A tell-tale sign of vitamin C overuse is increased blackheads or the development of blackheads. General skin irritation and breakouts can also occur if you use your vitamin C serum too often. We recommend using your serum 1-2 times a day and 2-4 drops at a time.
Acids, vitamin C serums and retinoids can all cause purging. Purging is an initial acne breakout that can occur when you're starting a new active skincare product—one that causes your skin cells to turn over more quickly. Products that can trigger purging include: Hydroxy acids (AHAs, BHAs and PHAs) and fruit acids.
Vitamin C doesn't cause acne, but it can irritate your skin. Certain products can be more irritating than others, especially if you have sensitive or dry skin.
Topical vitamin C is a science-backed, dermatologist-favorite ingredient that may help slow early skin aging, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne.
You can use vitamin C serum at any time of the day. It's common to use vitamin C in the morning and retinol or exfoliants at night since they shouldn't be mixed in the same routine. If you go this route, just make sure to use SPF when using vitamin C during the day.
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.
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.
Since it's an antioxidant, vitamin C serum manages to unclog the pores, clear out dead skin, and reduce the overall amount of sebum. Additionally, it also minimises the pores — and since it's non-comedogenic, you know that you can kiss those social life-ruining blackheads goodbye.
The best time to use Vitamin C serum on your skin is in the morning along with your sunscreen because Vitamin C can reduce the damaging effects of ultraviolet rays. However, you can also incorporate vitamin c into your nighttime routine because, overnight, it can work to even out your skin tone and reduce wrinkles.
So if you used a vitamin C serum and it gave you acne, redness or any other skin issue, it is because the serum took away your body's ability to fight off bacteria, and weakened it, inviting pathogens to infect your skin.
Keep in mind that a higher percentage of L-ascorbic acid doesn't always mean a better product. Sometimes it can be too strong for your skin, causing it to react via purging, breakouts, or itchiness. You don't want the product to sting and itch even after you apply moisturizer.
When vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant, the consequences include irritation, inflammation, collagen and elastin breakdown, and acne. So if you have any of these skin ailments, and are using a vitamin C serum, then its time to re-think your regimen.
If you're not careful when looking for a serum, though, sometimes it can cause acne. "[Some serums] can lead to breakouts—especially if you're using the wrong one for your skin type," says Green.
Dr. Chiu warns that because vitamin C is a skin-care “active”—meaning it's particularly potent—applying too much of it on your face can potentially lead to more breakouts or irritation. Keep it to a max of two applications a day when a formula that has no more than 10% vitamin C each time.
To keep your pores unclogged, be sure to exfoliate once a week. The best non-comedogenic oils for your skin type include borage seed oil, raspberry seed oil, pecan oil, and evening primrose oil.
Myth #2: Facial oils clog pores.
Let's cut to the chase right away – facial oils will not clog your pores. Oil (or sebum) occurs naturally in your skin and your sebaceous glands are constantly working to pump it out. Acne is a result of hair follicles that become clogged with oil and dead skin cells.
A. One of the main reasons why vitamin E oil is not recommended for acne-prone skin is because it can clog pores. In fact, this is true for any heavy, oil-based product which can lead to your breakouts getting worse.
While vitamin C oils tend to have a molecular weight that's on the heavier side, vitamin C serums are created with a very light molecular weight. They're designed to penetrate the skin layers, delivering ingredients meant to target specific issues.
For most of us, there really is no 'versus' when it comes to using Vitamin C in a serum or oil formulation. As serums are designed to work on the deeper layers of the skin and facial oils to protect the outer layer, it makes good skin sense to use both.
A tell-tale sign of vitamin C overuse is increased blackheads or the development of blackheads. General skin irritation and breakouts can also occur if you use your vitamin C serum too often. We recommend using your serum 1-2 times a day and 2-4 drops at a time. This is all that is needed!
However, the best way to know, according to Dr Kiran, is to notice the difference in your skin. “If you use the serum for a month and find your skin to be bright, clear, less sensitive to the sun, and you are feeling fresher, then vitamin C is definitely working,” she said.
Don't mix: Vitamin C + AHAs or BHAs, retinol or benzoyl peroxide immediately on top of each other. If you want to use vitamin C with the above, apply it in the morning and use the rest at night.
Even if you don't have sensitive skin, we recommend that all skin types use their vitamin C serum before bed. Your body undergoes its natural repair process while you're asleep, and the vitamin C will make its strongest impact on your skin during this time.