventional Vitamin C serum. The system safely preserves the Vitamin C even at room temperature  — solving the oxidation problem that makes most Vitamin C serums turn yellow and lose potency within weeks of opening.

Why it works:

• 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) — an innovative form of Vitamin C that penetrates deeper into the skin, brightening, boosting collagen production, and protecting skin cells from the harmful effects of free radicals  — more stable and less irritating than pure L-Ascorbic Acid, making it ideal for sensitive and first-time Vitamin C users

• 20% Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Fruit Extract — contains high levels of Vitamins C, E, and K as well as fatty acids and other antioxidant ingredients that help to soothe, moisturise, brighten, and protect skin while addressing visible signs of ageing  — with more Vitamin C than almost any fruit on earth

• 5% Niacinamide — works with the natural substances of the skin to help even out skin tone, improve dullness, and bolster weakened skin barriers— amplifying the brightening action of the Vitamin C while simultaneously minimising pores and controlling sebum

How to use: After cleansing and toning, gently swipe or pat the product across your face, focusing on areas of concern. Let it absorb fully before moving on to your next skincare step.  Follow with moisturiser. Always apply SPF in the morning when using Vitamin C. Avoid combining with other Vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs, or PHAs in the same routine  to prevent over-exfoliation.

Suitable for: All skin types · Perfect for first-time Vitamin C users · Sensitive & acne-prone skin  · Dull, uneven & post-acne skin · Fragrance-free · Vegan · Made in Korea 🇰🇷

Why Seoulma recommends it:

Vitamin C is one of the most proven brightening and anti-ageing ingredients in skincare — but it also has a well-earned reputation for being tricky. Pure L-Ascorbic Acid is unstable, oxidises quickly, irritates sensitive skin, and requires a very low pH to work effectively. The result is that most people who try Vitamin C either give up because it irritated their skin or because the serum turned orange before they finished the bottle. Dr.Althea's Gentle Vitamin C Serum solves every one of those problems at once.

The choice of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid over pure L-Ascorbic Acid is the first smart decision in this formula. This derivative penetrates deeper into the skin than many other Vitamin C forms, converts to pure Ascorbic Acid once inside the skin where it is needed, and is dramatically more stable and less irritating than the raw ingredient. For sensitive skin types or anyone who has been burned by Vitamin C serums before, this is the form that finally makes daily use possible.

The oil capsule delivery system is what makes this serum genuinely exciting from a formulation standpoint. Most Vitamin C serums are water-based, which means the active ingredient is constantly in contact with oxygen and light and degrading from the moment the bottle is opened. By encapsulating the active in oil capsules that only burst on contact with skin, Dr.Althea has created a formula that maintains full potency all the way to the last drop — and the burst-on-contact experience also creates an instant moisturising barrier that makes the texture unlike anything else in this category.

The 19-ingredient formula is also worth appreciating as a conscious choice. In a market where complexity is often mistaken for quality, Dr.Althea has built a serum that does everything it needs to do and nothing it doesn't. No filler, no fragrance, no risk of a hidden trigger for sensitive or acne-prone skin. We recommend it as the ideal entry point into Vitamin C for anyone who has wanted to try it but been nervous about irritation — and as a reliable, fuss-free everyday brightening step for experienced skincare users who want something they can trust.