When Youll See Results: Once you add vitamin C to your skincare regimen, you may start seeing noticeable improvements in three weeks. It can help significantly fade hyperpigmentation in about two months.
One of its functions is to block the action of an enzyme called tyrosinase, which is essential for the formation of the pigment melanin. Application of large amounts of vitamin C to the skin will slowly fade away deposits of hyperpigmentation as long as the skin is also protected from sunlight with sunscreen or a hat.
4 weeks is usually the golden rule for beginning to see changes - it's allowed your skin to go through at least one renewal cycle with this skin-changing ingredient. At this point, your skin should have a subtle change in radiance, which is something you'll notice will stick around as long as you keep using Vitamin C.
How Long Does Vitamin C Serum Take to Work? You will likely notice skin improvement 4-12 weeks after starting routine use of vitamin C serum.
Also, keep in mind that it can take two to four weeks of daily usage to see results, so keep a close watch on your skin. If it starts looking brighter, that's a sure sign your vitamin C products are working. Shop a few of our favourite vitamin C-infused products below.
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.
When Youll See Results: Once you add vitamin C to your skincare regimen, you may start seeing noticeable improvements in three weeks. It can help significantly fade hyperpigmentation in about two months.
It triggers the production of Glutathione and Vitamin E in the cells that together form pheomelanin — a yellow substance which keeps the skin color bright by replacing eumelanin which is darker. Vitamin C also exfoliates the skin so that the darker layer of your skin is gone forever and the lighter tone surfaces.
Vitamin C serum (leave to absorb for 1-2 minutes)
Every expert we spoke to agreed that vitamin C should ideally be left from a little while before going in with the next step, but the recommended times varied dramatically. The average time suggested was somewhere between 1-2 minutes.
Dermatologists consider products with hydroquinone, alone or combined with other lighteners, to be the gold standard for fading dark spots because it slows the production of pigment.
Chemical peels, laser therapy, microdermabrasion, or dermabrasion are all options that work similarly to rid skin of hyperpigmentation. These procedures work to gently remove the top layer of your skin where the dark spots lie.
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.
You may choose to begin applying it every other day, and if tolerated you may apply it daily. It may take up to three months of consistent use to see a noticeable improvement.
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.
For hyperpigmentation, we recommend CeraVe's Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum, which soothes and hydrates skin. When looking for a vitamin C serum, you need one that's highly concentrated and has an oil-based infusion of skin-boosting ingredients.
How long do you need to take vitamin C to start experiencing its benefits? Supplementing with vitamin C may lead to positive benefits within 1-2 days. Consistency is key and our research recommends taking your Feel supplements for at least 3 months to allow your body to adjust and provide the desired benefits.
You are NOT storing your Vitamin C serum properly.
Exposure to heat and sunlight causes oxidation, which can then affect the serum's potency. You'll know it when the product changes color, from clear to brown, or has a rancid smell. If you notice this with the one you're using, it is time to throw it away.
Once what's causing the dark spots or patches is found and stopped, fading can take time. A spot that is a few shades darker than your natural skin color will usually fade within 6 to 12 months. If the color lies deep in your skin, however, fading can take years.
The brightening properties of vitamin C also extend to fading dark spots and lightening hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C inhibits the pathway of abnormal production of skin pigments (melanin) to even out the skin tone and lightens dark spots, sun spots, acne scars, blemishes, and hyperpigmentation due to melasma.
In the absence of SPF, you may notice at times that your skin is easily tanned. Either tan or your skin may have turned into a funny orange or peach-ish color. It is because Vitamin C is extremely potent but it can easily react with the air, light and heat in the environment to only make your skin appear darker.
While it won't hurt if you use your vitamin C serum at night, it may interact with other skin care products meant to be used in the evening (like retinol) and cause skin irritation and sensitivity.
Vitamin C serum is typically applied once or twice per day. A good rule of thumb is to cleanse, tone, apply vitamin C serum, and then moisturize. Be sure to apply skin care products with clean hands.
Concentration: The sweet spot for the concentration level is between 10 and 20 percent. You definitely want a concentration that's higher than 8 percent for maximum effectiveness. But going over 20 percent could lead to irritation and doesn't increase its benefit.