Vitamin C should not be mixed with acids, which includes all AHAs and BHAs. Vitamin C plays a key role in strengthening the outer layer of our skin barrier, but when combined with an acid, it can enhance the potency of your vitamin C and cause severe irritation [5].
Vitamin C serums are notoriously sensitive to light, air, and heat. Exposure to these elements can cause the serum to degrade, leading to reduced effectiveness. Unfortunately, this is a mistake that many people overlook.
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.
Avoid AHAs/BHAs with Vitamin C: The combination of AHA BHA with Vitamin C is notoriously powerful and overwhelms the skin. It leads to out-of-the-blue breakouts, inflammation or irritation. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, try vitamin C in the morning with sunscreen and AHA/BHA during your PM routine.
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.
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.
Taking vitamin C can increase your absorption of aluminum from medications containing aluminum, such as phosphate binders. This can be harmful for people with kidney problems. Chemotherapy. There is concern that use of antioxidants, such as vitamin C, during chemotherapy might reduce the effect of chemotherapy drugs.
Generally, using Vitamin C serum doesn't result in adverse effects. But in some cases, you might experience dryness, redness, and irritation. You are likely to face these symptoms if you have sensitive skin. To lessen the risk of these side effects, start with a low concentration of this ingredient.
You might be experiencing purging. Purging is most common when using retinol for the first time, but has also been linked to vitamin C and some acids too [8]. Common symptoms are rapid breakouts, flaky and dry skin, or oily skin [8]. Believe it or not, it's actually a sign your products are working.
Using too much vitamin C serum can cause irritation and redness, while using too little can reduce its effectiveness.
Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause: stomach pain. diarrhoea. flatulence.
While vitamin C and hyaluronic acid can be used separately for impressive outcomes, they are also a power duo when applied in tandem. In fact, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are often mixed - either in one serum formula, or layered in a skincare regime.
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.
“It can accumulate for up to three or four days, so its daily use would not be necessary, as long as the Vitamin C has certain characteristics.” As Santamarina notes, this cannot be done with all formulations: it has to be a product with 10 to 15% ascorbic acid at a pH of 3.5 or lower.
A few people may experience irritation, redness, or tingling when using Vitamin C serum. This is more likely if you have sensitive skin or are new to using active ingredients. If not followed by a moisturizer, Vitamin C serum can cause dryness, especially in those with already dry or sensitive skin.
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.
Salakai and de Sadeleer share, “Vitamin C and retinol work in different pH environments, which means that they don't work well together. It's best to avoid combining retinol with vitamin C together as there is a risk of skin irritation and redness, especially for those with sensitive skin.”
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.
Vitamin C supplements can also lead to high aluminum levels if you take them with antacids that contain aluminum. They may also interact with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and medications that contain estrogen. Other medications may not work as well if you take them along with vitamin C supplements.
Vitamin C + Niacinamide
However, when you combine niacinamide with Vitamin C, they'll cancel each other out chemically, making both formulas ineffective on your skin. Niacinamide takes out all the good properties of Vitamin C and makes it into a substance that can cause redness and trigger breakouts.
Pour a few drops of vitamin C serum on your palm or directly on your face, and gently massage into your skin. Wait for a couple of minutes for the serum to absorb before moving on to other vitamin C skincare products.