In a Vitamin C skincare routine, it's important to apply the moisturizer after the application of the serum. This is because the serum helps the moisturizer gets absorbed better, and the moisturizer helps seal the serum's nutrients within the skin so they can work all day.
After applying vitamin C serum, it's generally recommended to wait about 10 to 20 minutes before applying moisturizer. This allows the serum to absorb fully into the skin and ensures that the vitamin C can work effectively.
It is not recommended to use serum without moisturizer because serums alone do not provide sufficient hydration to the skin. Serums are formulated to penetrate deeply into the skin and deliver active ingredients to the deeper layers of the skin, but they do not provide the hydration that your skin needs.
Not using sunscreen:
Vitamin C serum can make the skin even more sensitive to the sun, making it especially important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect the skin from UV damage.
You can use any moisturizer you want, just don't forget to use sunscreen on top. There are a few studies that showed that using centella along with vitamin C boosts the collagen production you get from vitamin C so I also like layering a centella serum on top of it.
LAYERING WITH OTHER SKINCARE INGREDIENTS
The benefits of your vitamin C serum can be boosted when layered or combined with other skincare ingredients. Always wait a few minutes between each serum for full absorption before moving on to a moisturiser, eye cream, or sunscreen.
Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, it doesn't require food or specific timing to work effectively. However, some people may want to avoid taking it before bed: If you have acid reflux or a sensitive stomach – Vitamin C, especially in high doses, can increase stomach acidity, and lead to mild heartburn or nausea.
In other cases, mixing can destabilize or cancel out the benefits of the antioxidant. Here are some ingredients to never mix with vitamin C: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs): Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid.
Vitamin C is effectively an acid (it's sometimes known as ascorbic acid), so layering it with AHAs and BHAs like glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids is a big no-no.
Vitamin C serum up to 20% concentration can be applied twice daily both morning (AM) and night (PM) right after cleansing and hydration or toning. Take 2-3 drops of Vitamin C serum on your fingertips and gently apply them in your face and neck in circular motions.
4) Why does my skin look darker after using Vitamin C? If you are applying Vitamin C without sunscreen, it is likely that the Vitamin C degrades into Erythrulose, which is an ingredient you will find in many self-tanners. So please make sure you apply sunscreen always after applying Vitamin C.
If you don't have dry skin and aren't in a dry environment or climate, it's easily possible to use just serum without moisturizer. However, using both may harness the most benefits for your skin. When you use a serum, it delivers active ingredients deep into the skin.
In a Vitamin C skincare routine, it's important to apply the moisturizer after the application of the serum. This is because the serum helps the moisturizer gets absorbed better, and the moisturizer helps seal the serum's nutrients within the skin so they can work all day.
While you can work your vitamin C serum into either your morning or evening skincare routine, most dermatologists recommend the morning [2]. This keeps your skin protected from free radicals as you go about your day, and can work especially well with your sunscreen to keep you safe from UV radiation.
Follow the vitamin c serum with the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturising Lotion with SPF 15. Always end your skincare routine with broad spectrum SPF 50+ sunscreen. When applying this pure vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serum, avoid the eye area.
Skincare ingredients not to mix with vitamin C
Vitamin C, AHAs (glycolic acid), and BHAs (salicylic acid) are acidic in nature. Layering them together can lower the skin's pH, making it more acidic. When skin pH goes off balance, it becomes a recipe for skin irritation, redness, and peeling.
AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) and BHAs (Beta Hydroxy Acids), such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.
Generally, using Vitamin C serum doesn't result in adverse effects. But in some cases, you might experience dryness, redness, and irritation. You are likely to face these symptoms if you have sensitive skin. To lessen the risk of these side effects, start with a low concentration of this ingredient.
Vitamin C can be destroyed by heat and light. High-heat cooking temperatures or prolonged cook times can break down the vitamin. Because it is water-soluble, the vitamin can also seep into cooking liquid and be lost if the liquids are not eaten.
Using too much vitamin C serum can cause irritation and redness, while using too little can reduce its effectiveness.
The best forms of Vitamin C for the face are L-ascorbic acid, known for its potency and effectiveness, and more stable derivatives like sodium ascorbyl phosphate or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, which are gentler and better suited for sensitive skin.
Signs of vitamin C deficiency include a tendency to bruise or bleed easily, bleeding gums, wobbly teeth, poor wound healing, tiredness, anaemia, and small red spots on the skin. Severe vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy.
Vitamin C supplementation is contraindicated in blood disorders like thalassemia, G6PD deficiency, sickle cell disease, and hemochromatosis. Avoid taking supplements immediately before or following angioplasty.