Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps defend against free radicals. When used consistently, a face serum with vitamin C can play a powerful role in your anti-aging skincare regimen by delivering skin-brightening benefits and improving the appearance of fine lines, dark spots, and uneven skin tone.
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.
What It Does: This potent antioxidant interferes with the production of pigment in the skin, fading dark spots. When You'll 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.
Apply serum evenly to face and neck daily. Avoid eye area. If contact with eyes occurs, rinse thoroughly with water. Store serum in a cool, dark place.
When it comes to removing dark spots, you aren't limited to just serums and treatments. A gentle, fragrance-free formula like CeraVe's lightweight lotion can get the job done without irritating your skin.
It'll also absorb into your skin most effectively after you've cleansed and exfoliated, so it makes sense to apply it during your nighttime routine. When you use your vitamin C serum during the night, you'll also avoid the risk of photosensitivity, which can occur in some cases with daytime use.
It's brightening
A 2017 review notes that vitamin C application has been shown to impede melanin production, the pigment responsible for skin color. This can help fade dark spots and general dullness that prevent you from getting that dewy glow.
Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for your skin, along with vitamins C, E, and K. Making sure you get enough vitamins can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. This could translate to a reduction in: dark spots.
How do you know if your vitamin C serum is working? Corinthian says that if your vitamin C serum changes color, it might be time to throw it away. "When vitamin C is exposed to air, it oxidizes and changes its form into something that isn't as effective, and it doesn't work as well on your skin," he explains.
Light or laser therapy: Depending on the cause of your dark spots, your dermatologist will either recommend light or laser treatment. These technologies can treat sun damaged skin, conditions like psoriasis, age spots, melasma, and other types of dark spots.
It is unlikely that vitamin C serums will cause acne. There is some evidence to suggest that using a vitamin C serum may make your skin more vulnerable to bacteria.
As far as skincare goes, vitamin C has its own benefits. Including its ability to even out skin tone, tackle pigmentation, brighten complexion for a lit from within glow, all while gently diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and reducing the rate of the natural loss of collagen.
Vitamin C lightens skin by inhibiting the amount of melanin your pigment skin cells generate. When applied topically, vitamin C interacts with tyrosinase, the main enzyme responsible for the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into melanin, thereby reducing pigmentation.
Directions: Massage 2-3 pumps of the vitamin C for dark spots serum onto a cleansed face and neck, morning and night. Use before other treatment products, and follow with any Biossance moisturizer.
If you want to get rid of dark spots fast, a procedure that removes layers of discolored skin may work better than a lightening cream. These techniques include laser treatments, freezing (cryotherapy), dermabrasion, microdermabrasion, microneedling, and chemical peels.
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.
The unifying concept is that of strengthening the skin barrier; while these products won't brighten, resurface or plump like an active-packed regime, they will keep your skin surface protected which, in turn, prevents a host of skin issues (such as moisture loss and irritation) from arising.
Cerave Vitamin C Serum features 10% pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) to help visibly brighten the complexion and improve uneven skin tone.