Vitamin C serums are the go-to anti-aging remedy and the antidote to lackluster, dehydrated skin. The powerhouse vitamin is packed with anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and red spots, ultimately brightening skin overtime.
If you have dry, dehydrated, sensitized, or sensitive skin, you may want to opt for lighter vitamin C serums that have less than 20 percent L-ascorbic acid, especially if you want to apply twice per day. If the serums you like are on the higher end, dilute it with a moisturizer with each use.
Vitamin C serum is good for anyone with dry skin. However, it can help protect the skin from many problems, including sunburn, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and an uneven skin tone.
In fact, an analysis of 6 studies found that Vitamin C reduced the length of stays in the ICU by 8.6%! The great part is the vitamins mentioned above known to help with COVID-19 symptoms are already included in our Immune Tune hydration package.
The best way to cleanse dehydrated skin is with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. Choose cleansers that are free of harsh chemical additives and artificial fragrances that can strip the skin of beneficial moisture and aggravate sensitivities.
If you take vitamin C in fairly large doses you're going to excrete a lot of it out in your urine. And if you're dehydrated, that vitamin C is going to form little crystals, which can be painful. So make sure you're drinking lots of water if you are taking vitamin C.
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.
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.
While making any long-term changes to your skin takes time, you can start to repair your moisture barrier and notice a serious boost in hydration to the skin in just a few days. In fact, you can change hydration levels in the skin in just 24 hours .
Oral supplementation with vitamin C effectively increases vitamin C levels in the skin (9, 10). However, when plasma vitamin C levels are saturated, skin vitamin C concentrations no longer increase. Optimum skin concentrations of the vitamin are not yet known.
Vitamin C can be very acidic, and serums can cause skin irritation in some people, particularly in high concentrations.
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.
Applying VItamin C serums to damp skin doesn't enhance their effects; instead, you'll neutralise the slightly acidic formula, making your Vitamin C serum weaker and potentially sabotaging yourself from ever seeing the results of Vitamin C: radiant, glowy skin.
You're Applying Harsh Ingredients
Vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid can also pose a problem because it is usually formulated at a low (acidic) pH and at concentrations as high as 15-20%. “This may cause some skin irritation, redness and dryness,” says Zeichner.
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.
There's no proof that Vitamin C causes acne. In fact, it may even help treat it faster! And yet, many of my clients with oily, acne-prone skin complain their acne got worse after introducing a Vitamin C serum into their skincare routine.
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.
Choose the Right Concentration
For oily or normal skin, L-ascorbic acid is the most potent form of vitamin C and can be the most beneficial, while for dry and sensitive skin, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble vitamin C, is less irritating.
Research suggests that vitamin C may help protect the skin from many issues, including sunburn, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and an uneven skin tone. Anyone dealing with these skin issues may want to consider adding a vitamin C serum to their skin-care regimen.
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.
Research has shown that taking certain vitamins and other nutritional supplements, including vitamin D, fish oil, collagen, and vitamin C, may help improve skin hydration and help keep your skin healthy and nourished.
Dehydration is a deficiency of water in the body. Vomiting, diarrhea, excessive sweating, burns, kidney failure, and use of diuretics may cause dehydration.
A serving of Emergen-C (particularly the hydration formula) may help replenish electrolytes like sodium, potassium and magnesium to prevent symptoms of dehydration and low electrolyte levels, such as muscle cramping or lightheadedness.