How to Apply Vitamin C Serum Effectively for Anti-aging Purposes

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The product you decide to use for your skin is not the only determinant of the result you get from using it. How you apply your skincare products is very important as well.

Ahead of this article, you will learn how to apply vitamin C serum effectively for anti-aging purposes.

Vitamin C is one of the best anti-aging skincare ingredients to exist. Applying vitamin C serum to your skin helps to rejuvenate your skin by encouraging your skin cells to produce more collagen in your skin tissues.

Adding vitamin C serum to your skincare routine will help to transform your dull skin into radiant-looking skin by giving your body the youthful glow it needs. 

How to Apply Vitamin C Serum Correctly on Your Skin

Applying your vitamin C serum incorrectly will reduce the impact of the serum on your skin and might even lead to side effects such as skin irritation.

Learning to apply vitamin C serum correctly is important and will influence the result you get from using the serum on your skin.

You can apply your vitamin C serum to your skin at night or in your morning skincare routine. To use your vitamin C serum, simply squeeze out a few drops and rub them on your skin.

Below is an elaborate guide on how to correctly apply vitamin C serum to your skin.  

1. Do a Patch Test on Your Skin

Before you incorporate the vitamin C serum into your skincare routine, the first thing to do is test it on your skin. Doing a patch test will help you to check for allergic reactions or side effects that may arise after using the product. 

Even though vitamin C serums are generally safe to use for all skin types, your skin reacts uniquely to products and that is exactly why you need to conduct a patch test to confirm and check for skin reactions.

Don’t wait until you have applied it to a large part of your skin, conducting a patch test is very crucial; to check for any signs of the allergy reaction to the serum. 

The best area of the skin to test the serum is your wrist because the skin on the wrist is sensitive and will quickly show any sign of irritation on the skin. 

How to do it: 

  • Start this process by cleaning your inner wrist.
  • Squeeze out a drop of the vitamin C serum on your wrist and rub it in.
  • Allow it to sit on your skin for 24 hours.
  • Wash your wrist after 24 hours.

If you do not see or notice any irritation on your wrist before and after washing your wrist, you can proceed to begin the application process.  

Note: If any irritation occurs on your skin after applying the vitamin C serum on your skin, wash your skin with clean water and do not continue usage of the serum. You can contact a dermatologist for help. 

2. Clean Your Skin

The first step in every skincare routine is the preparation of the skin for the application of skincare products. This is done by cleaning the body. You want to apply your vitamin C serum on clean skin, right? 

Go ahead and clean your skin by splashing cool water on your skin and applying a gentle cleanser to cleanse your skin. Rinse your skin with clean water after a few minutes of rubbing the cleanser on your skin. 

Note: Make sure that the cleanser you use for this is one that works well on your skin type; to avoid irritating your skin. 

If you have dry skin, make sure that your cleanser contains ingredients such as glycerin and ceramides. 

For oily skin, make use of a cleanser with an active ingredient like salicylic acid.

If your skin is sensitive, make sure your cleanser doesn’t contain fragrance.

3. Use a Clean Towel to Dry Your Skin

Although you need your skin to be damp for the application of your vitamin C serum, you do not need it to be dripping wet. Use a dry towel to dry your skin after washing it.

Do this with a clean towel or any clean piece of clothing. Make sure to do it gently.

4. Apply Your Toner

After drying your skin with a clean towel, bring out your toner and apply it to your skin. To do this, you need a cotton ball or swab. 

How to do it:

  • Soak your cotton ball in facial toner dipping the cotton ball into the bottle of your toner.
  • Rub the cotton ball across the area of the skin you are applying your vitamin C serum to and ensure that it is evenly distributed all over your skin.
  • While you do this, try as much as possible to not get any toner into your eyes.

5. Apply Vitamin C Serum on Your Skin

Now is the time to apply your vitamin C serum. Only apply two to three drops of vitamin C serum on your skin. Do not apply too much of it; to avoid irritating your skin. 

How to do it:

  • Get hold of your vitamin C serum.
  • Squeeze out two to three drops of vitamin C serum from your dropper into your palm.
  • Dip the fingertips of your other palm into the serum.
  • Pat the serum on your fingertips your forehead, cheeks, and other parts of your body.
  • Rub the serum into your skin. 
  • You can also use your palm to rub in the serum instead of your fingertips. 
  • Massage the serum for your skin to absorb it.

6. Use Your Moisturizer

Follow up the routine by applying your favorite moisturizer on your skin after applying your vitamin C serum. Do this after 10 to 15 minutes of applying your serum.

Waiting for a few minutes before applying moisturizer will give your skin enough time to absorb the serum. 

7. Apply Sunscreen

Finish up your morning application routine by applying sunscreen of SPF 30 and above. This will help to protect your skin from sunburns and UV ray damage when you go outdoors during the day. 

Other Useful Application Tips

  • You can apply your vitamin C serum to your skin twice daily; in the morning and before going to bed.
  • If you have dry sensitive skin, it is better to only apply vitamin C serum on your skin once daily. It could be in the evening or during your morning routine. 
  • Wait for 15 minutes before applying your serum if your facial toner contains benzoyl peroxide.

Benefits of Applying Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C is usually an important part of your dietary plans but the only way your skin can benefit from all the amazing anti-aging effects of vitamin C is through the use of vitamin C serum directly on the skin.

Below are the benefits of using vitamin C serum on your skin. 

1. It protects the skin against free radicals

Using vitamin C serum on your skin will help to fight environmental aggressors such as dirt, pollution, and UV rays and stop them from damaging the skin. 

Vitamin C contains antioxidant properties that will help to fight against free radicals and also stop them from discovering the skin or causing further damage to it by neutralizing them and making them harmless to the skin. 

2. Encourages collagen production in skin cells

Using vitamin C serum on your skin will help to boost collagen and elastin production in your skin cells. The increase in the production of collagen helps the skin to repair blemishes in the skin; this boosts the appearance of your skin. 

This boost is what makes vitamin C an anti-aging ingredient because as there is an increase in collagen production, there is automatically an increase of the elastic fiber in your skin cells, thus helping to restore firmness to affected areas of the skin.

3. Works well for skin hydration 

Using vitamin C serum on your skin will help to maintain your skin’s moisture. Vitamin C contains active properties that will help to keep your skin healthy and smooth. 

4. Glows up skin complexion

The anti-aging properties in a vitamin C serum will help to clear off dark spots on your skin smoothen your skin and give you an even skin tone. Vitamin C is well known for its brightening effect on dull skin; it gives your skin a lovely glow.

5. Prevents the skin from developing acne

Acne is caused by the inflammation that occurs on the skin as a result of attacks from free radicals and environmental aggressors. The anti-inflammatory properties in a vitamin C serum helps to soothe inflammation on the skin.

However, the antioxidant properties in vitamin C serum will help to protect the skin from free radicals that cause the formation of acne on the skin. 

The increase in collagen production in the skin which is promoted by the use of vitamin C; helps to lessen the visibility of acne scars on the skin. 

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to apply vitamin C serum to your skin?

You can apply vitamin C serum to your skin at any time of the day. You can use it in the morning so that its antioxidant properties can protect your skin against environmental aggressors and free radicals.

However, it is best to use vitamin c serum during your bedtime skincare routine so that the serum can work while you sleep. 

Should you apply vitamin C serum on dry or wet skin?

Apply your vitamin C serum only on damp skin. 

Dampening your skin before the application of vitamin C serum will help your skin to absorb the serum easily. Applying vitamin C serum to dry skin can irritate your skin. 

Should you moisturize your skin before applying vitamin C serum?

Apply your vitamin C serum first before moisturizing. “From thin to thick”–always follow this rule of thumb in your skincare routine. 

Serums are made to be a thin layer so that they can penetrate deeply into the skin with ease. Apply your vitamin C serum, then seal in the hydration with your moisturizer. 

Conclusion

As you probably already know, vitamin C is one of the best anti-aging skincare ingredients to exist. Applying vitamin C serum to your skin helps to rejuvenate your skin by encouraging your skin cells to produce more collagen in your skin tissues.

The skin care product you decide to use on your skin is not the only determinant of the result you get from using it. How you apply your skincare product is very important as well.

Applying vitamin c serum to your skin correctly will help to transform your skin from dull to radiant.

Thanks for reading.

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