What Is A Serum
When youre looking at products in the beauty section of your local store , you may not know the difference between a serum and other moisturizers or creams. In general, a serum is a skincare product that is lighter in weight, does not contain occlusives, such as mineral oils or thickening agents, and therefore is able to penetrate deeper into the skin than heavier consistencies of a moisturizer or night cream. Serums are specifically designed to be easily absorbed and work their way deep into the skin.
Serums also usually contain a higher percentage of powerful ingredients such as vitamins and peptides. For example, youll find retinol-type serums have a higher concentration of Vitamin-A than moisturizing creams. That is because a serum has the ability to work its way down into the layers making it much more effective and able to produce change. When trying a skincare product for the first time with an active ingredient, especially ones such as Vitamin-C and Vitamin-A, it is a good idea to slowly introduce those to the skin.
A bit of advice, begin with a lower percentage of the active ingredient, use the product once, then wait 3 days to ensure your skin doesnt have a negative reaction to it. Your skin may need time to build up a tolerance to it. Because of their advanced formulation, some ingredients actually remain active for up to 72 hours, thats why its best to go slow.
No7 Radiance+ 15% Vitamin C Serum
Helps to brighten dull and uneven skin.
Formulated with 15% Vitamin C, this powerful No7 serum instantly transforms dull-looking skin. It helps to even out tone and texture, and reduces the appearance of discoloration and dark spots to reveal a healthy-looking radiance.
After cleansing, apply 3-4 drops onto the face and neck to lend skin a youthful, lit-from-within glow.
Vitamin C Is A Wonder At Wound Healing
Weve already mentioned many of the benefits of vitamin C above, so it may not be shocking that a topical application of vitamin C would encourage the healing of wounds on the skin as well. The fact that it has free-radical fighting power is part of it, as is the capacity to reduce skin inflammation. When skin is swollen and puffy, its not in an ideal place for healing.
In addition, there is evidence in medically reviewed journals and studies that suggest vitamin C can lead to an increase in dermal fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are essential functions within the skin that help with wound healing. Feel free to click on the link for a more in-depth description that will provide flashbacks to chemistry class. Vitamin C benefits have been shown to repair damage to the epidermis caused by oxidation. It plays a good role in remodeling tissue and ultimately, repairing skin wounds.
Vitamin Cs ability to help heal wounds also means that there is a reduced risk of infection and scarring. Its one more way that it can smooth the skins surface and reduce dullness. Even though its vitamin C, ascorbic acid gets an A! Maybe its a weighted grading scale or something, but vitamin C is definitely the teachers pet in skincare circles. So listen to what the teacher says, and give it a try.
Heres a video from AbrahamThePharmacist that discusses wound healing and mentions the most important vitamins for the recovery process:
Don’t Miss: What Vitamins Are Good For Psoriasis
Should You Use A Vitamin C Serum Or Cream
It honestly doesnt matter serum, cream, or gel is really just a description of the base that carries the Vitamin C.
As long as you go with a high-quality product, they have most likely done their work selecting a base that absorbs well, and Vitamin C should be able to get into your skin.
Find a product that you like the feel of or one that contains other skin products that you want to incorporate into your regimen. Because why not have all the good stuff in 1 bottle?
Why Vitamin C Serum
There are a lot of skin care products that promise to make you look better. There is no shortage of vitamins, but the one that is proven is thescorbic acid. You can get a boost in your skins elasticity with the help of vitamins C and E. It improves your complexion and fights fine lines.
Contents
Read Also: How To Correct Vitamin D Deficiency
What Should You Look For In A Vitamin C Serum
Getting a high level of vitamin C to boost collagenwithout bringing on redness and irritationis the key to vitamin C products, Klein says. Her recommendation is to use a serum that has between 15 and 30 percent vitamin C. Vitamin C should be one of the first ingredients listed on the label, Jaliman adds.
Vitamin C is unstable and will degrade over time, losing its efficacy. Interacting with heat, light, and air speeds up the process, which is why you should look for serums in opaque, airtight bottles.
There are many different derivatives of vitamin C, including ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and sodium ascorbyl phosphateso if one derivative is too irritating, you can always try another. L-ascorbic acid is one popular form of vitamin C, and although its more unstable than other forms of vitamin C, its also less irritating. Look for vitamin C serums that contain ferulic acid, which helps stabilize the vitamin and creates an ideal pH level.
Vitamin C Serum For Sensitive Or Dry Skin
Vitamin C serum is suitable for dry and sensitive skin types. However, a Vitamin C serum for the face thats too highly concentrated may cause irritation. Many of the No7s serums are infused with lower concentrations of Vitamin C and combined with moisturizing and soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid to help avoid adverse reactions on sensitive skin.
2021-11-16 08:27:25
You May Like: What Kind Of Vitamins Should I Take Daily
Boosts Skin Cell Regeneration
Skin cell turnover is the process by which dead cells are shed from the skins top layer and new, fresh cells rise to the surface. One feature of healthy skin is its ability to efficiently turn over – a process that slows with age. With its acidic nature, Vitamin C is helpful in sloughing away dead and damaged skin cells, thereby speeding up the skins natural turnover process. This not only smooths skin texture, but also reduces dullness and minimizes the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
How Vitamin C Supports Skin Care
Vitamin Calso known as ascorbic acidis a water-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in keeping your skin healthy. Topical vitamin C is clinically proven to have a wide range of clinical applications thanks to its antioxidant, antiaging, antipigmentary properties. This potent nutrient offers many benefits for the skin, including the potential to:
- Make collagen, used to keep skin youthful and plump
- Heal wounds
- Reduce the appearance of dark spots
- Prevent premature aging
Don’t Miss: How Much Vitamin D Should A Woman Take A Day
Begin Your New Skincare Routine Today
If you look in the mirror and see skin concerns youd like to address on your face, pimple, wrinkle, pigment, or just need a little skin TLC, then we encourage you to make an appointment with one of our skin health experts at The Skin Center By CPS. Everyones skin is a bit different and will respond differently to varying products. We all have those drawers full of products that promised much and delivered little? It can quickly become expensive to constantly test out different products to find just the right one. Instead, let our professional skin health staff at The Skin Center By CPS help guide you.
We will work with you in determining the kind of skin you have and what products you will likely respond best to, including a vitamin C serum . If youre ready to begin seeing improvement, give The Skin Center By CPS a call today.
Everything You Need To Know About Incorporating Vitamin C Into Your Skincare Routine
If youve been part of the MECCA community for a while, youll know that when it comes to serving upskincare truths, we leave no stone unturned. The last time we answered your biggest beauty questions, the demand for straightforward, simplifiedinformation about vitamin Cone of our all-time favourite glow-inducing activeswasreal, so we reached out to our Instagram community once again, in search of the most commonquestions surrounding the hyped-up antioxidant. Our DMs blew upbig timeand now, were givinganswers.
Read Also: How Much Vitamin D Per Day For Teenager
What Does Vitamin C Serum Do For Your Skin And Other Common Questions
Youâve heard the hype: vitamin C is great for your skin, but what exactly does Vitamin C do for your skin, how do you use it, and which product is the best?Iâm here to help you get some answers.
Youâve heard the hype: vitamin C is great for your skin, but what exactly does Vitamin C do for your skin, how do you use it, and which product is the best?
Iâm here to help you get some answers.
What Is Vitamin C Serum Anyway
Vitamin C serum is a topical skincare product typically in liquid or gel form. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that impedes the formation of free radicals. Free radicals can break down collagen and elastin, which are two proteins that help skin keep its elasticity.
Our Bright C Serum is made with magnesium ascorbic phosphate, an effective and very stable form of vitamin C. We also offer a complete anti-aging skin care kit, which includes our anti-aging serum.
Read Also: What Vitamins Are Good For Brain And Memory
Wear Your Vitamin C Serum At Night
Slip Silk Sleep Mask
If you typically apply vitamin C in the morning, see if it helps to wear it at night instead. You’ll still get protection from free radicals, but you won’t be exposed to strong sunlight that can oxidize the formula on your skin.
According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, “your body builds up a storage of antioxidants as you use them, so using vitamin C serum at night will help guarantee your body has enough ready to go in the morning when you need them most.”
Additional Tips For Using Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is considered a “volatile” ingredient, which means it tends to break down easily when it’s not formulated or stored correctly. To keep your vitamin C fresh and effective, keep it in a cool, dark and dry place. Also, replace your vitamin C serum, oil or cream six months after opening or if you’ve noticed the product has changed color, consistency or scent.
You May Like: Can I Mix My Vitamin C Serum With My Moisturizer
Should I Apply Vitamin C Once Or Twice A Day
At Concept Medical, we recommend only using Vitamin C once a day, during your morning skincare routine. Applying Vitamin C in the morning, will allow you to achieve the most protection and benefit from the product throughout the day. Of course, incorporating antioxidants before you sleep is also important, but Vitamin C during a nighttime routine is not essential.
It Promotes Collagen Production
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that depletes over time. Lower levels of collagen can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin C is well known for through the process of collagen synthesis. In fact, collagen synthesis cant happen without vitamin C.
This is because vitamin C is the essential cofactor for the two enzymes required for collagen synthesis:
- prolyl hydroxylase, which stabilizes the collagen molecule
- lysyl hydroxylase, which provides structural strength
Also Check: Can You Take Multiple Olly Vitamins At Once
What Can Vitamin C Serum Do
Vitamin C is rich in antioxidant which helps neutralize the free radicals in the body resulting from UV rays or pollution. It is essential to have a balance between antioxidants and free radicals to prevent any oxidative stress. Besides, free radicals can even reduce the ability of the skin to repair itself and decrease collagen production. Herein antioxidants like Vitamin C can help the body cope with stress and offer multiple benefits, which are as follows.
Wash With A Gentle Cleanser
Cleansing is important for removing any skin care product or makeup that youve applied during the day, as well as natural skin oils, pollutants, and bacteria thats accumulated. It also means your skin care products will be able to enter your skin and work more effectively!
preserve your skin barrier and keep it resistant to dehydration and damage. Cleansers with a high pH like natural soaps are very harsh and can leave your skin vulnerable to irritation and infection. Cleansers with a low pH, such as this one by Cosrx , work to maintain optimal skin balance.
Another ingredient to avoid is sodium lauryl sulfate, as its very harsh. You also dont need to buy cleansers with fancy, active ingredients. Cleansers arent on your skin for very long. Those active ingredients are far more useful in later steps, like when you apply serum.
Don’t Miss: What Vitamins Should I Take In The Morning
The Best Budget Vitamin C Serum: Cerave Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum $2499
- Pros: Dermatologist-approved skincare brand, has a fresh scent, brightens problem areas and hydrates the skin
- Cons: Impractical packaging
Oh, CeraVe, how I love you so. Ive been using the brands cleanser for years and wasnt surprised at the slightest when its Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum was one of the ones to come up on top.
Notably, its fresh scent just makes you want to use it every day and it effectively brightened and nourished my skin. For $25, you cant go wrong.
- Pros: Amazing at brightening the skin, has a pump dispenser, great for waking your skin up in the morning, has a pump protector for no spills
- Cons: None to speak of
When I first came across Farmacys Very Cherry Bright Serum, I knew I was going to like it. A serum that includes vitamin C and sweet cherries? Sounds like facial heaven.
As someone with dry skin, this is the best for this skin type because it includes ascorbic acid, acerola cherry and other derivatives of vitamin C that nourished my skin to the T. Though its not the only serum in this edit that works well on dry skin, its a thirst-quenching one I kept resorting back to.
- Pros: Akin to a moisturizer, fresh scent, made my entire skin glow
- Cons: None to speak of
There are many great vitamin C serums in this roundup but Garniers formulation was too good, I just kept thinking about it.
Which Vitamin C Serum Is The Best
Vitamin C serums contain other actives besides Vitamin C to treat your skin. Some serums contain beneficial ingredients like hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, ferulic acid, and squalane. Be careful to avoid unnatural ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and harsh chemicals. WOW Skin Science, for example, never includes any of these ingredients in our products, which are all-natural and never tested on animals.
Recommended Reading: How Important Is Vitamin D To The Body
Use The Right Concentration Vitamin C For Your Skin Type And Concerns
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, and this ingredient can have different effects at those concentrations.
Those with dry or sensitive skin probably want to stick with lower concentrations, around 5%, which are less likely to be irritating. But those with more oily skin or with more extensive pigmentation issues to tackle can handle higher concentrations. However, as SELF explained previously, the effects begin to plateau after 20%, so theres usually no need to go higher than that.
Are All Skin Serums Created Equal
Not all serums work the same. How well they work depends on the active ingredients, the formulation, the vehicle, and the stability of the compound, says Dr. Asgari. The prices of serums vary from less than $20 to hundreds of dollars. To be honest, I dont think price makes a difference, says Dr. Waldman. More important than price are the ingredients in the serum so the best practice is to read labels to find the best formulation for your needs.
Read Also: What Vitamins Are Good For Male Fertility
Protects Skin From Sun Damage
In addition to its anti-aging benefits, topical vitamin C is also great for protecting your skin from damageespecially from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. That’s because vitamin C is an antioxidant, so it naturally helps to strengthen your skin and repel things that could damage it. Of course, topical vitamin C should not be considered an alternative to wearing sunscreen, but when combined with regular sunscreen application, it can really work wonders for your skin.
Improves Hydration And Moisture
If you suffer from dry skin, vitamin C is a must. This is especially true if you have tried using moisturizers and cremes in the past, only to find that your skin is still dry and flaky. With topical vitamin C products , you can enjoy the high concentration of vitamins that your body truly needs to improve moisture content and overall hydration.
Read Also: How To Get Vitamin D Levels Up
