Sheila Krishna, it's totally fine to use vitamin C with over-the-counter retinol products or dermatologist-grade retinoids—which, BTW, is the broader term for vitamin A derivatives, including retinol, tretinoin, and adapalene, just to name a few.
If you're just starting out with Differin Gel, we recommend avoiding Vitamin C serums as your skin gets used to the adapalene. Once the purging/retinization phase is over, try alternating your serum and Differin Gel between AM/PM routines.
Avoid using skin products that can cause irritation, such as harsh soaps, shampoos, or skin cleansers, hair coloring or permanent chemicals, hair removers or waxes, or skin products with alcohol, spices, astringents, or lime.
AHAs and BHAs, 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.
You should not stop using adapalene if your acne seems worse at first, unless irritation or other symptoms become severe. Check with your doctor if your acne does not improve within 8 to 12 weeks. Do not apply any topical product to the same area where you are using adapalene, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
You can absolutely use vitamin C and niacinamide together, Singh goes on to emphasize. That said, if you ever have any doubts as to whether it's safe to mix two skin care ingredients, a dermatologist can always offer advice.
Yes, you can use glycolic acid and vitamin C together, but make sure you know what you're doing! If you have concerns with your skin looking dull and lack lustre, you notice signs of hyperpigmentation, and dark spots, or you have signs of ageing, then glycolic acid and vitamin C is one effective power duo.
Many people wonder when the best time is to use their Vitamin C products. While some associate Vitamin C with daytime, others believe nights and evenings are best to use their Vitamin C-infused products. The truth is, Vitamin C can work effectively in the days or evenings.
We all have different skin needs and routines, but as a general rule, we recommend incorporating vitamin C into your skincare regime every—or every other—morning. We specify morning, because the antioxidant helps to protect from things like pollution and UV light, which you're typically exposed to throughout the day.
Vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the redness and swelling that comes with acne. The results are more pronounced when you use the vitamin topically. It, therefore, helps improve the appearance of acne wounds. It may help reduce hyperpigmentation.
If you're wondering when to apply a vitamin C serum, the answer is both morning and night, after cleansing and toning. One study even recommends applying a vitamin C serum every eight hours, or twice daily for the pinnacle of protection.
Topical Vitamin C is a mild exfoliator that can help lighten brown spots with continued daily use. A great way to use Vitamin C as an exfoliator and skin brightener is Garnier SkinActive Clearly Brighter Dark Spot Overnight Peel which helps evens skin tone and reduces the appearance of dark spots while you sleep.
Yes, you can, BUT you will get better results if you use vitamin C and glycolic acid/salicyclic acid separately. We recommend using vitamin C in the morning and your AHA or BHA at night.
The truth: You can use vitamin C with retinol and retinoids. Get them as separate products so you can tailor the concentration of each and use them at the right time of day. Although vitamin C can be used day or night, it is ideal for daytime use, while retinol and retinoids should be applied at night.
Use your vitamin C serum first, and let it dry.
Then "Let vitamin C completely dry prior to placing niacinamide," says Lamm. That way, the ascorbic acid has a chance to settle into the skin, and there's a smaller chance of combining the two actives.
When layering these powerful ingredients applying vitamin C first and leaving about 15 minutes in between applying your niacinamide product will give the skin enough time to absorb and remain comfortable before using niacinamide to lock moisture into the skin.
Now that we know it's a perfectly safe combination, feel free to mix niacinamide and vitamin C to your heart's content. However, if you still feel nervous about combining the two ingredients on your sensitive skin, you can always use niacinamide in the morning and vitamin C at night, or even alternate days.
Your skin requires a low pH level (0 to about 3.5)to absorb Vitamin C, while Retinol requires a higher pH level (around 5.5 to 6). When you mix Vitamin C and Retinol, the pH of vitamin C increases and the pH of Retinol decreases — hence why it's believed that the two ingredients render each other ineffective.
It's the order that makes the most difference. It really comes down to science. While vitamin C usually absorbs easily into the skin, it has been found to penetrate most effectively on skin that has lower pH levels (around 3.5 on the pH scale). That's where salicylic acid comes in.
Yes, you can, BUT you will get better results if you use vitamin C and glycolic acid/salicyclic acid separately. ... When combined with other acidic products (AHAs like glyocolic acid or BHAs like salicylic acid), the pH of the vitamin C serum can change causing the overall product to be less effective.
A tell-tale sign of vitamin c over-use can be increased blackheads or a development of blackheads. General skin irritation and breakouts can also occur if you are using your vitamin c too much or too often. We recommend using your serum 1-2 times a day and 2-4 drops is all that is needed.
No, vitamin C serums cannot cause acne. One of the main arguments leveled against vitamin C is that it acts as a pro-oxidant. This means that instead of neutralizing free radicals, it will act as a free radical itself and begin to damage skin cells.
When in the vitamin C is in high concentration, the serum will have a yellowish color; but as it oxidizes, it will turn brown/orange. Cosmetic vitamin C preparations that have discolored should be discarded as they have already oxidized and cannot provide skin benefits.
There's certainly no law against using vitamin C products in the evening, but, again, you may get the most benefit from using them in the morning. “In general, vitamin C products should be applied in the morning before heading out for the day, when UV radiation is at its highest,” Dr. Hogan says.
Also, we consulted with scientists who told us that if you wear vitamin C without sunscreen, your vitamin C can actually be photo-incinerated (i.e. totally burned away) by the sun.