Usually, the skin cells need vitamin C to function appropriately. Unfortunately, the skin doesn’t produce vitamin C, and that is one of the reasons you need a vitamin C serum.
Vitamin C serum is a skincare product that contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help to protect and soothe the skin.
Vitamin C is generally safe to be on all skin types, even sensitive skin. Therefore, you can incorporate the serum in your skincare routine to enjoy the benefits without any issues of extreme side effects or issues.
Read ahead to find out more about what vitamin C serum is good for, how to use it when to use it, and other related information.
Is Vitamin C Serum Anti-aging?
The skin begins to sag when there is a breakdown in collagen production as the body ages. Collagen is a protein fiber that helps to retain the skin’s elasticity and firmness. A review reveals that using vitamin C on the skin can help to promote collagen production in the skin.
This means vitamin C serum will help to promote antiaging and revitalize the skin cells. It will help to reduce the appearance of aging signs by tightening the skin to improve its texture.
Aside from aging, sun exposure is another factor that causes the skin to age prematurely. Meanwhile, vitamin C contains antioxidant properties that can help to protect the skin from the ultraviolet radiations of the sun.
According to research, usually, sun damage is caused by free radicals, which are molecules that steal an electron from the skin, thereby causing great damage. Vitamin C prevents this damage by giving the free radicals some electrons to make them harmless to the skin.
What Else Is Vitamin C Serum Good For?
Asides from being able to prevent and reduce aging signs, vitamin C serum is good for solving other skin concerns. Below are more benefits of using it on your skin
- It helps to prevent water loss from the skin by allowing your skin to keep moisture.
- Helps to reduce the appearance of pigmentation on the skin such as dark spots, sun spots, aging spots, and so on. It does this by hindering the production of melanin in the skin cells.
- Helps to brighten and improve the skin’s complexion.
- It contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help to soothe puffiness, redness, and other forms of inflammation on the skin.
- Helps to protect the skin from free radicals that can cause damage to the skin.
- Promotes wound healing.
Is Vitamin C Serum a Retinol?
Vitamin C serum is not retinol. Vitamin C and retinol are two different antiaging ingredients. Although they have similar benefits, retinol is a vitamin A derivative and belongs to the retinoid family.
While the predominant function of vitamin C works to prevent damage to the skin, retinol helps to heal damage on the skin. Additionally, retinol helps to create new collagen by promoting cell turnover and vitamin C works to protect the collagen from breaking down.
What Should You Not Mix With Vitamin C Serum?
While looking to incorporate vitamin C serum into your skincare routine, ensure that you do not use it with other active ingredients. Doing so can cause harsh reactions and effects on the skin. Below are ingredients to avoid mixing with vitamin C.
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a popular treatment for mild-to-moderate forms of acne. It helps to tackle acne-causing bacteria and prevent the skin from getting dry.
However, you should avoid using the ingredient with vitamin C in a routine. Doing so will do more harm than good to your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. This is because benzoyl peroxide can oxidize vitamin C and they both counteract each other’s effects.
AHAs/BHAs
AHAs and BHAs are chemical exfoliants that work to dissolve dead skin cells from the skin. Using them in your skincare routine can help to elevate your skincare game. While AHAs work more on repairing the skin’s surface, BHAs work to unclog the pores.
Layering vitamin C on AHA or BHA in a skincare routine can cause the skin to get irritated. This is because the three ingredients are acidic. If you really need to use AHA/BHA in your skincare routine with vitamin C serum, you can use them on separate days.
Is Vitamin C Serum Drying?
Vitamin C serum can be drying for you if you have dry, sensitive skin. Some forms of vitamin C can lead to irritation, dryness, peeling, and redness. Therefore, ensure that the form of vitamin C in your serum works for your skin type.
For dry and sensitive skin, it is best to opt for L-ascorbic acid. It is a form of vitamin C that works well without irritating the skin. Additionally, ensure that you always moisturize your skin enough in your skincare routine.
Is Vitamin C Serum Good for Acne?
Acne is a skin condition that happens when the pores get blocked and inflamed. This causes swelling, redness, and bumps to appear on the skin. Using vitamin C serum in your routine may help to prevent and even reduce acne breakouts.
Vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation, redness, and swelling that acne causes. The product can also help to reduce and fade off hyperpigmentation caused by acne.
When acne is not treated properly, it can leave behind spots and scars on the skin. Using vitamin C on the skin can help to improve the appearance of scars caused by acne.
How to Use Vitamin C Serum on Skin
Start by doing a patch test to confirm if your skin is okay with introducing the product to your routine. This will help to determine the risk of allergic reactions. Do this by applying a little amount of the product on your forearm and waiting for 24 hours.
If you do not experience any side effects or allergic reactions, you can continue to use the product. If you do, stop using the product immediately and contact your dermatologist for help.
How to apply vitamin C serum:
- Cleanse your skin
- Apply your toner to double-cleanse your skin
- Apply a few drops of vitamin C serum to your face using your fingertips
- Moisturize your skin
- Apply sunscreen
When Should You Use Vitamin C Serum?
The best time to use vitamin C serum is in your morning skincare routine. This is because vitamin C contains antioxidant properties that can help to safeguard your skin throughout the day.
You can also apply the serum in the evening if you wish, but you will get the most benefit from using it in the morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use vitamin C serum twice a day?
Yes, you can. You can apply vitamin C serum on your skin as often as twice daily. This allows you to achieve significant results and improvements in a shorter period.
However, ensure that you use a concentrated serum that your skin can tolerate. Using high concentrations too often can irritate your skin.
Is vitamin C serum pregnancy safe?
Yes, it is. You can use Vitamin C serum in your skincare routine even when you are pregnant.
Introduce the product to your skincare routine progressively to avoid harsh reactions on your skin. Additionally, make sure you discuss this with your dermatologist before adding new products to your skincare routine.
How many drops of vitamin C serum to use?
2-3 drops. Only use a pea-sized amount of vitamin C serum in your skincare routine.
Simply apply 2-3 drops of it to your face using your fingertips and moisturize after. Avoid using too much serum on your skin, as that can cause harsh reactions on your skin.
Conclusion
Vitamin C serum is one good product to introduce into your skincare routine if you haven’t done that already. It helps to treat different skin concerns and protect the skin from free radicals that can damage the skin.
Simply look for a serum that contains the right concentration for your skin type and begin to enjoy the benefits it has for the skin.
Thanks for reading.
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