How and When To Use Vitamin C In Skincare Routine

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Are you wondering when to use vitamin C in your skincare routine effectively? Best Skincare Brands have made selecting the right products to enhance your beauty a challenge. This guide will help you through the process and ensure you can optimize your routine, making the most of the best vitamin C serums available. Do you know how to incorporate this potent antioxidant effectively? Let's find out together!

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Table Of Contents

Should You Use Vitamin C In Skincare Routine?

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Vitamin C is a skincare powerhouse with numerous benefits for the skin. Research suggests this vitamin can penetrate and protect the skin in various ways. As an antioxidant, Vitamin C can neutralize free radicals that accelerate signs of aging. This vitamin can also stimulate collagen production in the skin, which increases firmness and elasticity.

Therefore, consistently using a robust and stable Vitamin C serum can help smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, leading to plump and hydrated skin. Vitamin C can brighten dark spots by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosinase that causes skin discoloration. Although research on this aspect is limited, a study found that Vitamin C reduced dark skin patches in individuals who used it. Incorporating Vitamin C into your skincare routine could be a game-changer if you want to boost your skin's health and appearance.

Benefits Of Vitamin C For Skin

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1. It’s safe for most skin types

Vitamin C is generally safe for most skin types, boasting an excellent safety profile. Skincare products typically contain concentrations of 10% to 20% vitamin C. This ingredient pairs well with other skincare actives, including alpha hydroxy acids, retinol, and SPF.

2. It’s hydrating

The form of ascorbic acid that penetrates the skin best is ascorbic acid. Vitamin C derivatives like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate have been seen to have hydrating effects on the skin, reducing transepidermal water loss. A 2019 study showed a significant decrease in TEWL by 19 percent with an antipollution, antioxidant serum containing Deschampsia antarctica extract, ferulic acid, and vitamin C.

3. It’s brightening

Vitamin C can support fading pigmentation, smoothing the skin’s surface and diminishing dullness. By curbing melanin production, vitamin C can lighten dark spots and hyperpigmentation and brighten the skin’s appearance.

4. It helps reduce redness and even out your skin tone

Vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties can help neutralize free radicals, optimize the immune system, discourage an inflammatory immune response, and reduce redness. Mitigating dark spots, redness, and irritation can help provide clearer, smoother skin.

5. It helps fade hyperpigmentation

As vitamin C inhibits melanin production by downregulating tyrosinase, it can fade hyperpigmentation, including sunspots, age spots, melasma, and acne-related hyperpigmentation. Dermatology often utilizes vitamin C to reduce the pigmentation of hyperpigmented skin spots.

6. It reduces the appearance of under-eye circles

Vitamin C serums can assist in plumping and hydrating the under-eye area, smoothing fine lines, and improving the pigmentation of under-eye circles. There are other treatment options, such as using a cold compress, to help eliminate under-eye bags.

7. It promotes collagen production

Vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis, the process of producing collagen. Collagen is crucial to maintaining skin elasticity and firmness, which can reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

8. It may help prevent skin sagging

By boosting collagen production, vitamin C can tighten the skin, reducing sagging due to natural aging, oxidative stress damage, or extreme weight loss. The skin can look firmer and more toned with a vitamin C serum.

9. It protects against sun damage

Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants, which can protect the skin from free radicals caused by excessive exposure to pollutants or UV irradiation, preventing significant damage to the skin.

10. It may help soothe sunburns

In addition to reducing redness, vitamin C accelerates cell turnover, replenishing damaged cells with healthy new ones. Topical vitamin C application can minimize injury due to UV irradiation and decrease inflammation from excessive UV exposure.

11. It generally helps boost wound healing

By boosting antioxidant levels in the body and the skin, vitamin C helps improve overall wound healing. This is due to the correlation between wound healing and collagen formation and vitamin C’s role in boosting collagen production.

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How To Use Vitamin C In Skincare Routine

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AM Routine

1. Cleanse

Start your morning skincare routine by cleansing your face to remove oil and dead cells. This step prepares your skin to absorb the vitamin C serum effectively.

2. Tone

After cleansing, tone your skin to refresh and balance its pH. Toner helps remove any leftover impurities and preps your skin for the subsequent steps.

3. Use Vitamin C Serum

The best time to apply vitamin C serum is in the morning. It helps protect your skin from environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays. Vitamin C serum can also boost collagen production and brighten your skin.

4. Moisturize

After applying the serum, lock in the benefits with a moisturizer. This step ensures your skin stays hydrated throughout the day.

5. Sunscreen

Finish off your morning routine with sunscreen. Protect your skin from harmful UV rays with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen. This step is crucial to prevent premature aging and skin damage.

PM Routine 

1. Cleanse

Remove makeup, sunscreen, and dust with a gentle cleanser. This step ensures you start with a clean canvas for your nighttime skincare routine.

2. Tone

After cleansing, tone your skin to remove any traces of makeup, dirt, and bacteria. Toner also helps maintain the skin's pH balance.

3. Spot Treatment

Now is the time to apply spot treatment if you're dealing with pimples or dark spots. Allow it to sink in before moving on to the next step.

4. Layer Vitamin C Serum

You can layer your vitamin C serum after spot treatment in the evening. This step allows the serum to work its magic overnight.

5. Moisturize

Seal all the previous products with a moisturizer. Hydrating your skin overnight promotes repair and rejuvenation.

When To Use Vitamin C In Skincare Routine

woman applying serum on skin - When To Use Vitamin C In Skincare Routine

Every skincare product has an optimal position in your skincare routine. Using a product outside of that position likely won’t hurt you. Still, it will make that product much less efficient (or even completely ineffective), ultimately a waste of money. There are two factors to consider when to use vitamin C serum: what time of day and at what point in your routine. Nearly across the board, dermatologists recommend incorporating vitamin C serum into your morning routine (as opposed to using it at night).

The reason for this recommendation relates to its ability to protect the skin. Not only is vitamin C a potent antioxidant, but it can also help back up the protective effects of sunscreen. When used in the morning, before applying your SPF, it helps guard against UV rays that may slip past that first layer of defense. While it won’t hurt if you use your vitamin C serum at night, it may interact with other skincare products used in the evening (like retinol) and cause skin irritation and sensitivity.

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10 Best Vitamin C Serums You Must Try

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1. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic is a cult-favorite serum known for being a powerful combination of ingredients. It contains 15 percent L-ascorbic acid and other antioxidants that protect, smooth, and brighten the skin.

2. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Fresh Vitamin-C Day Serum

This serum comes in opaque packaging and is a favorite due to its combination of ingredients. It features 15 percent L-ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and ferulic acid. Users mix two parts before the first use for the freshest product and best results.

3. Maelove Glow Maker

Maelove's Glow Maker is a budget-friendly option labeled a dupe for the C E Ferulic serum. The serum contains L-ascorbic and ferulic acids, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid, which helps the skin retain hydration.

4. PCA Skin C&E Advanced Serum

This lightweight serum from PCA Skin contains 20 percent L-ascorbic acid, pure vitamin E and other antioxidants. It's gentle on the skin and nourishing, making it suitable for those who can handle high concentrations of vitamin C.

5. Hyper Skin Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin-C Serum

Aside from 15 percent vitamin C, this serum also includes kojic acid, known for fading dark spots on the skin. It is recommended for those with unfavorable experiences with other vitamin C serums.

6. Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Face Serum

For those looking for a more affordable serum, Vichy's option is a good choice. It contains 15 percent vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, which helps moisturize the skin.

7. Dr. Loretta Anti-Aging Repair Serum

This serum is recommended for individuals with mature skin as it features tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and other ingredients that support hydration and elasticity in the skin.

8. Skinceuticals Phloretin CF

Ideal for those with oily skin, this serum contains L-ascorbic and ferulic acids but not vitamin E, making it a better option for oily skin types. It is effective for combating increased pigment production, making it suitable for individuals with melasma.

9. Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

This serum is within the non-irritating range and suitable for sensitive skin individuals. Despite its potent formula, it does not irritate the skin or cause breakouts.

10. Environ Intense C-Boost Mela-Even Cream

This cream contains the lipid form of vitamins C and E, making it less likely to be irritating. It is ideal for individuals with acne-prone skin as it helps with inflammation and hyperpigmentation.

How To Choose The Right Vitamin C Serum

woman applying cream on face - When To Use Vitamin C In Skincare Routine

1. Form

The most effective form of Vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid. When looking at the ingredient label, ensure that this essential ingredient is one of the first five components listed to guarantee maximum effectiveness.

2. Concentration

Your Vitamin C serum's concentration level should ideally be between 10 and 20 percent. Concentrations lower than 8 percent may be less effective, while levels higher than 20 percent might lead to skin irritation.

3. Ingredient

Check the ingredient list for both Vitamin C and Vitamin E or L-ascorbic acid and tocopherol. These two vitamins complement each other and work well together to enhance skin health. Also, look for ferulic acid, which helps lower the pH level of Vitamin C for better absorption.

4. Packaging 

The packaging of your serum is crucial. Opt for a dark glass bottle with a dropper delivery system or a tube to avoid degradation due to air, light, and heat exposure. Storing the product in the refrigerator can help prolong its shelf life, and a quality brand will provide clear instructions on how to store their serums.

5. Price

The quality of a Vitamin C serum is determined by factors like concentration and formulation, not the price tag. Prices can vary significantly, ranging from $25 to over $100. Be sure to focus on the concentration and formulation when making your decision rather than the cost.

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