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What Is Vitamin C Serum Used For

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Additional reporting to this story by Danielle Zoellner

As a seasoned health writer, Danielle Zoellner knows the importance of finding just the right product to fit your medical needs. Throughout her career, Danielle has interviewed a variety of experts in the medical and health fields while reviewing dozens of products. Her experience and knowledge in the field work together to help readers like yourself find the best products for your daily life.

Which Vitamin C Serums To Buy Dermatologists Name Their Clients Favorites

Saedi likes SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, which she says is tried and true and has a cult-like following. Others she says her patients rave about are SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum and Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum.

Sephora has a list of their top-performing vitamin C serums, and Dermstore lists their must-try products. Both are a good starting point to find the best vitamin C serum for you.

What Does A Vitamin C Serum Do

Lets be real: if youre still wondering, What is a serum?, itll be hard to know whether one will be a worthwhile addition to your routine. So, first things first, we need to clear up what a serum actually is. Serums are lightweight products that are formulated with a high concentration of potent ingredients. Based on that description, you can see why serums have become so popular. When you really want to target a specific complexion concern, and your favorite moisturizer and cleanser combo arent quite getting the job done, you can use a serum thats specifically formulated to address your biggest skin issues.

As for what a vitamin C serum is, youve probably already put two and two together and realized a vitamin C serum is simply an ultra-light gel or lotion thats formulated with vitamin C. What does vitamin C serum do? These serums are typically used for their antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Vitamin C serum benefits often include leaving skin with a brighter, more radiant appearance. They can also result in a reduction of the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation for a more even skin tone. Keep in mind, however, that benefits will most certainly vary from serum to serum, so youll need to do your due diligence when picking a formula.

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Best For Hyperpigmentation: Cerave Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum With Hyaluronic Acid

When it comes to drugstore skincare brands, CeraVe is the go-to for many dermatologists. Their vitamin C Serum is an effective yet affordable option for hyperpigmentation. It is formulated with 10% l-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C, to help provide antioxidant protection and three essential ceramides , moisturizing hyaluronic acid, and soothing vitamin B5.

If you have sensitive skin, finding the right serums can involve a lot of trial and error, which is frustrating to say the least. Dr. Saedi suggests avoiding more potentially irritating vitamin C serums, and starting with Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C, a budget-friendly, award-winning serum that is less likely to stir up a reaction than most other effective products.

While it boasts 15% pure vitamin C, it offers a more hydrating form with less percentage of ascorbic acid, she explains. It also includes hyaluronic acid, which is hydrating. The quick absorbing serum is also paraben, fragrance, and oil-free, and is made with 11 clean ingredients.

What Is The Recommended Skincare Routine To Follow When Using Liftactiv Vitamin C Serum

Top 7 Vitamin C Serums for Face in 2018 Reviewed

Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 daily. For powerful anti-aging benefits, use LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector in the morning and LiftActiv Retinol Anti-Wrinkle Treatment or LiftActiv Supreme Night during the evening. Layer with Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Serum morning and night to help hydrate, plump and fortify skin. LiftActiv Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector is a dermatologist grade treatment yet at an accessible price making it the perfect addition to your anti-aging routine.

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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.

What You Can Do

Acne-related hyperpigmentation occurs when dark patches develop after a blemish has healed. Although hyperpigmentation is harmless, it can be frustrating to deal with.

If youre experiencing acne-related hyperpigmentation, you arent alone. Talk to your dermatologist about your options for over-the-counter and professional treatment.

The exact treatment you choose will depend on the severity of your condition, as well as your skin type and tone. Your dermatologist can help you find the best option for your skin.

Read on to learn more about how you can fade this form of hyperpigmentation with OTC products, prescription creams, and more.

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What Kind Of Vitamin C Should You Use

Unfortunately, not all vitamin C products are created equal. Many derivatives exist, including ascorbyl palmitate and retinyl ascorbate, says Abdulla. These precursor molecules need to be converted to the active form for maximum skin benefits. What you should be looking for is ascorbic acid which is the most stable and effective form of vitamin C in skincare. Look for formulations with a concentration of 10% or more for maximum effect, says Abdulla. The higher the percentage the faster youll see healthier, smoother and younger-looking skin. Just remember: You cant store vitamin C in your body, so its effectiveness will max out at around 20%.The best vitamin C serums are formulated with other antioxidants, such as vitamin E. Case in point: Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum With Hyaluronic Acid. It contains 15% pure vitamin C and vitamin E and a few other active ingredients, such as fragmented hyaluronic acid and Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water.

Use Your Vitamin C Products At The Right Point In Your Skin

How To Use a Vitamin C Face Serum

The right moment to use your product depends on what kind of product it is, Dr. Hogan explains. For serums, you want to apply your vitamin C product to freshly cleansed skin, but before you moisturize. But antioxidant-containing moisturizers are also becoming more common, Dr. Lamb says, and youd want to use those at the end of your routine.

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Research Behind Vitamin C And Vitamin C Serums

Of course, you can source vitamin C through foods, namely fruits and vegetables like cantaloupe, oranges, pineapple, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, according to MedlinePlus. Its an important nutrient to load up on because its essential for growth and development. It plays a role in forming and repairing body tissue, and delivering antioxidants to cut down on the presence of dangerous free radicals.

Vitamin C is also naturally present in the skin, where it helps promote collagen and antioxidant levels, and protects the skin against UV-ray-induced photodamage, according to a study published in August 2017 in the journal Nutrients. Sounds great, right? You may be thinking about how to increase vitamin C in your diet to tap into these benefits. Unfortunately, simply eating more oranges and cantaloupe isnt going to cut it. Thats because the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin, doesnt have blood vessels to send nutrients to the skin cells, according to the Nutrients study.

Vitamin C can, however, be applied topically and thats where vitamin C serums come in. Vitamin C is best known for its ability to neutralize free radicals and improve aging skin, says Joel Schlessinger, MD, an Omaha, Nebraska-based dermatologic surgeon and RealSelf contributor. It can also improve collagen and elastin synthesis which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles help reduce inflammation, provide natural, mild exfoliation and brighten skin.

Skinmedica Vitamin C + E Complex

Any skin type can benefit from dabbing on a daily dose of this fragrance-free treatment from SkinMedica. In addition to pure vitamin C, the formula also includes vitamin E, which gives it a double dose of antioxidant power. Plus, it has a time-release effect, so it doesnt sputter out mid-day, Dr. Sperling says.

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Anytime You Need To Exfoliate

If you havent been using your serum regularly in your skin care routine, you can always use it as a one-off option for refreshing your face. If youre working from home and hit a wall, take a short break and apply four to five drops of vitamin C serum and spread it over your face, neck, and decolletage. So even if you arent being productive, its a wonderful way to feel like at least some work is getting done. That vitamin C making its way into your skin and working wonders while you take a power nap, or head to the kitchen for a cold glass of water to wake you up.

Since vitamin C serums are acidic, it means they aid in sloughing off dead skin cells, which in turn enhances the skins ability to regenerate new cells. This also accelerates the production of elastin and collagen. As you may already know, collagen is made up of protein fibers that help to make skin look plump and more taut. Elastin is similar and, as the name would suggest, helps with skins elasticity and ability to bounce back. Its basically like vitamin C flips the switch on a beautifying butterfly effect.

Diy Vitamin C Serum Recipe

Vitamin C Serum

If you would like to try making your own serum rather than mixing your vitamin C powder into a pre-existing product, here is an easy DIY vitamin C serum recipe:

  • 1 teaspoon vitamin C powder
  • 1 teaspoon filtered water
  • 1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
  • 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil

Dissolve the vitamin C powder in the water, then mix in the other ingredients. Pour the serum into a dark container and store in the fridge. Discard after 1 month or if you notice a change in color or smell.

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What Are The Benefits Of Using Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid retains water, keeping the skin moisturized for a radiant look and fighting the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. It also reduces present wrinkles by filling them in, thereby making them less noticeable.

The acid also has antioxidant properties that help to keep the skin looking healthy.

Another benefit of hyaluronic acid is its healing properties. You can apply it to wounds to reduce the size of surface wounds. It also relieves pain caused by the wound on the skin around the wound.

Is Vitamin C Serum Good For Discoloration

Skin discoloration is the result of excess melanin, natural pigment that gives color to skin, often caused by chronic UV exposure, hormonal fluctuations, past acne blemishes, and natural aging. SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF, a vitamin C serum, delivers advanced environmental protection and specifically diminishes the appearance of discoloration and fine lines.

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Store In A Cool Dry Space

Similar to the reality show that Denise Richards had a while back, when it comes to the chemistry of Vitamin C: Its Complicated. And like more than a few of us, vitamin C is unstable. In this case it means that vitamin C can interact with other oxidizing agents and break down, potentially rendering it useless, or worse, damaging to the skin. Similar to how a nail rusts when exposed to damp air, vitamin C also changes its chemistry and degrades when exposed to certain elements. Its important to first find a quality product formulated by experts, and then its up to you to minimize exposure to excessive heat, light, or oxygen.

Does Vitamin C Powder Improve The Skin

All About Vitamin C Serum: Benefits, How to Use For Glowing Skin – Brooklyn Botany – L Ascorbic Acid

Vitamin C offers multiple benefits when used regularly as part of a good skin care regimen:

  • When applied to the skin, vitamin C brightens by inhibiting the production of melanin, and is capable of fading brown spots without affecting your regular skin tone.
  • Topical vitamin C has been shown to neutralize free radicals caused by UV exposure which might otherwise cause wrinkles and premature aging.
  • Vitamin C accelerates the production of collagen and elastin to keep your skin plump, supple and youthful-looking, in addition to preventing sagging.
  • The facilitation of wound healing is also a possible benefit of using vitamin C.

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Vitamin C Skin Benefits:

  • Encourages the production of collagen. As we age, our collagen levels dramatically drop, therefore collagen production slows. Collagen is a protein that makes the skin have elasticity which keeps wrinkles from forming.
  • Protects against sun damage
  • Powerful antioxidant. It reduces the number of sunburned cells as well as reverses age-related damage to skin.
  • Reduces inflammation
  • Increases hydration in the skin
  • Reduces Redness
  • Has very mild side effects if any
  • Speeds up wound healing

First Off What Is Vitamin C

As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin C is “a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals,” explains board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler. “Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.”

So, in the same way that consuming antioxidant-rich foods aids your body in fighting off free radicals, topical antioxidants do the same for your skin by helping to offset daily aggressors like UV damage and exposure to air pollution. Quick refresher course on antioxidants: They prevent or reduce damage to our cells by neutralizing the production of highly reactive molecules called free radicals. In other words, antioxidants help keep our body and our skin cells healthy.

This free-radical-fighting power isn’t just important for helping to keep signs of premature aging at bay. In neutralizing these free radicals, vitamin C may also help protect skin from precancerous changes caused by UV exposure, Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, previously told Allure.

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Get The Lowdown On The Age

Is this the actual riddle of the Sphinx? It might as well be, with how many people it befuddles on a daily basis. This question has been circulated more widely as of late, as vitamin C serums continue to trend in the skin care market.

Theres a reason why vitamin C serums have become so popular: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant with incredible benefits for skin health. It can boost your circulation, brighten your skin, help to heal surface damage, stimulate collagen production, and even scavenge free radicals to prevent the onset of fine lines and wrinkles. The best news is that many dermatologists recommend vitamin C serum for all skin types.

Though a natural vitamin C serum could undoubtedly take your skin care routine to the next level, theres some confusion surrounding the correct use of these serums. Specifically, theres a bit of controversy in the skin care world over whether vitamin C serum should be used in the morning, in the evening, or both. Lets discuss!

Vitamin C Serum: Using It A.M. Vs. P.M.

A.M. The light texture and fast-absorbing properties of serums make them ideal for layering underneath moisturizer, makeup, and other products. This, along with the benefits of vitamin C for skin, is probably why many of us are tempted to use our vitamin C serums during the day.

If your skin tends to be reactive to products that contain retinol and similar ingredients, we recommend using your vitamin C serum as a PM-only product.

How To Use Vitamin C Serum

Can You Layer A Vitamin C Serum With Other Skin Care Products

Roushun Vitamin C Serum

Dermatologists love layering products! Klein says. I generally advise going from lowest to highest pH, like using either an alpha or beta hydroxy acid cleanser in the morning followed by the vitamin C serum.

A vitamin C serum will not lose its potency if applied in an incorrect order, but applying lowest to highest pH when layering skin products will increase absorptionand therefore efficacy, according to Klein. Feel free to add peptides, hyaluronic acids, and B5 after the Vitamin C serum. One exception is products with niacinamide. Niacinamide turns into niacin when mixed with Vitamin C, cautions Jaliman. Niacin, although not harmful, can cause short-term skin redness and tingling in people with sensitive skin.

Generally speaking, youll want to use your Vitamin C serum after you cleanse and tone, but before you use moisturizer. Take a few drops in the palm of your hand and massage gently into the skin of your face and neck with your fingertips. This can be done once or twice a day.

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