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Summer Glow: Brightening Skincare Tips and Best Olive Young Picks
Keeping our skin fair and protected and not getting a massive tan may be our biggest summer skincare challenges. When it feels like sun exposure is inevitable on long summer days, how can we keep our skin clear and flawless?
If you're looking to get rid of dullness and blemishes and get your summer glow on, sunscreen may not be enough. Rather, choosing a suitable and effective brightening serum is the first step to recovering radiance. In addition to improving skin tone, a good brightening serum can help to combat sun-induced skin aging, prevent hyperpigmentation, reduce the appearance of spots and wrinkles, all while leaving skin luminous.
Skin brightening care doesn't require breaking the bank with a fancy aesthetics treatment or luxury brand product, either. There are plenty of budget-friendly Korean brightening skincare that deliver equally excellent results, many of which are perfect for brightening care in summer.
The selection and rankings on Olive Young are a good showcase of what Korean brightening skincare has to offer. Keep reading for a list of 10+ Olive Young recommended brightening skincare – including face serums, toner pads, and sheet masks – to shine bright as the sun this summer while building defence against UV rays.
Common Brightening Ingredients
It's important to know your ingredients when browsing for brightening skincare – here are some active ingredients often used in brightening skincare:
Vitamin C: Reduces melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase activity – tyrosinase being the main enzyme in charge of melanin production – promoting a brighter, clearer complexion.
Nicotinamide/Niacinamide: Reduces melanin transfer and UV-induced free radical damage, which can stop pigment from reaching the skin's surface and prevent spots from forming and worsening.
Tranexamic Acid (TXA): Reduces melanin production by inhibiting plasmin, an enzyme that can stimulate melanin synthesis and transfer.
Arbutin: Also reduces melanin production by inhibiting tyrosinase.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Medicube TXA Niacinamide 15 Serum
To see brightening results that are not only visible but also quick, go for the Medicube TXA Niacinamide Serum! This clarifying serum leaves skin clear and healthy-looking in just 72 hours, with a lightweight, non-sticky texture and a highly potent formula of 15% tranexamic acid (TXA) and niacinamide that improves uneven skin tone, rough skin texture and dryness.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Dr.Althea Vitamin C Boosting Serum
If you're new to Vitamin C serums, Dr.Althea's Vitamin C Boosting Serum is a great choice for beginners. Rich in a slew of antioxidants in addition to vitamin C – including seabuckthorn water of 63% high concentration as well as niacinamide – this serum helps to even out skin tone and reduce spots. Features a light, watery texture that layers on weightlessly and sits comfortably even on oily skin.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Goodal Green Tangerine Vita C Dark Spot Care Serum
This Olive Young top-ranking brightening essence is the secret weapon of Korean girls against acne scars and blemishes. Formulated with fresh green tangerines, which are potent in antioxidants and have 10x more vitamin C than lemons, not only does this serum reduce blemishes, but it also brightens, evens skin tone and improves skin moisture retention. The comfortable gel-like texture is refreshing, non-sticky and perfect for summer use.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Numbuzin No.5+ Vitamin Concentrated Serum
One of Olive Young's hero serums this year, this powerful, high-concentration antioxidant formula contains 98% pure glutathione, vitamin C, arbutin and other active brightening ingredients to deliver all-round brightening care and combat spots, blemishes, uneven skin tone, and dullness. See your skin grow a shade brighter in just two weeks!
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Arencia Holy Hyssop Serum 30
Making a whopping 1 billion Korean won’s worth of sales in just 3 hours, Arencia’s buzzed-about “cool tone” Holy Hyssop serum is more often out of stock than in stock at Olive Young stores for how fiercely coveted it is. Its main component being French Hyssop Extract, the cool tone serum is also rich in vitamins A, C and E and boasts pore-shrinking, spot-fading and brightening effects. It’s proven to improve dull yellow tones in just two weeks for a clarified, dewy and fair complexion.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Sungboon Editor Meoru Podo Vita C Dark Spot Ampoule
Rich in antioxidising and brightening ingredients, mulberry grapes boast excellent antioxidant ingredients among other grape varieties. This Sungboon Editor serum utilises patented grape vitamin C ingredients, which work in tandem with pure vitamin C (3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, a vitamin C derivative) and other derivatives to inhibit melanin production, improve hyperpigmentation and brighten your overall complexion. It also nourishes and locks moisture in thanks to a hydrating formula of 10 types of hyaluronic acids, grape seed oil, and resveratrol, leaving skin hydrated and bouncy.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Sungboon Editor Active Marine Astaxanthin Capsule Serum
Unlike ordinary serums, purified water isn't the main constitutive ingredient of this brightening powerhouse. This serum features an overwhelming 81% of anti-blemish ingredient content, with sea buckthorn water forming the basis of its powerful formula. Orange astaxanthin capsules are also thrown into the mix for double the brightening nutrients for your skin, effectively repelling spots, brightening skin tone and slowing down signs of aging with antioxidant benefits.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum
This oily skin type-friendly niacinamide serum fades blemishes and breakout scars with a highly concentrated formula of 15% niacinamide and zinc PCA, a zinc derivative. It reduces breakouts and acne scars by controlling sebum production, while improving dullness and shrinking pores for smoother skin texture.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜ANUA Peach 70% Niacinamide Serum
Did you know that peaches have a niacinamide content 2-5 times that of other fruits? Anua's Peach 70% Niacinamide Serum is concocted with 70% fermented peach essence, which suppresses melanin and reduces its deposition on the epidermis of the skin, fading the appearance of blemishes and spots. It also helps to accelerate the metabolism of old, dead skin cells, restoring skin to a clarified, even and smooth state – rosy as a peach.
Olive Young Brightening Serum Pick｜Bonajour Green Multi-Vitamin Vital Nutrition Serum
This lightweight vegan formula brightens dullness and reduces pigmentation with highly potent vitamins and botanicals. Infused with 72.81% sea buckthorn extract, it's rich in skin-repairing nutrients like vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, and more. Even sensitive and compromised skin can use this gentle serum with reassurance for its low-irritation formula.
Olive Young Brightening Toner Pad Pick
Olive Young Brightening Toner Pad Pick｜Abib Glutathiosome Dark Spot Pad Vita Touch
Brightening pads richly drenched with a whole bottle of essence! Soaked with glutathione, niacinamide, vitamin C and other brightening goodies, Abib's glutathiosome toner pads are ideal for uneven skin tones, dull complexions, scars and blemishes and leaves skin soft and radiant. Many reviews online have reported smoother and brighter skin after use.
Olive Young Brightening Toner Pad Pick｜Numbuzin No.3 Radiance Glowing Jumbo Essence Pad
Dripping with department store-grade essence, these 100% pure cotton pads moisturise and brighten with an indulgent formula of 50 valuable fermented ingredients that nourish and repel dullness and uneven skin tones. It boosts radiance to leave skin glowing and glassy; recommended for dull, tired and rough skin.
Olive Young Brightening Toner Pad Pick｜numbuzin No.5 Vitamin-Niacinamide Concentrated Pad
These unique square-shaped pads hug the curves of your face perfectly to nourish without missing a spot. Infused with natural AHA, they gently wipe away old dead skin cells with a refreshing and non-sticky texture and a powerful antioxidant and anti-aging formula of various brightening agents. The potent formulation is perfect for post-sun care and to improve dullness and uneven skin tone.
Olive Young Brightening Toner Pad Pick｜Sungboon Editor Meoru Podo Vita C Turn-over Dark Spot Pad
Mulberry grapes, which boast an excellent antioxidant effect, work in tandem with vitamin C derivatives to deliver brightening and anti-wrinkle dual care with minimal irritation, warding off hyperpigmentation. PHA, a less irritating version of AHA, is also included to gently soften old skin cells, exfoliate and unclog pores to ensure better absorption for the rest of your skincare regime.
Olive Young Brightening Toner Pad Pick｜Medicube Deep Vita C Pad
Featuring a high-concentration formula equivalent to a whole bottle of the Medicube Deep Vita C Ampoule, these vita C pads come in a double-sided design of an uneven side plus a smooth side. Simply wipe lightly to lighten spots and blemishes and unveil a clearer, brighter complexion free of dullness and acne marks. With a skin-friendly mildly acidic pH value, these pads can be used daily without irritating. See blemishes growing fainter and fainter in just 7 days!
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick｜Sungboon Editor Deep Collagen Niacin Vita C Brightening Mask
Night time is prime time for skin repair, and what better use of this time than to pamper your skin with an overnight sheet mask? Introducing Sungboon Editor's Deep Collagen Mask – a hydrogel mask packed with highly concentrated, ultra low-molecular collagen and 9 peptides to help brighten, firm and reduce wrinkles. The surface of the mask doesn't drip or leave residue, making it perfect for a use as a sleeping mask. This is your secret weapon to wake up to hydrated, glowing skin the next morning – perfect before dates or important events!
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick｜Medicube Kojic Acid Turmeric Brightening Gel Mask
Instil essence deep into your skin with this skin-hugging hydrogel mask! The three-in-one brightening, repairing and moisturising formula provides all-round care with innovative brightening ingredients Kojic Acid and Turmeric, which can defend skin against photoaging while inhibiting new spots from forming and fading deep-seated blemishes. This is brightening care from deep within the skin and not just on the surface.
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick｜ANUA Rice 70 Glow Collagen Mask
Anua’s exclusive RICE WATER+™ 70% Complex, concocted with rice water and collagen, delivers clarifying and balancing care to relieve dryness-induced discomfort. The slim, 1mm ultra-thin hydrogel sheet offers a lightweight, comfortable fit for extended or overnight use, allowing your skin to drink up the essence swiftly and regain plumpness and moisture overnight. Gentle on the skin, it's also suitable for sensitive skin.
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick｜ANUA Peach 70 Niacin Brightening Collagen Mask
Anua’s exclusive PEACHINIA+™ Complex contains peach fruit extract that has undergone 72-hour fermentation and is rich in minerals, vitamins and polyphenols. Paired with 2% niacinamide and collagen, the formula leaves you with a healthy glow for firm, glowing and revitalised glass skin.
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick｜BIODANCE Radiant Vita Niacinamide Real Deep Mask
The brightening version of Biodance's talk-of-the-town overnight collagen masks! Boasting a high-concentration, high-purity formula of tranexamic acid, 2% niacinamide and 99% purity glutathione, it illuminates dull complexions, reduces pigmentation and blemishes and improves skin texture and moisture levels. Its magic works better the longer you keep it on, so it's a good idea to keep it on in bed and pamper your skin with intensive repair overnight.
Olive Young Brightening Mask Pick｜numbuzin No.2 Water Collagen 65% Voluming Sheet Mask
Concocted with 65% 500-Dalton sized premium collagen from France, an ultra-low molecular weight that enables deep absorption through the stratum corneum into each layer of the skin. Lifting, elasticity-enhancing ingredients like niacinamide and pearl powder are also added to combat dullness and restore firm, supple, and glowing skin for you.