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.
What Is Vitamin C
Vitamin C, which also goes by ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid, is a vitamin that isnt actually produced by the body. Instead, the only way to get it is through supplements or your diet citrus fruits like oranges are famously rich in vitamin C. And it has vital functions throughout the body. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient in tissue repair and the enzymatic production of various transmitters, says Dr. Patricia Wexler, a dermatologist in New York City.
While you can certainly eat your way to a healthy vitamin C intake, your skin in particular reaps the biggest benefits when its applied topically versus ingested via an oral supplement or your diet, no many how much grapefruit you eat. Topically, its 20 times more potent than the oral intake, says Wexler.
What Does Vitamin C Serum Do
To understand how vitamin C works, you first have to understand free radicals. These natural molecules arent bad on their own, but they can become a problem when they build up. In high numbers, they can break cells down over time, contributing to illness and aging.
Antioxidants help fight free radicals, though, keeping everything in balance. Vitamin C is one such antioxidant. When used on the skin, it can combat signs of aging. It decreases hyperpigmentation, evens out your skin tone, reduces wrinkles, and protects your skin from sun damage.
If youre interested in trying vitamin C serum but arent sure how to pick one, dont worry! We rounded up 10 great options for you.
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What Are The Benefits Of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that prevents free radicles from breaking down collagen and elastin, Dr. Patel explains. You can tell if your serum is working after a week of using.
She adds that your skin should be smoother, softer and more glowy and maybe a few dark spots lighter, as if you have had an exfoliation upon consistent use.
Over months there should be a decrease in dark spots and a thickening of the skin, she adds. There may be fewer breakouts as well.
First What Is Vitamin C
Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant that plays important roles in immune function and skin health due to its protective and free radical-fighting capabilities. Although it is crucial for these biological functions, humans are not able to synthesize vitamin C in the body, so it has to be obtained through diet, explains Good Housekeeping Institute Registered Dietitian Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.
There are unique skin benefits to getting your vitamin C through food or supplements or topically. When taken orally, it can promote collagen growth and help accelerate the healing process of wounds, says Registered Dietitian Amy Fischer, M.S., R.D., C.D.N. In other words, it helps to maintain overall skin health. Topical vitamin C is better at delivering the ingredient directly to skin, visibly improving the look of skinby brightening and firming while protecting from environmental stressors bombarding the barrier.
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How To Choose A Vitamin C Serum
I want to give you 3 practical pieces of advice to pick vitamin c serums for the face.
1) Choose the active keeping in mind that even though ascorbic acid might be the most effective one, it is also the one thats the most unstable and potentially irritant. Personally I wouldnt opt for pure ascorbic acid as youre probably paying for something that has been already degraded. As of now, June 2020 Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is the best option.
2) Buy only from reputable companies not from marketers.
Sadly, the beauty industry is filled with fairness. Fake reviews, fake picture, and fake products. Some people know how to leverage *powerfully shady marketing techniques to make you buy stuff. Then they build a brand using these techniques. They only focus on profit giving you products that oftentimes are nothing but water with 2 or 3 drops of some other ingredients with strong selling names.
How do you recognizes them? You recognize these con artist by the way they speak or write information on their products. Youre smart. You can tell when someone doesnt know what theyre talking about! Buying from a reputable company increases your chances of success in finding a product that works for you.
3) Give it time to work.
Apply the vitamin c serum once or twice a day and see what happens. Take pictures every 2 or 3 days to document any improvement.
4) Add niacinamide to your routine.
When To Use It In Your Skincare Routine
But at what point in your skin care routine should you use vit C?
First things first: always follow the instructions on the products label. Vitamin C serum is typically applied once or twice per day, after toner but before moisturizer and SPF. .
Remember our ingredients to avoid above: AHAs, BHAs, and retinol can all cause serious irritation if used with vitamin C. AHAs and BHAs can even change the pH balance of your serum and render it useless. If you plan on using any of these ingredients, consider using them at night and applying your vitamin C in the morning. That way, you get the best of both worlds.
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Best Vitamin C Serums To Fade Dark Spots And Discoloration
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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 .
What Are Vitamin Cs Benefits For Skin
In short: everything. For one, vitamin C promotes collagen production, which has the potential to thicken the dermis, diminish fine lines, and is essential for firm, youthful skin, Wexler says. On top of that, vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure.
It also inhibits melanin production in the skin, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out skin tone, and enhance skin radiance. Finally, vitamin C helps to repair damage from sun exposure and collagen loss by encouraging healthy cell turnover and regeneration, says Wexler.
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You Can Use Vitamin C With Retinol But Be Cautious
In the past it was thought that you should avoid using vitamin C products with retinoids at all costs. And that is still sort of true. They work best in different skin environments, so using them at the same time may make both less effective. And because they can have similar effects on the skin, experts do still advise against using these two ingredients together, Dr. Hogan says.
Using them in the same part of your routine can cause irritation, Dr. Lamb says, but its okay to use them on the same day at different times. Experts generally advise using vitamin C products in the morning and retinoids at night.
Potential Side Effects And Risks Of Vitamin C Serums
Vitamin C is a safe and generally well-tolerated ingredient. The only risk is some of these serums have so many different ingredients in them, Saedi says, adding that these extra ingredients may result in an allergic reaction for some.
Most of the studies mentioned above reported that study subjects had no irritation or negative reactions. The only exception is those with sensitive skin. The 2015 study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology found that 6 percent of study participants experienced itchiness, which the researchers said was likely due to the acidity of vitamin C. Schlessinger says people with very sensitive skin should consult with a dermatologist before use since potent forms of vitamin C can sometimes irritate sensitive skin.
According to the Indian Dermatology Online Journal study, a vitamin C serum may result in yellowing of the skin or clothes, stinging, or dryness, though those effects are rare. The researchers advise people take caution when applying around the eyes.
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How To Choose And Use The Best Vitamin C Serum
Go for pure vitamin C: Your product should say L-ascorbic acid on the label, says , M.D., a dermatologist practicing in Charleston, SC. L-ascorbic acid mixes well with other forms of vitamin C, too, like ascorbyl glucoside and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. They feed out the vitamin C at different rates, allowing long-term protection with less irritation, she adds.
Spot standout ingredients: The perfect vitamin C serum has additional antioxidants, like green tea polyphenols, vitamin E, or ferulic acid. Products that contain L-ascorbic acid along with other antioxidants offer the most protection against skin damage because there are lots of different types of free radicals that break down collagen, Dr. Germain says. Its a little like food: You dont want to eat only one thing, even if that one thing is healthy.
Look for A+ packaging: Vitamin C is the diva of the skincare world, meaning its super unstable and loses its power if you store it in a well-lit, humid place . Any vitamin C product that turns brown or discolored is breaking down and should be returned, says Dr. Germain. This is why youll often see vitamin C serums in dark or opaque bottles.
Still, there are so many different vitamin C serums to choose from, so which one should you use? Dont stress, we asked dermatologists for their favorites to make the search a little easier. Apply one of these vitamin C serums in the morning after cleansingbut before sunscreen for the best results.
How To Use It
Apply vitamin C as a serum in the mornings that is, after cleansing and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. I think the best vitamin C skin care products are serums because they are more effective at penetrating the skin barrier than, say, a cream or toner, says Chapas.
Then, be patient. Most skin care products take time to start working, and vitamin C takes a little longer, even with daily use. According to Wexler, you wont notice any significant changes in your skin for six to eight weeks. If you have sensitive skin, do a skin test first, as the high acidity can be irritating.
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Dont Use Vitamin C With Certain Other Ingredients
Vitamin C is generally pretty safe and well tolerated, but if you have sensitive skin, it might sting a little bitespecially if you use it in the same part of your routine as exfoliating scrubs or acids.
The one ingredient you should steer clear of when using vitamin C is benzoyl peroxide, which can oxidize the vitamin C and, therefore, make it less potent, Dr. Hogan says. You can still use your benzoyl peroxide products, just not in the same part of your routine as the vitamin C. Try using vitamin C in the morning and benzoyl peroxide in the evenings, or use them on different days.
Fiction: The More Vitamin C The Better
When products have concentrations of L-Ascorbic Acid that are too high, skin can experience irritation. Kiehls selects the best forms of Vitamin C at concentrations that are both efficacious and gentle. Our products are then dermatologist-tested for safety, demonstrating the appropriateness of our formulas for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
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Our Vitamin C Serum Active Ingredients
So when looking at the ingredients of a Vitamin C Serum, you need to make sure that they check those 3 boxes. For example, at Firstbase Skincare, we use Willow Bark Extract to exfoliate, Acmella Oleracea Extract to relax the skin, Lotus Flower Extract to nourish it and Baobab Extract to moisturize and protect the skin.
How Does Vitamin C Serum Help With Acne
Acne is a skin condition characterized by inflamed and blocked pores. They lead to swelling, redness, and sometimes pustules or bumps with pus in them. Acne can also leave your skin with post-inflammatory scars, which damages the skin.
No research ties dietary vitamin C with reduced acne levels but it may help with general skin health. However, there is limited research to suggest that the application of vitamin C on the skin can improve this condition.
May reduce inflammation caused by acne. Some of the risk factors for acne are genetics, age, and hormones. In some other situations, skin bacterium may trigger the condition.
Vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the redness and swelling that comes with acne. The results are more pronounced when you use the vitamin topically. It, therefore, helps improve the appearance of acne wounds.
It may help reduce hyperpigmentation. Acne causes your skin to develop darkened spots around the affected area. This is called hyperpigmentation. Other causes are UV rays and skin injuries. Vitamin C is known to reduce hyperpigmentation by reducing the effects of the tyrosine enzyme. The enzyme is responsible for the production of melanin that gives your skin its color.
Vitamin C also functions as a brightening agent. It has properties that reduce dark spots without changing your skin color. Combining vitamin C serums with other brightening agents like iontophoresis can significantly enhance the results.
Continued
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Vitamin C Serum For Anti
One of the key ingredients in our Vitamin C Serum for anti-aging is Lotus Extract. Traditionally used in Asian countries for its medicinal purposes, we found it to be a powerful ingredient in our own Vitamin C Serum.
While other skincare products might use artificial ingredients that could damage your skin barrier, Lotus Extract is a natural ingredient absolutely rich with polyphenol, vitamins, antioxidants and flavonoids.
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum
Leave it to the scientists at SkinCeuticals to buck the system: While you should remain skeptical of any eye-dropper deliveries of ascorbic acid, this is the exception. Theyve balanced the formula meticulously with Vitamin E and ferulic acid youre going to get every dollars worth here. This one isnt formulated for oily skin, so its best reserved for anyone left of that on the spectrum, and will especially brighten dry and sensitive types. One curiously fun aspect of it, too, is that it even smells sciency, not in a bad way. Upon application, youll feel like a skincare chemist as it lingers on the senses for a few secondsnot to mention, when it impacts your complexion positively for weeks to come.
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How Effective Is Vitamin C Serum In An Oily Skin
- Vitamin C serum is a powerful antioxidant that oily acne-prone skin can benefit from majorly.
- It helps treat inflammation associated with acne, treats damaged skin, and brightens skin while improving skin texture and health.
- Vitamin C serum is necessary for healthy oily skin, and apart from consuming it in our various food, topical application can produce excellent results.
- This vitamin C serum is also an essential ingredient that eradicates premature signs of aging and maintains the skins youthful glow.
- Vitamin C serum is safe and effective for oily skin and all skin types.
- The human body does not produce vitamin C, and although it is found in many foods , the epidermis only benefits from a very small amount of it.
- Vitamin C serum is a powerful antioxidant that oily and acne-prone skin can benefit from its effective nature.
- It helps treat inflammation associated with acne, treats damaged skin, and brightens skin while improving skin texture and health Vitamin C serums are the best ingredients for oily skincare.
- Therefore, your oily skincare routine should include vitamin c serum as it would do an amazing job in rejuvenating the skin.
Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair 20% Vitamin C Serum Capsules
This rich serum comes in single-dose, biodegradable capsule to limit the amount of product being put on the skin at one time so you apply the perfect amount, explains Joshua Zeichner, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. The capsule also helps maintain the potency and efficacy of the highly sensitive vitamin C by shielding it from air and UV light.
11. Kiehls Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate
This classic concentrate was recently reformulated to include a higher dose of vitamin C thanks to the addition of that ascorbyl glucoside . Because it contains superstar moisturizers like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, your thirsty skin will instantly feel quenched. Our favorite part? The silky-smooth formula feels like it melts straight into your skin.
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