The 10 Must Have Brightening Serums of 2021 That’ll Boost Your Skin’s Radiance

Date posted : 09.11.2021 / Latest update : 10.11.2021

Health and beauty

Want beautiful, glowing skin just like how it would look after a stroke of beaming, pigmented highlighter? You need to add brightening serums to your skincare routine!

Brightening serums contain powerful potent antioxidants like Vitamin C that helps to diminish dark spots, refine skin texture and gives you a brighter, luminous complexion. It’s the holy grail to perfectly toned and even skin. Ready to make your skin happy and bright? Here are the 10 Best Brightening Serums of 2021!

Skin Regimen 15.0 Vitamin C Booster

Skin Regimen products are specifically designed to target the visible effects of stress and pollution. This makes it great for urban dwellers who are always exposed to toxic environments like air pollution. Fight against free radicals and restore your skin’s youthfulness with Skin Regimen’s Vitamin C Concentrated Booster.

An interesting fact about this serum, the Vitamin C comes in a separate sachet for you to mix in the bottle! Hence, maintaining the Vitamin C in perfect condition until its activation and use.

Pros of the Skin Regimen’s Vitamin C Concentrated Booster:

Illuminates dull, lacklustre skin
Reduce dark spots
The Vitamin C booster comes in a stay-fresh sachet.
Free from silicones.
Free from synthetic fragrance.
92.8% natural-origin ingredients.
Clinically tested

Cons of the Skin Regimen’s Vitamin C Concentrated Booster:

Luxuriously high-priced.
Recommended usage is within 1 month after first opening for better efficacy.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	25ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	When using for the first time, cut open the sachet and carefully mix the Vitamin C powder into the bottle to activate the serum. Shake for 20-30 seconds and leave to rest for 2 minutes. Apply a few pumps to cleansed skin in the mornings and evenings every day.
Price	RM488

CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum

One of the most shared skincare brands on TikTok, CeraVe is formulated with extra care for your skin as the brand is proudly developed by dermatologists. Whether you have a normal skin type or sensitive skin with conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis, CeraVe products are made with you in mind.

Get glowing skin with CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum, a combination of Vitamin C, ceramides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to help brighten, repair, hydrate and strengthen your skin today!

Pros of CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum:

Developed with dermatologists.
Great even for super-sensitive skin.
Gentle and lightweight on the kin.
Contains 10% pure vitamin C.
Patented with MVE Technology that allows the release of moisturising ingredients for 24-hour hydration.
Allergy-tested
Fragrance-free
Paraben-free
Non-comedogenic

Cons of CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum:

Hard to find at the usual, popular drugstores in Malaysia but easy to purchase online.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	30ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	Apply evenly to clean your face and neck daily after face wash. Be sure to avoid the eye area.
Price	RM174.90

Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum

The Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum is a clean and gentle to skin luxurious serum. Using key ingredients such as Vitamin C, Japanese beautyberry antioxidant, mild fruit AHAs, and Japanese angelica root, the Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum has been reviewed by beauty lovers everywhere with improvement on product usage. Not only that, but the Tatcha website also claims that users can see the differences in their skin after just 1 week!

Pros of the Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum:

Contains Japanese beautyberry for a brighter and translucent glow.
Restores dull and uneven skin with mild fruit AHAs.
Reduces dark spots, discolouration, hyperpigmentation and post-acne scarring with its Japanese angelica root ingredient.
Positive reviews from product users.
Has a kind-to-skin formula.
The serum feels light on the skin.
A cruelty-free brand.
Free from synthetic fragrances.
Does not contain any parabens.
No oily, sticky-feeling when used.

Cons of the Tatcha Violet-C Brightening Serum:

High-priced but a bottle can last you for a few months.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	30ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	Use 1-2 pumps of the serum during your evening skincare routine. Apply before the moisturiser and gently massage it into your skin.
Price	RM435

Jumiso All Day Brightening and Balancing Vitamin Serum

If you’re into K-Beauty, this serum is for you! A subsidiary label of the HELLOSKIN Korean brand, the Jumiso All Day Brightening and Balancing Vitamin Serum improves your skin’s plumpness and elasticity. It’s a non-water based formula that’s super nourishing for the skin and comes in a convenient dropper bottle.

Pros of the Jumiso All Day Brightening and Balancing Vitamin Serum:

Minimizes the signs of ageing with its Vitamin Tree (Sea Buckthorn) extract.
Contains Centella Asiatica Extract to heal acne scars and calm inflammation.
Provides long-lasting hydration, suppleness and regulates sebum production due to its key ingredients of Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract and Hyaluronic acid.
Feels very lightweight on the skin.
No sticky residue.
Absorbs easily in the skin.
Tons of reviews with positive improvements to the skin.
Cruelty-free brand.
Affordably-priced.

Cons of the Jumiso All Day Brightening and Balancing Vitamin Serum:

Hard to find at the usual, popular drugstores in Malaysia but easy to purchase online.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	30ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	After cleansing and toning, drop 1-2 drops of serum and apply it all over the face. Gently massage for better absorption.
Price	RM88

Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum

Get glowing skin with one of the popular brands here in Malaysia! The Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum is designed to give you a more radiant, youthful complexion. Enriched with Vitamin C, Sodium Hyaluronate and collagen, retexturizer the skin while reducing wrinkles and fine lines. However, do note that this serum is not recommended for sensitive and acne-prone skin.

Pros of the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum:

Contains Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) to retexturize skin and reduce visible signs of ageing.
Has Sodium Hyaluronate and collagen to moisturize and smooth skin.
Non-greasy feeling to the skin.
Lightweight on skin.
Comes in a convenient dropper bottle.

Cons of the Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum:

Slightly on the higher-end price range.
Not suitable for sensitive skin.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	29ml
Skin Type	Suitable for Combination, Dry, Normal, and Oily Skin.
How To Use	Apply 2-3 drops on clean skin every other night before moisturizer.
Price	RM250

Mizon Real Vitamin C Ampoule

Developed by a team of dedicated researchers from Korea’s top cosmetic companies, you know your skin is getting the best treatment with Mizon! This famous Korean brand offers a calming, waterless formula to refresh your dull-looking skin with Mizon Real Vitamin C Ampoule. Thanks to its powerful combination of 19% Vitamin C and Arbutin, it reduces the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation and redness.

Pros of Mizon Real Vitamin C Ampoule:

Made with 19% Natural Pure Vitamin C.
Uses high concentrated ingredients due to its water-free formula.
Improves skin conditions with acne wounds, dryness, lack of elasticity, redness and uneven texture.
Boost collagen production for firmer, younger-looking skin.
Non-oily to skin.
Users claim to see positive improvements to skin after product usage.
Fragrance-free serum.
Affordably priced.

Cons of Mizon Real Vitamin C Ampoule:

Hard to find at the usual, popular drugstores in Malaysia but easy to purchase online.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	30ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	Apply a few drops to clean, dry face and neck.
Price	RM99

Sekkisei Miyabi Cyclator B

Pamper your skin with Sekkisei! This well-known Japanese skincare brand brings you Sekkisei Miyabi Cyclator B, an amazing whitening booster serum that plumps and brightens dull skin. It also contains an active whitening ingredient called niacinamide that inhibits the production of melanin. This prevents dark spots and freckles from forming on your face!

Pros of Sekkisei Miyabi Cyclator B:

Radiate and whiten skin.
Makes skin firm and elastic with its key ingredients of yeast and other probiotics.
Feels lightweight on the skin.
Dual usage; Able to use as part of your skincare routine or as a massage serum.
Natural aroma oil scented.
Paraben-free.

Cons of Sekkisei Miyabi Cyclator B:

This is a whitening product, hence it might not be suitable for some individuals.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	50ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	Pump once onto your palm, and smooth gently over your face. For massage, apply 2-3 pumps.
Price	About RM250 (US$59.95)

Sisley-Paris Phyto Blanc Le Concentré

Achieve beautiful radiant skin with Sisley-Paris Phyto Blanc Le Concentré. Powered by its key ingredient, Egyptian Myrobolan extract, this luxurious clarity enhancing serum is worth every single penny spent! Say goodbye to dark spots and hello to clear, even skin!

Pros of Sisley-Paris Phyto Blanc Le Concentré:

Makes your skin look brighter.
Diminishes dark spots.
Protects skin from harmful external factors.
Soothe and moisturise the skin.

Cons of Sisley-Paris Phyto Blanc Le Concentré:

Luxuriously priced.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	20ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	Apply morning and evening, before your daily skincare.
Price	RM1,380

Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum

The first modern doctor brand, Dr Murad sets a new standard for high-performance skincare with Murad.Inc. Channel your glowing beauty with the Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum. Ideal for all skin tones and skin types from oily to dry, this magical brightening serum helps prevent visible skin damage and removes dead, dulling surface cells. It’s also fragrance-free and does not contain any artificial colours.

Pros of Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum:

Gold-stabilized vitamin C brightens skin.
Glycolic acid exfoliates dulling surface cells to enhance vitamin C delivery.
Reviewers experience brighter, more radiant skin after 4 weeks.
Cruelty-free brand.
Fragrance-free serum.
Does not contain any artificial colours.
Free from parabens, sulfates, gluten and phthalates.
Made without animal-derived ingredients.

Cons of Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum:

Luxuriously high-priced.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	30ml
Skin Type	Suitable for all.
How To Use	Massage Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum over clean face, neck and chest, followed by a moisturizer.
Price	RM468.00

Origins Ginzing Into The Glow Brightening Serum

Boost your skin’s radiance, smoothen your skin and reduce pores. The Origins Ginzing Into The Glow Brightening Serum is here to make all that happen! Made with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and green coffee seed, this skin renewing, brightening serum works best on normal and combination skin types.

However, the brand notes that you may experience minor sloughing as the product activates the skin cells to remove any dead skin cells. To avoid this, do not rub the serum into the skin. Instead, gently pat the serum into the skin and wait until the serum is fully absorbed into the skin before applying moisturizer.

Pros of Origins Ginzing Into The Glow Brightening Serum:

Infused with Vitamin C to visibly brighten dull skin in just 1 use.
Contains green coffee seed and AHA/BHA blend for smoother, visibly poreless skin over time.
Revitalizes skin with caffeine from coffee.
Skin becomes plumper and hydrated with the use of hyaluronic acid.
Free from parabens, phthalates, sulfate and paraffin.
100% vegan

Cons of Origins Ginzing Into The Glow Brightening Serum:

Can cause minor tingling or sloughing on the skin.

Product Specifications:

Size/Amount	30ml
Skin Type	Suitable for normal or combination skin type only.
How To Use	Gently pat the serum on the skin. Wait until skin is dry and serum is fully absorbed before applying moisturizer; if sloughing does occur, simply sweep away with fingertips. Do not rub serum against the skin.
Price	RM180.00

Now you know the best brightening serums to include in your daily skincare routine, go ahead and shop for your preferred brightening elixir. Whether you have normal to sensitive skin, there’s a perfect serum for everyone. Get healthier, glowing skin and be confident in your skin today!

Brightening serums work great in improving skin’s dullness, acne scars and hyperpigmentation. However, results may vary according to individuals. You should also always do a patch test before applying any serum to your face. If you experience any rashness or burning sensation, please discontinue using the product and consult your health specialist immediately.