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How to Use Vitamin C for Your Skin

Vitamin C is just as good for the skin as it is for the rest of the body. It is particularly useful if you're trying to slow the effects of aging and even out your skin tone. However, if you're not familiar with the use of vitamin C in a skincare routine, you may have questions about its usage and benefits, and we have answers.

Read the rest of this guide to find out the benefits of vitamin C for the skin, how to use vitamin C for your skin, and much more.

Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin Care

The benefits of vitamin C for your skin include fighting oxidative stress, antiaging, collagen production, amongst others. Let's explore some of these benefits below:

Antioxidant Effects

The major benefit of vitamin C is its antioxidant effect; vitamin C guards against oxidative stress from pollution and harmful UV rays, which can cause collagen breakdown, leading to premature aging. Furthermore, it neutralizes free radicals that may cause skin damage and lead to inflammation.

Collagen Production

Collagen naturally occurs in the body where it helps with skin elasticity and firmness. Vitamin C helps improve the production of this fiber to keep the skin smooth and firm.

Antiaging

Vitamin C's antiaging effects are closely linked to oxidative stress and reduced collagen production.

Prolonged exposure to harmful UV rays causes collagen breakdown, which subsequently leads to wrinkling, fine lines and sagging skin. However, when you apply Vitamin C topically for at least 12 weeks, it can help mitigate these issues by increasing collagen production and firmness.

Reduces Hyperpigmentation and Scarring

Overproduction of melanin causes hyperpigmentation and dark spots, but these can be resolved with consistent vitamin C use.

Vitamin C helps blocks the production of melanin by inhibiting the secretion of the enzyme (tyrosinase) that supports the production of melanin. Of course, with the adjusted melanin production, the spots clear out, and you get an even skin tone.

Helps Skin Regeneration

Vitamin C accelerates cell renewal and rejuvenation, promoting faster wound healing, including sores and ulcers. It also reduces inflammation and boosts collagen production, which are essential for healthy tissues.

Hydrates Skin

Dry skin may cause itchiness and premature aging, but with vitamin C's moisturization, your skin can stay plump enough to prevent itchiness and wrinkling.

Reduces Redness

Your skin may become reddened because of inflammation, damaged capillaries (or other medical conditions), hormones, and sun exposure. However, thanks to its anti-inflammation and antioxidant effects, vitamin C can help reduce the redness. It also repairs the damaged capillaries and leads to smoother and healthier skin.

Brightens Skin Tone

Reduced melanin production, condensed hyperpigmentation and scarring, elevated moisturization and hydration make for even skin tone and brighter skin.

Best Vitamin C for Skin Care - Which Form of Vitamin C is Best for Skin⁠?

Vitamin C is available in various forms, including L-ascorbic acid, 3-O ethyl ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, and THD ascorbate. Of the many forms of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid is often preferred because it is extensively studied, most effective, and converts to active vitamin C when used.

When Should I Put Vitamin C on My Face?

There's often the question: "when should I use my vitamin C serum? day or night?", well you can apply vitamin C on your face both day and night if there are no adverse effects.

When using vitamin C on your face in the morning, apply after cleansing for easy penetration and to prevent a reaction with other products. Using vitamin C serum in the morning protects against the free radicals you will be exposed to during the day. Then, in the evening, it gives you a boost overnight preparing you for the next day.

Remember that for day usage, you should still use sunscreen regardless of the vitamin C serum's UV protection capabilities.

How Often Should I Use Vitamin C on My Face?

How often you apply Vitamin C depends on your skin’s needs, or according to the product’s instructions. However, in many cases, you can apply vitamin C twice a day: once in the morning and another at night. That said, this is only a recommendation; you should do what works best for you, especially if you have sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin and notice reactions when you use vitamin C, you might have to limit usage to a few times a week as opposed to daily. With time, your skin may adapt, and then you can up your usage.

As always, do a patch test to make sure there are no adverse effects from using vitamin C. If you do experience any adverse effect, discontinue and seek professional advice.

Where to Apply Vitamin C Serum on Face?

Apply vitamin C serum to your face directly after cleansing - application after cleansing ensures easy absorption and no adverse reactions with other products.

When applying vitamin C serum on your face and neck, massage gently in circular motions, then follow with your toner moisturizer or any product that typically follows your cleanser.

Tips & Precautions:

Vitamin C is typically safe, rarely ever posing significant danger. However, as with everything, you should still exercise caution in the following ways:

Avoid applying vitamin C into your eye as it will irritate your eye.
Beware of how vitamin C interacts with other active ingredients, such as retinol, as combining them can sometimes cause irritation. If you must use both, alternate usage - one at night and the other during the day or every other day. Nonetheless, if your skin tolerates the combination without any issues, you can use both together. However, ensure one is completely absorbed before layering the other.
Vitamin C interacts with AHA/BHA exfoliating acids, leading to excessive acidity and skin irritation. To avoid this issue, follow the same procedure as retinols.
Vitamin C serums do not come in clear bottles because they're sensitive to light and will breakdown faster in clear bottles. For this reason, store your product in a cool and dark place to ensure it retains its potency for a long time.
As a new user or when using vitamin C in high concentrations, you may experience side effects such as redness, itching and peeling. In time, these will subside, however if you use a high concentration, you may have to reduce the dosage.

Final Take

Adding vitamin C to your routine can raise your skincare game, especially as you age; it helps with skin tone, minimizes the effects of aging, and stimulates skin regeneration.

For the best outcomes, go for vitamin C serums over creams and toners, apply the serum properly and consistently, and adhere to the right precautions.