Can I Use Vitamin C Serum Without Moisturizer
You can use a Vitamin C serum without using a moisturizer, but this is not recommended unless your vitamin C is formulated with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerine.
Your skin needs hydration and moisture to be healthy and to even help the Vitamin C penetrate and work. Using pure vitamin C without a moisturizer may cause dryness and irritation.
When And How To Apply Vitamin C Serum
A vitamin C serum should be used once a day. We recommend applying it in the morning to make the most of its antioxidant properties and help protect skin from environmental stressors throughout the day.
After cleansing and toning, apply onto the face and neck. Wait 90 seconds for the serum to absorb before using a No7 day cream and SPF.
How To Use Vitamin C Serum In Your Skincare Routine
Okay, now that were a little bit more familiar with the incredible benefits of vitamin C serums, lets learn the best way to add it to your product lineup. The general rule for any skincare routine is to apply products from thinnest to thickest. Remember to allow a few moments for each product to fully absorb in your skin when caring for your face.
Since vitamin C serum is going to help you brighten, boost collagen, and fight toxins, most women prefer to use it as part of their daytime routine before applying sunscreen. Read on to learn all the dos and donts of how to use vitamin C serum properly!
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Use Vitamin C In The Morning
While you can use vitamin C serum any time of the day, mornings are the best time for application. This is because it can protect your skin when youre ready to go out and your skin gets exposed to the maximum levels of UV radiation, pollution, and other stressors.
With that said, you should give your skin a few minutes before heading out so that the serum can be properly absorbed. Otherwise, light can interfere with its absorption.
Should You Keep Using Vitamin C If It Changes Colors
In topical skin-care products, vitamin C is sensitive to light and air. When exposed to these factors, it becomes oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid, which is less stable and less efficacious, Dr. Hogan explains. Your vitamin C serum should be colorless or a light straw color if it oxidizes, it becomes yellow or brown and is likely going to be less effective. You can still use it if you want, but it probably wont do as much for your skin and, very rarely, oxidized vitamin C products can even cause slight yellow discoloration of the skin, particularly if you have fair skin, Dr. Hogan adds. So consider getting rid of any vitamin C products that have dramatically changed in color or smell since you bought them. Especially if it is brown, I would say to toss it, Dr. Lamb says.
If you cant find an expiration date and youre unsure of how long its been in the back of your cabinet, its probably best to get rid of it. Dr. Lamb says you shouldnt use active ingredients a year after they have been opened because theyre just no longer effective at that point. Will it harm your skin to use it? Probably not. But you may notice that a trusty vitamin C serum can be pricey, so taking care of your bottle will also help take care of your wallet.
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Treatment Serums And Ampoules
A typical treatment serum used in daytime skincare is a Vitamin C serum, but no matter what types of serums you use, just make sure that the most potent active ingredient goes on first. To save time, Id recommend a Vitamin C serum combined with hyaluronic acid so you dont have to spend time layering in the early morning. But if you do choose to layer serums, always apply the hydrating serum after the treatment serum.
Banish Acne And Breakouts With Hyaluronic Acid
Who knew the same face could be blessed with both acne and the appearance of fine lines? If you thought the days of acne breakouts on oily skin would be long gone by now, but are still dealing with the same T-zone troubles that plagued you your freshman year of high school, theres some good news for you.
If acne is something you deal with on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, then a hydrating hyaluronic acid serum may just have some hidden benefits to fight those blemishes and generally oily skin.
Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it helps fight free radicals that wreak havoc on cells, which means it works against pesky triggers for inflammation. So, the redness and inflammation related to acne prone skin or dehydrated skin should subside when coming into contact with Vitamin C.
Then how does hyaluronic acid figure in, you ask? Excellent question. Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, as discussed above, is all about hydration. When you clog pores, acne breakouts are often a result of the buildup of dead skin cells, making for that grody skin texture.
And without proper hydration its hard to have a smooth process of skin cell regeneration. Hyaluronic acid can boost the moisture barrier of your skin, thus shutting out some bacteria. So banish those breakouts and send them back to the past for good.
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How To Use Vitamin C Serum The Right Way
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Vitamin C serum is an age-old beauty secret, and if youre adept at skincare, youve heard of it.
Its highly acclaimed as an effective anti-aging ingredient and a great aid in keeping your skin smooth, even, and glowing.
The question is, since youre probably getting vitamin C from your diet anyway, why use a vitamin C serum?
A serum is the best way to ensure that vitamin C goes to your skin, thereby reaping the benefits in the most direct way. Otherwise, without using serums and other topical products, theres no way to guarantee that.
In this article, we discuss, among other things, the following:
- How to use a vitamin C skin serum
- Vitamin C treatment regimen
- Should you use vitamin C serum with retinol or hyaluronic acid
- Benefits of using a vitamin C serum
What Goes First: Vitamin C Or Hyaluronic Acid
Short answer? Apply your vitamin C first, then pat on your HA. Vitamin C is notoriously unstableit loses potency when it’s exposed to air, light, and waterwhich is why you want to apply it on clean, dry skin right after washing. You’ll also want to let it dry completely, as piling on products right after could potentially deactivate the vitamin C.
You don’t need to be as precious with hyaluronic acid. Yes, applying on damp skin will make it easier for the humectant to pull in water, but it can also draw in that moisture from the surrounding environment, too. Let’s not forget: Hyaluronic acid can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, and you don’t necessarily have to provide that water yourself. “That way, you don’t need to worry that HA needs to go directly onto damp skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, M.D., FAAD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology + Aesthetics.
So you can apply your vitamin C first, let it dry completely, then apply your hyaluronic acid. Just remember to top everything off with a moisturizeryou still want to seal in the HA to lock in the hydration.
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Can I Use Vitamin C And Retinol Together
The truth: You can use vitamin C with retinol and retinoids. Get them as separate products so you can tailor the concentration of each and use them at the right time of day. Although vitamin C can be used day or night, it is ideal for daytime use, while retinol and retinoids should be applied at night.
When Should I Use Vitamin C In My Skincare Routine
We all have different skin needs and routines, but as a general rule, we recommend incorporating vitamin C into your skincare regime everyor every othermorning. We specify morning, because the antioxidant helps to protect from things like pollution and UV light, which you’re typically exposed to throughout the day.
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What Are The Possible Side Effects Of Vitamin C Serum
The most common side effects of using a vitamin C serum include skin irritation like tingling upon application, redness, and itching, but this mostly happens to sensitive or reactive skin, Dr. Chiu says. Always patch test an area of skin before you try any new product, especially a potent one like a serum. Many derms recommend applying a small dollop to your inner arm for a day or two to see how your skin reacts before slathering it all over your face.
Dr. Chiu warns that stronger formulations can sometimes have a low pH, which can be especially irritating for those with dry and/or sensitive skin. To be safe, she recommends starting with a gentler formula at firstone that contains less than 5% vitamin Cand then working your way up if youd like. Most people can benefit from going up to 10% once their skin can handle it, and some can go up to 20%, as long as its applied only once per day.
How Long Should You Wait To Put On Moisturizer After Serum
Wait, then Moisturize Serums are not moisturizers. To allow serums to fully absorb, apply and wait 5 minutes before moisturizing. Take note: Well-formulated serums absorb quickly and disappear into your skin. If they leave an oily or sticky residue, they’re not doing their job well.
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Follow Up With Moisturizer
After youre all serumd up, its recommended that you follow up with a moisturizing oil or face cream. This will help seal in all the goodness from the vitamin C serum and ensure your face stays hydrated and smooth.
You can absolutely use vitamin C serum in your morning routine before you put on your makeup. Its safe to use all-natural vitamin C serum underneath makeup throughout the day, as it will still give you all the benefits you need.
How To Use Vitamin C Serum And Hyaluronic Acid
If youre wondering how to use a hyaluronic acid serum and a vitamin C serum together, the answer isyou guessed it!go from thinnest to thickest. The HA serum I use has a slightly thicker, gel-like consistency, so I apply it after my vitamin C serum and before my moisturizer.
Its completely fine to layer your serums, but make sure to give each one time to try before applying the next. Youre also going to want to make sure your products have settled into your skin before beginning your makeup routine.
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How To Determine The Right Vitamin C Serum Concentration For Your Skin Type
Knowing the right vitamin C concentration for your skin type is essential to maximizing effectiveness. In the skincare aisle, you’ll find vitamin C in up to 20% concentrations.
If your skin is sensitive or dry, you should use a low concentrated product somewhere between 5 to 10% will do. You can gradually work up the concentration to 15% and keep note of how your skin responds. Normal, combination, and oily skin types can usually handle concentrations of 20%, but use progressively to help skin build tolerance.
Why It Is Important To Use Moisturizer After Vitamin C
Using a moisturizer after Vitamin C helps to lock in hydration, lock in the serum itself and aid penetration, and prevent irritation.
While Vitamin C itself can be hydrating, unless it is a formulation that is mixed with a hydrating agent like hyaluronic acid or glycerine, it is not enough on its own to adequately moisturize the skin.
Moisturizers help to improve the lipid barrier of the skin, many of them draw and lock in moisture from the air and prevent evaporative loss from the skin, and many occlude the skin to protect it from environmental stressors that can also oxidize the Vitamin C, rendering it ineffective.
An even better solution is to use a moisturizer with SPF in it. This not only gives you the benefit of a good moisturizer but the benefits of sun protection as well! Sun protection is important when using Vitamin C to prevent oxidization, oxidative stress, and sun damage.
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Can You Use Vitamin C With Retinol Or Derm
According to Dr. Sheila Krishna, its totally fine to use vitamin C with over-the-counter retinol products or dermatologist-grade retinoidswhich, BTW, is the broader term for vitamin A derivatives, including retinol, tretinoin, and adapalene, just to name a few.Vitamin C and retinoids are thought to render each other ineffective because of their differing pHs, but thats not true. This study indicated that a combined retinol + vitamin C treatment is effective at treating photoaging.Though you can use vitamin C and retinoids together, we recommend getting them separately instead of as a combined product. You can then get the right concentration of each for your skin and adjust as necessary. Plus, the combo can aggravate some skin depending on the formula. But using them at different times of day can prevent that irritation.
Avoid Using Vitamin C With Benzoyl Peroxide
Do not use your benzoyl peroxide products in the same part of your routine as the vitamin C. This is because benzoyl peroxide can oxidize the vitamin C and make it less effective. To get the most of both the ingredients, use vitamin C in the morning and benzoyl peroxide in the evenings, or use them on different days. Similarly, vitamin C and retinoids should not be used at the same time.
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Active Ingredients In Serums
Skin care products contain inactive and active ingredients. Inactive ingredients help give the formula its consistency or texture. Active ingredients help it achieve an aim, such as treating acne.
Both serums and moisturizers can contain active ingredients, and some do not mix well. This can lead to interactions and side effects. Or, the products may just be less effective together.
To avoid these issues, dermatologists generally do not recommend using too many active ingredients at once. Instead, focus on one or two key ingredients. Introduce them one at a time, if possible, to check how well the skin tolerates them.
Below, learn about some active ingredients in serums and what they do:
| Ingredient | |
|---|---|
| reduce the signs of aging | sensitivityirritation |
For anyone using retinoids, AHAs, or BHAs even just periodically it is important to wear sunscreen every day. Choose a water-resistant, broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above.
Some active ingredients are unsuitable for certain people. For example, people who have rosacea, hormonal acne, or severe scarring should speak with a dermatologist before trying an over-the-counter product with retinoids. People who are pregnant or nursing should not use these products.
If in doubt, consult a healthcare professional.
Why Should You Use Serum Before Moisturizer
Serums are composed of smaller molecules that can easily penetrate the skin, allowing them to deliver a very high concentration of active ingredients into the skin.
They are usually water-based and the skin absorbs them more quickly. Because of this, serums usually contain higher amounts of active ingredients than moisturizers.
Moisturizers, on the other hand, are designed to hydrate and nourish the skin. They have bigger molecules than serums, so they sit on top of your skin instead of being absorbed by it.
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It Helps Protect From Free Radicals
Free radicals are your skins enemy. They are tiny particles that can accelerate aging and cause damage to your skin. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help fight free radicals. Vitamin C helps to neutralize these reactive oxygen species by capturing them and protecting our cells from daily damage, says Garnier board-certified dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes. Vitamin C also inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that makes dark spots in the skin. To get the antioxidant effect of Vitamin C use a daily moisturizer that can help protect your skin. Garnier SkinActives Clearly Brighter Brightening & Smoothing Daily Moisturizer SPF 15 is a fast absorbing, non-greasy formula that turns dull, rough skin into smooth, polished-looking skin with a more radiant, even tone.
Retinol Before Or After Hyaluronic Acid
Whether you use retinol before or after hyaluronic acid depends upon your Baumann Skin Type®, skin problems , and what type of moisturizer you are using with your retinol or Retin A. Also what type of tretinoin you are using matters because some types of tretinoin already contain hyaluronic acid such as Altreno.
Why does it matter if you use hyaluronic acid with retinol? Hyaluronic acid increases penetration of retinol and retinoids.1 2 That means that using a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid in it can increase side effects from acne medications such as retinoids.
We tell you know which hyaluronic acid moisturizer to use with retinol and when to use the hyaluronic acid with retinol so you do not ahve to guess.
Once you know when to use the hyaluronic acid, you can choose the best from many HA brands. In general, using HA before or after retinol will increase penetration so it does not matter which comes first. What does matter is your skin type. For example, Dry Skin Types would do better with a barrier repair cream moisturizer than a humectant hyaluronic acid moisturizer in a dry skincare routine.
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