What are the rules for applying vitamin C serum?

Author: Jaqueline Robel  |  Last update: Monday, March 31, 2025

How to use vitamin C serum. Apply vitamin C serum after cleansing (and after applying your toner, if you use one). And although it's safe to use overnight, Dr. Piliang recommends applying it in the morning because of the way it serves as a backup to sunscreen.

How to apply vitamin C serum correctly?

After cleansing and toning, apply a few drops of vitamin C serum directly to your face, massaging it evenly over your skin. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for it to absorb before applying moisturiser to seal in the serum. Then, it this is your morning routine, apply a high SPF broad spectrum sunscreen for further protection.

What should you not do after applying vitamin C serum?

Not using sunscreen:

Vitamin C serum can make the skin even more sensitive to the sun, making it especially important to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect the skin from UV damage.

What should you not layer with vitamin C serum?

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.

What shouldn't you mix with vitamin C?

Skincare ingredients not to mix with vitamin C

Vitamin C, AHAs (glycolic acid), and BHAs (salicylic acid) are acidic in nature. Layering them together can lower the skin's pH, making it more acidic. When skin pH goes off balance, it becomes a recipe for skin irritation, redness, and peeling.

The RIGHT way to use Vitamin C (and mistakes to avoid!)

What doesn't pair well with vitamin C?

Mixing the types of hydroxy acids known as BHA and AHA and vitamin C tends to be too much for the skin, resulting in discomfort or unwanted side effects.

What should I avoid vitamin C with?

Possible interactions include:
  • Aluminum. Taking vitamin C can increase your absorption of aluminum from medications containing aluminum, such as phosphate binders. ...
  • Chemotherapy. ...
  • Estrogen. ...
  • Protease inhibitors. ...
  • Statins and niacin. ...
  • Warfarin (Jantoven).

What cancels out vitamin C serum?

In other cases, mixing can destabilize or cancel out the benefits of the antioxidant. Here are some ingredients to never mix with vitamin C: Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs): Lactic Acid, Malic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid.

What is vitamin C serum not compatible with?

Beta Hydroxy Acids

Similar to the points made about AHAs, beta hydroxy acids (or BHAs) “will destabilize vitamin C, making the active ingredients nearly useless,” share Salakai and de Sadeleer. So that salicylic acid of yours should not be mixed with your vitamin C serum.

What happens if you use too much vitamin C on your face?

Using too much vitamin C serum can cause irritation and redness, while using too little can reduce its effectiveness.

Why is my skin getting darker after using vitamin C serum?

4) Why does my skin look darker after using Vitamin C? If you are applying Vitamin C without sunscreen, it is likely that the Vitamin C degrades into Erythrulose, which is an ingredient you will find in many self-tanners. So please make sure you apply sunscreen always after applying Vitamin C.

Should I put vitamin C on my neck?

Skin benefits of vitamin C

One study showed that daily use of a vitamin C formulation for at least three months improved the appearance of fine and coarse wrinkles of the face and neck, as well as improved overall skin texture and appearance.

Can I leave vitamin C serum overnight?

Benefits of applying vitamin C serum at night

There are several benefits of using this product at night; some of the common ones are, It repairs skin damage overnight. Helps in dealing with fine lines and wrinkles. Lightens the dark spots.

Do you rub or pat vitamin C serum?

Apply vitamin C serum to clean, dry skin in the morning before sunscreen. Use a few drops and gently pat it onto your face, avoiding the eye area. Follow with a moisturizer and sunscreen to protect the skin.

What vitamin deficiency causes sagging skin?

What vitamin deficiency causes sagging skin? A deficiency in Vitamin C can accelerate skin ageing, resulting in premature skin sagging and wrinkling. This is because Vitamin C enhances the production of the protein collagen, which is vital to providing the firmness and vibrancy that counteracts skin sagging.

What cannot mix with vitamin C?

DON'T MIX: Vitamin C and AHA/BHA

Since vitamin C is pH-sensitive, using other products without stabilized pH right before or after vitamin C can degrade the antioxidant properties and decrease the skin's absorption of the ingredient, Dr.

Can I use vitamin C serum every day?

While it is safe to use products with vitamin C serum for face twice a day, we recommend keeping your skin type and concerns in mind before you start. Ensure that you check the directions mentioned on the packaging to get the most out of your products.

What is the best vitamin C serum for mature skin?

For first-time users, we chose the TruSkin Vitamin C Serum for its high-performing yet simple formula. And for those with more mature skin, we recommend the SkinMedica Vitamin C+E Complex which delivers antioxidant protection all day long.

What are the negatives of vitamin C serum?

Most people don't experience any negative side effects from using vitamin C serum, but in rare case, you may have:
  • Dryness.
  • Itching.
  • Redness.

What method destroys vitamin C?

Vitamin C can be destroyed by heat and light. High-heat cooking temperatures or prolonged cook times can break down the vitamin. Because it is water-soluble, the vitamin can also seep into cooking liquid and be lost if the liquids are not eaten.

What are the enemies of vitamin C?

Anyway, heat and water are the enemies of vitamin C in potatoes, as they are in all vegetables. Vitamin C is soluble in water, and too long an exposure to heat causes nutrients to vanish. Minimise the time, temperature and amount of water.

What stops absorption of vitamin C?

However, did you know that caffeine interferes with the absorption of vitamin C, meaning that you might not be getting the full benefits of your healthy diet if you regularly drink coffee, tea or other caffeinated beverages alongside meals?

Which two vitamins should not be taken together?

7 Supplement Combos You Should Never Take Together, According to Dietitians
  • Zinc & Calcium.
  • Iron & Zinc.
  • Iron & Calcium.
  • Magnesium & Zinc.
  • St. John's Wort & Serotonin Supplements.
  • Ginkgo Biloba & Fish Oil.
  • St. John's Wort & Ginseng.
  • Things to Consider.

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