Drying & Irritation: No Stinging Whatsoever
Vitamin C products are known to cause a stinging sensation when applied, and up until trying this one, Ive experienced everything from a slight sting to intense burning with every other product Ive ever used. However, with TruSkins serum, I experienced absolutely no stinging or irritation whatsoever.
Hands down, its the gentlest vitamin C product I have ever used.
Effects Of Vitamin C Serums
The fact that vitamin C strengthens the immune system and is indispensable for many body functions is certainly nothing new to you. The vitamin can do a lot more. It protects the cells, fights free radicals, and makes the skin radiant and beautiful. And that’s exactly why vitamin C is a miracle cure in cosmetics.
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.
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How Should You Incorporate Vitamin C Into Your Skin
Sara Hogan, M.D., dermatologist at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, previously told SELF that the right time to add vitamin C into your skin-care routine depends on what kind of product it is. As far as serums are concerned, they’re best applied directly after cleansing your skin but before moisturizing it.
Since vitamin C is available in a number of concentrationsfrom below 5% up to 30%it’s important to choose yours wisely depending on your skin type. Dr. Hogan suggested those with dry or sensitive skin stick to lower concentrations, which are usually less irritating, as we mentioned above. Oily skin types, or those who deal with extensive pigmentation issues, can likely handle higher serum intensities to improve tone and texture.
If you use retinol or benzoyl peroxide on a regular basis, dermatologists advise steering clear of using a vitamin C serum at the same time, as the combination can cause it to lose potency. Since it’s more effective to use vitamin C in the morningit becomes unstable once the ingredient is exposed to light, and that’s when UV radiation is at its highestprofessionals recommend using benzoyl peroxide and retinol at night, or on different days of the week for the best results. And if you’re wondering about the effects of using a vitamin C serum along with a different active ingredient you rely on in your skin-care routine, be sure to do some research into whether it makes sense to combine them before you dive in.
Similar Products: You’ve Got Options
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic : The first vitamin C product I ever used consistently was the holy grail of all vitamin C serums, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, and to this day it remains my absolute favorite. Much, much pricier than TruSkins , this baby really works. Formulated with 15% L-ascorbic acida more potent form of C than TruSkins sodium ascorbyl phosphateit works synergistically with vitamin E and ferulic acid to protect against free radicals, improve signs of aging and photodamage, brighten the complexion, and improve the appearance of lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.
Overall, SkinCeuticals serum is a much more potent product and is a bit more irritating. I would recommend it for those whose skin can handle it, or who have already been consistently using vitamin C. Otherwise, TruSkins serum is great for all skin types, including more sensitive ones, and still is an effective radiance-booster at a much more affordable price point.
I wouldnt say that TruSkin Naturals Vitamin C Serum is the most powerful vitamin C serum out there, but over the course of three weeks, it smoothed out my skins texture while leaving it more radiant and glowy. Overall, it was the gentlest vitamin C product Ive ever tried , and I think that those with sensitive or acne-prone skin that typically avoid vitamin C could benefit from it too.
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For Improving Skin Texture: Paula’s Choice C15 Super Booster 36 For 20ml
Part of Paula’s Choice booster range, these drops you add to your moisturiser or serum. They combine 15 per cent vitamin C l-ascorbic acid with vitamin E and ferulic acid as well as skin-smoothing peptides to improve the skin’s texture. Add two to three drops to your skincare routine and watch your glow emerge.
Best Overall Vitamin C Serum
- Standout ingredients: vitamin E, ferulic acid
- Good for: all skin types/dry skin
- Product size: 30-milliliter bottle
Before you gawk at the price, theres a reason this little bottle wins almost every award out there: it features the holy trinity of vitamin C , vitamin E , and ferulic acid . These two extra ingredients play super well with our golden child. Vitamin E helps boost vitamin Cs UV protection power and ferulic acid helps stabilize it .
Beyond its ability to brighten and firm up your skin, this blend has been proven to reduce oxidative damage caused by ozone pollution, diesel engine exhaust, and UVA/UVB rays by up to 41 percent. Bottom line: this serum has your back.
This little bottle has quite a bit of hype around it too with thousands of Google reviews. One reviewer went as far as to say they cant live without it. So be prepared to maybe fall in love, which could be costly.
- Standout ingredients: EGCG , squalane, tartaric acid
- Good for: dark spots and discoloration
- Product size: 30-mL bottle
This creamy serum delivers full-strength 20 percent L-ascorbic acid, the most effective form of topical vitamin C.
This intense dose still suitable for sensitive skin, BTW evens out skin tone and texture thanks to tartaric acid , squalane , and EGCG, a green tea active that works with vitamin C to minimize signs of aging.
- Standout ingredients: vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, methylsulfonylmethane
- Good for: all skin types
- Product size: 30-mL bottle
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The Best Vitamin C Serums Of 2019 According To Skincare Experts
What is Vitamin C serum good for and how do you use it? If youve wondered what the heck does Vitamin C serum do for your skin, youre not alone. In fact, interest in Vitamin C serums has spiked in recent years, with searches more than doubling since Jan. 2017.
Its no surprise given the marketing of popular brands like Drunk Elephants C-Firma Day Serum and Perricone MDs Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum. With splashy packaging slapped with advertising-worthy benefits like reducing fine lines and wrinkles, diminishing dark spots and vanishing redness, its easy to give in to the hype. But, what do dermatologists think of this so-called skin superfood?
Turns out, Vitamin C actually is the powerhouse ingredient it claims to be, says esthetician Melissa Lekus of Melissa Lekus Skincare Consulting. Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in the body fighting free radicals to slow the aging process, Lekus told HuffPost. It can help lighten pigmentation, prevents the breakdown and increases collagen production.
Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in the body fighting free radicals to slow the aging process.
– Melissa Lekus, Melissa Lekus Skincare Consulting
A post shared by SkinCeuticals on Jul 30, 2018 at 3:50pm PDT
This pricey, cult-favorite is great under daily sunscreen and makeup, and can be reapplied to clean skin at bedtime, says dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse of Rapaport Dermatology.
Not all Vitamin Cs are equal.
– Susie Wang, 100% PURE
This Is Why Vitamin C Serums Are Good For The Skin
They are currently the trend on the anti-aging market and should not only conjure up a radiant complexion but also be miracle weapons against wrinkles – the vitamin C serums. What is certain: Vitamin C is an essential vitamin that occurs naturally in many types of vegetables and fruits. It not only strengthens our immune system, but it also contributes to an even and beautiful complexion and gives the skin a youthful elasticity.
It is essential for our health that we get enough vitamin C through our diet every day. While the active ingredient can also be beneficial for health when applied externally, skincare with vitamin C does not replace the daily vitamin C requirement that we have to take in through our diet.
The vitamin C that you encounter in serums is produced synthetically and is called a derivative. Ideally, it is the so-called “purest” form of vitamin C – ascorbic acid. It is the richest in substance and contains all health-promoting effects.
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How Vitamin C Serum Benefits Wrinkles
Vitamin C doesnt just work in one way to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Rather, it has a two-pronged method of keeping skin firm and bouncy.
For starters, as a photoprotective ingredient, vitamin C has been shown to inhibit the activation of the protein AP-1, which can help reduce collagen damage from UV exposure. , says Plescia. In dampening this protein, vitamin C halts a domino effect that could otherwise lead to both collagen degradation and reduced collagen production. In fact, says Plescia, one controlled study found that using 10% topical vitamin C over a 12-week period showed a reduction in photoaged scores and improvement in wrinkling in vitamin C-treated patients as compared to placebo.
Then, theres the second advantage: It can help keep collagen production running smoothly. Vitamin C also has an intrinsic skin-smoothing effect, as it directly activates and helps regulate the factors involved in collagen synthesis, says Plescia.
Sunday Riley Ceo Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
If you’re a skincare fanatic, you may have already fallen in love with Sunday Riley’s bestselling Good Genes serum. But don’t overlook the brand’s vitamin C serum, which also has a cult following. Vitamin C from 15% tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate brightens, while glycolic acid gently exfoliates to prevent dead skin cells from accumulating. Plus: Want to try both products at once? We recommend their Bright Young Thing kit, which has smaller sizes of C.E.O., Good Genes, and Tidal, Sunday Riley’s soothing gel moisturizer.
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Loral 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
LOréal claims this vitamin C serum can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve skin appearance overall.
Formulated without fragrance, mineral oil, or water, the face serum is sold in an air-tight tube to protect and maximize the effectiveness of the vitamin C content, which has a potency of 10%.
This serum is suitable for all skin types.
At the time of publishing, this sells on the manufacturers website for $29.99.
Best Vitamin C Serums Of 2021
Beyond shopping at the usual beauty retailers , Ulta and Dermstore you can order vitamin C serums directly from brands like Ghost Democracy, INNBeauty PROJECTS and Maya Chia. Popular beauty companies, including L’Oréal and The Ordinary, sell affordable vitamin C serums . If you’re looking to invest in your skin care routine, consider luxury brands like Revision Skincare and Barbara Sturm.
To help guide your search for a vitamin C serum, weve compiled expert-recommended vitamin C serums and a few highly rated options otherwise, ranging from -approved formulas to a new and notable launch.
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Best Clean Beauty: Drunk Elephant C
Drunk Elephant has established itself as a beauty brand dedicated to using clean yet effective ingredients. Just ask the many beauty editors, influencers, and fans part of their cult-like following. Their C-Firma Day Serum is the perfect example of clean beauty at its finest.
This lightweight but antioxidant- and nutrient-rich treatment does not include ingredients the brand believes is the root of most skin issuesessential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Instead, their vitamin c serum offers 15% potent antioxidant complex15% L-Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid and 1% Vitamin Ea cocktail which helps fight environmental skin stressors, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and helps replenish the skinalong with exfoliating pumpkin ferment extract and pomegranate enzymes.
How Does Nourishmax Triple Vitamin C Serum Work
There are some superb and useful ingredients in this product, which help it work amazingly.
v Leaf Extract of Psidium Guajava . This super fruit is high in vitamins A and C, making it a powerful antioxidant that aids in the reduction of oxidative stress, which can cause skin damage and aging.
Glycerin. Glycerin is a humectant and moisturizer recognized for its ability to attract water to the skin.
Complex Vitamin C. A stable and effective blend of Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate makes up a strong complex.
Leaf Juice of Aloe Barbadensis . The soothing properties of aloe leaf juice help to regulate and relax the skin.
Extract of Physalis Angulata . Yeast fermentation produces this pure, extremely efficient version of CoQ10. It acts as a potent antioxidant, assisting in the battle against free radical damage.
Nonapeptide-1. On the skin, this energetic peptide offers an anti-fatigue impact. It helps the skin look more alive and radiant by combating dullness.
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About My Skin: Vitamin C Helps It Look Its Best
It still surprises me that just a few months ago, I had never bothered using vitamin C products consistently. Now? I cant live without them. I have pretty normal skin that can get a bit dry depending on the season, but my main concerns are fighting signs of aging and keeping my skins texture nice and smooth. Now that Im beginning to notice faint fine lines forming around my eyes and sun damage in the form of freckles and small spots is becoming more apparent, I rely on brightening and re-texturizing vitamin C serums to keep me looking smooth, radiant, and even-toned while boosting my collagen production.
I typically use vitamin C during my morning routine, applying it after I cleanse and before any moisturizers/oils and SPF, though sometimes Ill choose to apply in the evening instead. For this review, I swapped out my usual, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, for TruSkins serum over the course of three weeks, usually applying in the morning. I also used it in tandem with Sdaras Derma Roller once or twice a week in the evenings.
Who Should Use A Vitamin C Serum On Their Skin
According to the study in Nutrients, vitamin C can help protect the skin from many problems, including sunburn, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and an uneven skin tone. Anyone dealing with these skin issues may want to consider adding a vitamin C serum to their skincare regimen. But its a good idea to get started even if these issues havent crept up yet. While its often presented as an anti-aging ingredient, the best time to prevent aging is before it occurs, Schlessinger says.
Saedi recommends vitamin C serums for people of all ages because virtually everyone is at risk of sun damage, and with vitamin C serums we are minimizing the amount of sun damage that our skins getting from sunlight, she says.She says it does double duty of both protecting the skin and helping problem areas recover. Its preventative in that its protecting you from sun damage and signs of aging like wrinkles, Saedi says. It also helps promote collagen and boost your natural collagen formation.
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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.
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
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Vitamin C Serums Prevent Wrinkles
There are several really good reasons why vitamin C is touted primarily as an anti-aging miracle drug. Vitamin C plays a central role in building and maintaining collagen. For one, vitamin C stops free radicals and prevents them from damaging collagen. On the other hand, vitamin C also actively participates in the development of new connective tissue.
Collagen is a protein that is responsible for the elasticity of our body tissue. Together with other active ingredients, the protein forms a framework around our cells and thus maintains elasticity and body shape. While young people still form sufficient collagen on their own and do not need any external support, the build-up is significantly weaker in older skin. From the age of 25, the skin loses its elasticity and becomes more prone to wrinkles.
Vitamin C serums have been shown to promote the build-up of collagen so that it builds up again. This inhibits premature aging of the skin. At the same time, smaller wrinkles are smoothed. Because vitamin C serums provide the skin with additional moisture and allow it to swell slightly, which in turn smooths out unevenness.
