If you are familiar with skincare products, you have probably seen or possibly used a Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C serum can enhance your skin with some fantastic benefits, but is there an ideal time to apply Vitamin C?
Let’s break down all the key benefits of Vitamin c serum for your skin and the best time to apply it to get the full force of all its benefits.
Why Do I Need a Vitamin C Serum?
There are different forms of Vitamin C, so you may see l-ascorbic acid or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate appear on Vitamin C products.
Vitamin C is a naturally-derived nutrient found in a wide variety of foods known for its immune-boosting and antioxidant properties. Consuming Vitamin C-rich foods can be great for your physical wellness, but your skin may not receive the same benefits.
When Vitamin C is put into a serum, the concentrated formulation of this water-soluble vitamin makes it easier to absorb into your skin. Your skin can receive powerful benefits from this amazing, readily available vitamin. Those with sensitive skin may want to opt for a formulation with a lower concentration of Vitamin C to help keep dry skin at bay.
What Are the Benefits of a Vitamin C Serum for My Skin?
Topical Vitamin C serums have quite the portfolio when it comes to benefits. No matter your skin type, anybody can benefit from incorporating a Vitamin C serum into your skincare routine. We’ve made a list of the most common benefits of a Vitamin C serum.
Protects Your Skin
Vitamin C and its powerful antioxidants help to protect your skin by fighting off damage from free radicals and environmental pollutants. A Vitamin C serum also helps protect your skin from damage caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UV rays).
Strengthens Your Skin
Vitamin C is used to stimulate collagen production, a special type of protein that makes up a significant portion of your skin, hair, nails, joints, tendons, and ligaments.
When your body produces extra collagen, it can help build up your skin’s natural barrier and reduce the appearance of scarring and breakouts.
Boosts Hydration
Vitamin C serums have been known to be beneficial for helping your skin to retain water. Maintaining adequate hydration and moisture levels can keep your skin from drying out and promote soft, youthful-looking skin.
Vitamin C serums also help build up your skin’s natural barrier, which can help retain water in your skin and keep your skin looking and feeling hydrated.
Evens Skin Tone
Vitamin C serum has often been used to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. The collagen-boosting effects of Vitamin C are known to even out your skin by minimizing the prevalence of dark spots, leaving you with a natural and even appearance.
A Vitamin C serum may also be beneficial for reducing the melanin production in your skin, which may cause some hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and under-eye circles. With a decrease in melanin production, it may be harder for these discolorations to form.
Evens Skin Texture
Enhanced collagen production from a Vitamin C serum can also help smooth out your skin’s texture.
Collagen thickens your skin’s barrier and may help to promote healthy wound healing from skin issues such as acne scars and sun damage. This can help to give your skin an even and supple texture.
Enhances Skin’s Natural Glow
Vitamin C serums are brightening serums, and they can help to produce a subtle, natural glow from your skin. This can be caused by increased hydration in the skin, promoting a dewy, supple appearance to your skin. Or the added amounts of collagen in your skin help produce younger, healthier skin cells to help keep your skin looking radiant and healthy.
When Is the Best Time To Use a Vitamin C Serum?
When it comes down to when to use your Vitamin C serum, the reviews are split.
Many experts suggest that Vitamin C should be used during the day because of its UV-protecting properties. This can be useful when the skin is regularly exposed to harmful pollutants throughout the day. If you’ve ever heard that Vitamin C can cause photosensitivity, you may have been misinformed. Exposure to the sun after using a Vitamin C serum won’t increase your chances of a sunburn.
In fact, Vitamin C hunts for free radicals on the skin to help prevent sun damage (though you should still use a sunscreen to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays).
On the other hand, some experts argue that since your skin’s Vitamin C levels are low in the evening, you should incorporate a serum in your nighttime routine. Applying Vitamin C at night can replenish your skin’s hydration and antioxidant levels.
Still wondering when to apply a Vitamin C serum? The answer is both morning and night! Consistency is the most important thing about using a Vitamin C serum in your skincare routine. In fact, one study recommends applying a Vitamin C serum every eight hours for ultimate protection.
Speak to your dermatologist if you have any questions about the best time to incorporate a Vitamin C serum into your skincare routine. After all, skincare shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all but rather finding what works best for your skin.
How To Use a Vitamin C Serum
Not only is a Vitamin C serum essential, but how you use it matters too.
The order in which your skincare products are used can significantly change the outcome of your products. Because all skincare products have different textures, you should use them from thinnest to thickest to make sure that each product is being absorbed properly.
Your cleanser should always be first. Whether you prefer a gel cleanser or an oil cleanser, you should always wash your face to start your skincare routine.
Next, you apply your toner (if you use one). A toner can be used to help balance your skin’s pH levels and get your skin ready to absorb the nutrients in the rest of your products.
Now it’s time for the serum! We love our Dew Drops Mushroom Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin C Serum because it’s rich with Vitamin C and contains unique complimentary skincare ingredients, including hyaluronic acid from tremella mushrooms and red algae extract to keep your skin hydrated and plump.
Using a good quality moisturizer can seal in your skincare products and help keep your skin looking radiant and hydrated all day long.
If you opt to use your Vitamin C serum in your nighttime routine, we recommend our Dream Bio-Retinol + Shorea Butter Night Cream. Our Dream Cream has plant-based retinol, which has impressive antioxidant benefits for your radiant skin as you age.
Dream also contains Squalane, which, when used in a topical application, can help enhance your skin’s natural barrier and protect it from harsh environmental toxins and reduce the risk of dryness and irritation.
Retinol doesn’t always work with Vitamin C, though. Check out our blog here to learn how to combine your Vitamin C serum and retinol cream properly.
Last but definitely not least, sunscreen! Using a high-quality SPF lotion can help protect your skin against ultraviolet radiation (UV rays) which in turn allows your skin to age healthily, and help maintain your skin’s radiant glow that we’ve worked so hard to create!
Should I Use Anything With a Vitamin C Serum?
Having a thorough skincare routine can complement the benefits you get from a Vitamin C serum and boost the appearance and texture of your skin to the next level.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol) is often used as a natural preservative in skin care products but can also have its own powerful benefits for your skin’s health.
Vitamin E has strong antioxidant properties and can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and promote increased hydration in your skin. When combined with a Vitamin C serum, vitamin E can help maintain a smooth skin texture and enhance your skin’s natural glow.
At Three Ships Beauty, you’ll find vitamin E in all of our oil serums: Glow, Hydrate, and Boost. These serums offer up a 100% plant derived way to help nourish and hydrate skin, naturally.
Conclusion
A Vitamin C serum might just be the skincare routine booster you’ve been looking for.
A Vitamin C serum can be highly beneficial to various skin issues, no matter what your skin type is. No matter what time you choose to use it, incorporating a Vitamin C serum into your skincare routine can help you maintain that radiant, healthy skin glow.
Three Ships Beauty is all about educating you on what can benefit your skin and giving you clean, affordable skincare products full of naturally derived and skin-friendly nutrients that your skin will thank you for.
Sources:
Vitamin C to Boost Enhance Collagen Production - NHI
The Role of Vitamin C in Skin Health - NIH
