Prepare Your Skin For The Application
Before you even think of applying vitamin C serum to your skin, you have to prepare your skin first by cleaning it. Applying vitamin C on an unclean skin cant be as effective as applying it on clean skin.
To clean your skin, splash cool water on it and wash with a mild cleanser. Massage the cleanser on your skin for some minutes and rinse it off with clean water.
Note: When you do this, ensure that the cleanser you use for this works for your skin.
- If you have a dry skin, use a cleanser that has ingredients like glycerin and ceramides.
- For oily skin, wash your skin with a cleanser that contains ingredients like salicylic acid.
- For sensitive skin, ensure that your cleanser is fragrance-free.
What Does Vitamin C Serum Do For Your Skin
Vitamin C serums are so important to have among your skin care products that it almost makes more sense to ask, what benefits doesnt vitamin c serum provide for your skin and face? Youve probably seen these serums on top 10 must-have lists in beauty magazines or skincare blogs, and its no big surprise why.
Using vitamin C as a part of a complete skin care routine is kind of like how orange juice is a part of your complete breakfast. Vitamin C makes your beauty regimen and your breakfast that much better.
Now, who wants a mimosa? Wait first lets focus on some of the many benefits that vitamin C can bring to your skin and face. Actually, theres no rule that says you cant sip and see words at the same time, so go ahead and do what you will while you read.
Vitamin C, also referred to as ascorbic acid or l ascorbic acid, has several beauty-boosting benefits for your skin and face. Whether you use it night or day, serum with vitamin C can be one of the best additions to your skincare routine. The roles of vitamin C in skin care health are plentiful and potent. So lets go into a little more detail about what you need to know for skin health and wellness.
Give Your Face The Benefit Of Exfoliation
Our skin is the largest organ of the body. It consists of water, minerals, protein, lipids, and other chemicals. Its there to protect us from infections and just generally keep the insides in and the outside out. With the weight of all those responsibilities, its no wonder our skin cells tap out after a certain amount of time, and hand the job over to the next shift.
We already know that our skin changes as we age, but we may not all be aware that it regenerates itself around every 27 days. That means the older cells wither and die , and fresh cells are exposed, leading to a healthier, more youthful glow. Skin cell regeneration is a naturally occurring process, but sometimes we need to nudge it along to allow the newer cells to make their way to the surface sooner.
Heres where vitamin C comes in to save the day once again. Since vitamin C is acidic, using vitamin C skin care products will help slough off dead skin cells. This exposes fresher cells and enhances the skins ability to regenerate new ones. When you use vitamin c topically it can also accelerate elastin and collagen production, adding to the overall anti-aging benefits for your face.
As you can see, the roles of vitamin C in skin health are varied and very important. If all these benefits dont persuade you to use one or more forms of vitamin C for your skin and face, then Im not sure what will.
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Vitamin C Benefits Include Brightening Your Day And Your Complexion
Apparently, consistency is a challenge even for our skin. While not everyone deals with the frustration of blotchy skin, or random dark spots, its a considerable concern for many people.
Vitamin C benefits include helping hyperpigmentation fade away so that your skins tone and coloration becomes more even over time. Hyperpigmentation occurs when melanin production goes into hyperdrive and is overproduced in certain areas. Sunspots, age spots, and melasma all come under that category of Hyperpigmentation.
You may have also heard the term chloasma, or pregnancy mask, which is when Melasma occurs in pregnant women. There may also be hyperpigmentation on areas of the face that were previously prone to acne and just when you thought youd be in the clear!
Vitamin C serums can start to address some of these issues caused by excess or erratic melanin production. The application of a topical Vitamin C formula in some subjects has been shown to slow melanin production. One medically reviewed publication suggests that vitamin Cs inhibition of melanin production may be due to the vitamins ability to reduce the ortho-quinones generated by tyrosinase. So if you want to get real specific and scientific about it, that is one assessment of the inner workings of the skin. And if youve already forgotten the words you just read, you can rest assured that The C and its benefits will still work its magic for you, whether or not you aced Chemistry class.
So Should You Use Vitamin C In The Morning Or Night
While its all down to your skin , most prefer to apply vitamin C serums in the morning because of its antioxidant properties, as it helps defend against pollutants and free radicals. However, never forget to follow with SPF to protect your skin against sun damage.
If your skin tends to verge on the sensitive side, then using vitamin C at nighttime is advisable. During sleep, the skin repair process is at its most optimal so therefore nighttime use of vitamin C is preferable as it will have the biggest impact on your skin.
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What Is A Vitamin C Serum Exactly And Whats In It
A vitamin C serum is a skin-care product packed with vitamin C. It has the consistency of a liquid or gel, and is applied topically to the skin. Youll find these serums wherever you normally purchase skin-care products at department stores, beauty stores, and some drug stores, too. On the packaging, youll likely see words touting skin benefits like firming, brightening, and collagen boosting. Tapping into those benefits is the main reason to add a vitamin C serum to your skin-care routine.
The benefit of vitamin C is its an antioxidant, so it helps prevent the forming of free radicals, which go on to break down collagen and elastin, Saedi says. The result, she says, is glowing, youthful skin.
How To Use A Vitamin C Serum And Reap Its Benefits
Saedi says to apply a few drops of serum to your face after you wash and dry it. A little bit goes a really long way, she says. She recommends putting it on every morning, all year round. It has some benefits with sun exposure so it helps to apply in the morning as the first layer of protection, she says. She says to then layer on your moisturizer and sunscreen. Serums are better than adding drops of vitamin C boosters to your moisturizer, Saedi says. They may not be as potent as serums themselves and mixing them with moisturizer may dilute the effects.
Store your bottle in a cool, dark place away from extreme heat, such as a bathroom cabinet as opposed to on your counter. Storing a vitamin C serum correctly is integral to its success, Schlessinger says. A good rule of thumb is to toss the serum six months after its been opened and to keep the serum in a cool, dark place. If youre using it according to the instructions, itll likely be gone before the six months is up. If not, youll want to throw it out. When vitamin C is used past its shelf life, it can actually have negative effects, Schlessinger says. More on that next.
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Treating Skin Issues With Vitamin C Serum
Did You Know? If you’re using a topical acne treatment that contains vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, it might make the vitamin C serum less effective.
How To Combine Vitamin C Retinol And Hyaluronic Acid
Unless your skincare routine doesnt go beyond using the most basic cleanser and moisturizer , theres already a strong possibility that youre using vitamin C, retinol and/or hyaluronic acid to help keep your skin looking its best. These popular ingredients can be found in loads of skincare products and offer compelling complexion benefits. To find out how to use them together, we consulted with board-certified dermatologists and Skincare.com consultants Dr. Erin Gilbert, Dr. Dendy Engelman, and Dr. Ted Lain.
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Should Vitamin C Be Used In The Morning Or At Night
While theres a lot of conflicting information out there about when its best to use vitamin C, most experts would agree that to reap the most rewards, it should be incorporated into your AM regime. Its a must-have in any morning routine because it provides the bodys natural antioxidant system with a boost to help it fight off free-radicals shielding the skin from their damaging effects, explains Isaacs.
Best Vitamin C Serum For Dark Spots
Summer Fridays CC Me Serum
Featuring two different versions of Vitamin C, this serum most definitely leaves skin visibly brighterit faded two stubborn hyperpigmentation spots on my assistants cheek.
The formula is vegan and cruelty-free, which is always a bonus. Plus, its packed with squalane, which boosts glow and protects against free radicals.
While this multi-tasking serum packs a punch ingredient-wise, its still ultra gentle.
Unlike many Vitamin C serums, this one is slippery and scentless.
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Best Vitamin C Serums To Fade Dark Spots And Discoloration
Select is editorially independent. Our editors selected these deals and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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 .
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
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Look At The Overall Formulation Of Your Product
There are different types of vitamin C that you might see pop up in different types of products. Some of these are more stable than others, meaning they wont oxidize as quickly, and some of them have different properties that can make them more suited to certain skin types.
For example, L-ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbyl phosphate are water-soluble, meaning theyre more likely to show up in products that are lighter and better suited to oilier skin. Check out BeautyBio the Daily Vitamin C Day Serum With Antioxidant Complex , Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum , or SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF .
If you have dry, mature skin, Dr. Hogan recommends looking for more moisturizing products containing lipid-soluble forms of vitamin C, like ascorbyl palmitate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. For something containing these ingredients, look into Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil , the Ordinary Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F , or Obagi Clinical Vitamin C Eye Brightener .
Skincare And Life Lessons From Drmtlgy
Essentially, what all of this means is that moderation is key. Using too much or too little of a good thing means that more of the product will go to waste, even with your best intentions.Don’t be shy to finish it up. Because of its relatively shorter shelf life, you definitely don’t want to save your vitamin C serum for a rainy day. Skincare is meant to be used — and it looks and works best on your skin, not in the bottle.
Get in touch with our skincare experts for any other questions you might have about your favorite DRMTLGY products, and you might even see your next question addressed in a future blog post!
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How And When To Use Vitamin C Serum: Day Or Night
Where do we even begin with Vitamin C serums? It appears to be everyones favorite vitamin, its in numerous serums for the face now, and its so cool that even a pop singer in the 90s went by the name Vitamin C.
Apparently naming yourself after nutrients gave you a lot of street cred back then. Well, Sesame street cred, perhaps. But in a way, Vitamin C is one tough cookie, and cookie starts with C. Darn you, Cookie Monster! That earworm has been with me since childhood. But I digress.
Vitamin C has many scientifically proven benefits, whether its being consumed through our favorite foods, in supplements, or applied topically.
Vitamin C protects our bodies from problems like cardiovascular disease, immune system deficiencies, and contributes to our overall health from the outer layers of our skin, all the way down to our bones.
So what does vitamin c do for your skin?
For our purposes here, lets focus on the how and when to use of Vitamin C on the skin, and all the uses and benefits it can bring. Applied topically, vitamin C serums can hydrate and brighten your skin.
Vitamin C promotes collagen production, which is great for keeping skin looking firm, and can even help heal wounds. Who doesnt like the sound of that?
Vitamin C is one of the more powerful antioxidants that protects skin cells. The way it works is Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals by readily donating electrons. And thats a good thing, since free radicals cause inflammation and oxidative stress.
How To Store Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C serums are available in two categories, water-based and anhydrous . Water-based serums tend to be unstable and sensitive to light. For this reason, theyre often sold in opaque or amber-colored bottles.
Anhydrous serums are more stable even when exposed to sunlight. Regardless of which type you choose, make sure its stored in a stable environment. Vogue explains that the bottles should be kept airtight and preferably in a dark, cool place.
Keep in mind, if your serum becomes cloudy or darkened in color, or if it has a rancid odor, then this is an indication that the serum has oxidized.
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