How To Prevent Irritation From Vitamin C
Before you throw your vitamin C serums away, stop! There are ways to avoid irritation from vitamin C. After all, it would be a shame to miss out on the benefits of this antioxidant when there is a way to avoid its potential side effects altogether. Here are some ways to do that.
To start with, its important to look for high-quality products that contain vitamin C. The trouble with finding the cheap versions is that they tend to use poor quality vitamin C and other additives that dont necessarily work well together, increasing your chances of irritation.
We always recommend opting for products with a positive reputation. Avoid going too cheap, otherwise you could be creating a recipe for dry, damaged skin.
Try Trulys Vegan Collagen Bundle, which contains four skin and body formulas rich in vitamin C for beautiful, vibrant skin.
The last thing you want to do with any acid skincare ingredient is start using it in copious quantities. Applying too much or a too high concentration will stress out the skin, leading to redness, breakouts, and inflammation.
Luckily with Trulys Vitamin-C-Formulated Super Matcha Facial Cleanser, you dont have to worry about slowly incorporating it into your routine. It is a very gentle product guaranteed to keep your skin happy, healthy, and utterly radiant.
Its also worth reading up on the different types of vitamin C because there are many!
Best Vitamin C Serums To Fade Dark Spots And Discoloration
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Experts consider vitamin C to be excellent when it comes to skin care given both its functional and aesthetic benefits. Also known as L-ascorbic acid, it is required for proper function of skin because it plays an essential role in collagen production, explained board-certified dermatologist Caren Campbell, MD. The San Francisco-based doctor called vitamin C invaluable and vital in any skin care routine.
SKIP AHEAD Best vitamin C serums
You stand to get the most vitamin C-related benefits from treatments like serums, creams and lotions, which are typically formulated with high concentrations of their respective active ingredients , explained board-certified dermatologist Caroline Robinson, MD. Vitamin C cleansers and other skin care products that you rinse off are not considered treatments and typically include much lower percentages of active ingredients .
Now that the weather is warming up, you might be looking to transition your skin care routine from rich winter creams to non-greasy products. And as the coronavirus vaccine eligibility expands, you might also be increasingly considering your skins health and appearance. A lightweight vitamin C serum could help you meet your skin care goals before the summer season kicks off on June 20, experts told us.
Its Safe For Most Skin Types
Vitamin C has an excellent . Most people can use topical vitamin C for an extended period of time without experiencing any adverse reactions.
A 2017 review of research notes that vitamin C may cause minor skin irritation in concentrations above 20%. Because of this, its concentration often ranges between 10% and 20% in skin care products.
Vitamin C is also safe to use with other skin care actives, including alpha hydroxy acids, retinols, and SPF.
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Consuming Too Much Vitamin C
Everything might cause a risk if being consumed excessively, the same goes to vitamin C. While being consumed under recommendation intake, vitamin C is generally regarded as safe. Side effects are rarely reported, however minor effect might happen to certain people such as, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, and other symptoms.
Different case for healthy individuals for the body can only hold and use about 200-250 mg of vitamin C a day, and the rest go through urine. At times of illness, during recovery from injury, or under stress, the body can hold greater amounts. Be cautions that high doses of vitamin C may contribute to Kidney malfunction, as well as diarrhea, nausea, and gastritis.
It Reduces The Appearance Of Under
Vitamin C serums can help smooth out fine lines by plumping and hydrating the under-eye area.
Although vitamin C is more effective at reducing overall redness, some people say it can help alleviate discoloration associated with under-eye circles.
According to a small 2019 study on three treatments for dark circles, vitamin C mesotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in the pigmentation of under-eye circles. However, some participants also reported a burning feeling.
Some other ways to help get rid of under-eye bags include using a cold compress and adding retinol to your skin care routine.
The skin under your eyes is thin and sensitive, so its best to stick to products specifically designed for the under-eye area.
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What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Skin
What exactly does vitamin C do for your skin? Well, it has the potential to help with a lot of issues, especially when applied topically in serum form. Vitamin C has a wide range of protective and anti-aging effects for the skin, Annie Chiu, MD, a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist on faculty at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, tells SELF. Serums typically offer the highest concentrations of active vitamin C and tend to have better skin penetration compared to other vitamin C products, like creams and cleansers. Here are a few of the biggies when it comes to benefits:
Thats because the antioxidant can help your skin produce collagena protein that gives your complexion a firmer, bouncier feel, which in turn helps to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Chiu explains.
With consistent use, your skin can become more even in toneand downright glowy! because vitamin C inhibits the over-production of melanin, the substance in your body that produces pigmentation in your hair, eyes, and skin. Some areas of the skin will create too much melanin which is what leads to hyperpigmentation. This often manifests as darkened skin discoloration, says Dr. Chiu.
Why Vitamin C Irritates The Skin
Vitamin C comes with a host of beauty benefits, such as stimulating your skins collagen production, fighting free radicals, and brightening dark spots. On the other hand, it can be too harsh for some skin types. And certain formulas may be to strong. So if youve noticed bad skin reactions from layering on vitamin C serums, it could all be down to this notable antioxidant.
With this obvious rise of vitamin C products on the market, there was a direct correlation to these responses to vitamin C, says skincare specialist Kristina Holey.
Because the skins mantle sits at a Ph of approximately 4.5 to 5, vitamin C has to be at a 2pH level of around three, and this may cause some skin irritation and redness.
There is a lot of chemistry involved here there is the formula’s pH, the skin’s pH, and the relationship between the two, says Klur founder Lesley Thornton. The form of vitamin C most likely to cause irritation in people with sensitive skin is L-ascorbic acid . For L-AA to be stable in water, it must be formulated at a very low pH. This extremely acidic pH offers maximum formula stability, but limited skin compatibility thus enhancing its exfoliating properties and weakening barrier function, which is why many sensitive skin types may peel, turn red, and have other adverse reactions.
The more potent the vitamin C, the more irritating it may be for the skin.
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Does Cerave Vitamin C Serum Help With Acne Scars
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum helps with a lot of things, but its especially good for acne scars.
It does this by reducing the appearance of acne scars and
dark spots by evening out your skin tone and brightening your complexion as a whole.
It can also reduce textural issues like roughness, wrinkles, fine lines and redness.
It Boosts Uv Protection
Without sun protection, vitamin C can make your skin more susceptible to sun damage, but the ingredient actually works synergistically with your sunscreen. When worn under a broad-spectrum sunscreen during the daytime, vitamin C has been shown to boost your skins defenses against UV-generated damage, says Tiffany Masterson, founder of beauty brand Drunk Elephant.
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Skinceuticals Phloretin Cf Serum
Campbell called SkinCeuticals “the gold standard” of topical vitamin C serums. She recommended the Phloretin CF serum for those with oily skin while the C E Ferulic serum is the “best option for all skin types,” especially those with dry and combination skin. She noted both serums are “effective” antioxidant treatments that “help prevent and treat oxidative stress. Phloretin CF serum received a 4.8-star average rating from more than 540 reviews on Dermstore.
Best For Uneven Skin Tone: Maelove The Glow Maker
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Ferulic acid and vitamin E boost vitamin Cs efficacy and stability
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Hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates
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Non-sticky formula
This Maelove serum includes a powerful blend of antioxidants and ferulic acid to even out skin tone and boost radiance. The ingredients and results of this serum are comparable to those of the Drunk Elephant and SkinCeuticals vitamin C serums, but at a fraction of the price.
Benefits: Hydrating, radiance-boosting, tone-evening, calming | Skin Type: All | Dosage: A few drops once or twice daily | Size: 1 ounce | Cruelty-Free: Yes | No
Price at time of publish: $30
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Helps With Sun Damage
Ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds is one of the leading causes of skin cell aging and damage over time. When the sun strikes your skin, it forms what are called free radicals, which lead to skin damage. But vitamin C can help limit this damage due to its antioxidant properties.
Antioxidants, like vitamin C, prevent cell damage by neutralizing free radicals from harmful effects like smoking and the sun.
“Vitamin C works to bind these free radicals, and acts like little Pac-Men taking them out of circulation so that they can’t do damage to the skin,” says Suzanne Friedler, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Instructor at Mount. Sinai Medical Center.
It’s important to know that vitamin C serums can’t act as a replacement for sunscreen because it does not block and absorb the ultraviolet radiation from the sun. However, using a combination of both will provide your skin with ample protection against sun damage.
Can I Use Vitamin C Serum At Night
Theres certainly no law against using vitamin C products in the evening, but, again, you may get the most benefit from using them in the morning. In general, vitamin C products should be applied in the morning before heading out for the day, when UV radiation is at its highest, Dr. Hogan says. This way, youll be able to reap the benefits of its free-radical-fighting potential.
Ironically, though, vitamin C becomes unstable when exposed to light, so its important to give it time to absorb into your skin before going outside. Just to be safe, give it about five minutes to sink in before you apply your moisturizer and sunscreen and head out the door.
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Who Should Not Use Vitamin C For Skin Care
The general recommendation is that children should not use vitamin C for skin care.
People with sensitive skin should be cautious about using products with vitamin C for skin care. If they want to try such a product, they should first test a small amount of it on their arm before applying it to their face. They should only use it every other day at most.
Below are some common questions about vitamin C.
The Benefits Of Vitamins C And D For Skin
Oct 31, 2021 | Products
Getting the correct dose of Vitamins C and D isnt always easy, particularly once summer has come to a close. However, as both are essential to maintaining healthy skin , its important to keep infusing your skin with these vitamins throughout the colder months. But what does Vitamin C do for your skin? Were here to explain the skincare benefits of vitamins and how to reap these glow-giving benefits of Vitamin C and D with our Purity Vitamins Self Tan range.
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It Protects Your Skin From Damage
The ingredient is a very strong antioxidant, which is good news for your skin. âAntioxidants work by preventing the sun and pollution from causing damage to your skin,â says Chi. In more scientific terms, the antioxidants in vitamin C target free radicals and environmental stressors, which are outer elements that wreak havoc on the complexion and quicken signs of aging, explains Stephens.
Add A Vitamin C Serum To Your Skin Care Routine
One of the best ways to add vitamin C into your skin care routine is through using a serum with vitamin C. These potent formulas are an amazing way to provide your skin with vitamin Cs benefits. The LOréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum is specially formulated without water, packaged in an air-tight metal tube sealed until ready to use, and produced in controlled conditions to minimize oxygen exposure and maximize potency and stability.
It helps restore radiance in just one week and visibly reduces fine lines and wrinkles in just two weeks. Pretty sweet, right? If your routine also includes a hyaluronic acid serum, it should come before your vitamin C serum.
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Does Cerave Vitamin C Serum Help With Dark Spots
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum is a topical serum that claims to help fade dark spots and brighten skin tone.
The product contains 5% L-ascorbic acid, which is an antioxidant that can help protect your skin from the sun and other environmental factors.
The product also contains hyaluronic acid, which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
This helps keep your skin moisturized and plump, so fine lines are less noticeable.
What About An At
While you can follow many of the same steps for a facial at home, its hard to replicate the experience of a spa facial. Compare it to rubbing your own feet or getting a professional foot massage theyre essentially the same thing, but the experiences are completely different.
Still, if youd like to enjoy the benefits of vitamin C without heading to the spa, you can absolutely follow the steps in a standard facial cleansing, exfoliating, massage and then use a vitamin C mask or serum.
I think vitamin C serums are best, Duffy says. That way you can layer sunscreen on top and it doesnt feel too heavy.
Incorporating a vitamin C serum into your regular routine has the added benefit of consistency. A daily vitamin C serum would be better than a vitamin C facial because the serum is applied daily, notes Duffy.
Keep in mind, too, that vitamin C is unstable, reactive, and prone to losing its antioxidant properties when exposed to air, light, and heat.
So, while you can find vitamin C powder, mixing it up with your favorite moisturizer may not yield the results you hope for. For maximum efficacy, your best option usually involves buying quality vitamin C products instead of trying to make them yourself.
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What Should You Look For On The Label Of A Vitamin C Product
Different products may contain a wide variety of concentrations of vitamin C. In general, they range from below 5% all the way up to 30%, Dr. Hogan says.
Remember, people with dry and/or sensitive skin probably want to stick with lower concentrations, around 5% or less, since they are less likely to be irritating. Even if you dont fall into the dry or sensitive skin category, its best to start at a lower concentration and work your way up to see what your skin can tolerate. Most people should avoid going past a 20% concentration because that can be irritating to even the most seasoned vitamin C userand that concentration isnt necessarily any more beneficial to the skin anyway, research shows. ³
What’s The Best Way To Use Vitamin C On Skin
The ideal time to use a skincare product containing vitamin C, such as a serum or moisturizer, is in the morning. Application is best during the day coupled with sunscreen, Dr. Mack says. This way, it will optimize the benefits of your sunscreen but also help prevent damage from free radicals,” adds Roberta Del Campo, M.D. a dermatologist in North Miami, Florida.
Although best used in the A.M., vitamin C can also be applied at night if you are looking to decrease the appearance of discoloration, Dr. Del Campo says. Since every vitamin C product is uniquely formulated, always use your product as directed on packaging for optimal results.
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It May Help Prevent Skin Sagging
Collagen production is tied to skin elasticity and firmness. When your collagen levels begin to drop, your skin may also begin to sag.
Applying a vitamin C serum may boost collagen production, resulting in an overall tightening effect, reports a 2017 review . This is true for sagging due to natural aging, oxidative stress damage, or extreme weight loss.
This means it can help reduce the appearance of sagging skin, making your skin look firmer and more toned.
