What shouldn't you mix with vitamin C?

Author: Enrique Lockman  |  Last update: Wednesday, April 23, 2025

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.

What should you not use vitamin C with?

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 should you not take 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 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 can be mixed with vitamin C?

Best Ingredients To Pair With Vitamin C:
  • Vitamin E.
  • Ferulic Acid.
  • Hyaluronic Acid.
  • Ceramides.
  • Peptides.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Niacinamide.

The Best Time of the Day to Take Vitamins

What do you need with vitamin C to absorb?

Vitamin C is best consumed in a raw state. The best way to consume vitamin C for optimum absorption is to supplement it together with iron. This is why it is commonplace to drink orange juice with your cereal. The iron in the cereal helps you to better absorb the vitamin C in the orange juice.

Can I mix vitamin C with hyaluronic acid?

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.

What cancels out vitamin C?

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.

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.

Can I mix vitamin C with niacinamide?

Can I Combine Niacinamide and Vitamin C together? Yes, you can mix niacinamide and vitamin C together in your skincare routine, and doing so can offer significant benefits. However, it's essential to understand how to use them properly to avoid irritation and maximize their effectiveness.

When should vitamin C be avoided?

Vitamin C supplementation is contraindicated in blood disorders like thalassemia, G6PD deficiency, sickle cell disease, and hemochromatosis. Avoid taking supplements immediately before or following angioplasty.

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.

Is 1000mg of vitamin C too much?

If you're an adult, limit yourself to no more than 2,000 milligrams (mg) of vitamin C a day. The recommended upper limit for children varies by age.

Is there anything you shouldn't take with vitamin C?

Some vitamins that should not be taken together, or have dosage limitations, include vitamin C with vitamin B-12, vitamin A supplement with vitamin A-rich foods, folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12, and vitamin E with vitamin K.

What not to mix hyaluronic acid with?

However, there are certain ingredients that should not be mixed with hyaluronic acid:
  • AHAs and BHAs: AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta hydroxy acids) are chemical exfoliants that can help improve skin texture and unclog pores. ...
  • Benzoyl Peroxide: Benzoyl peroxide is a common ingredient found in acne treatments.

What is a bad combination 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.

What is vitamin C not compatible with?

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].

Does vitamin C clash with anything?

Some active ingredients such as retinol and vitamin C can irritate the skin if used in conjunction with exfoliants such as acids, while more gentle humectants such as hyaluronic acid can make a harmonious pairing with just about everything.

What to mix with vitamin C?

Vitamin C + Niacinamide

These two actives work well together and are safe to combine. Together, they will work to address uneven skin tone, pigmentation, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and dullness.

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?

Does vitamin D cancel out vitamin C?

Both Vitamins C and D are essential for health, but many wonder if you can take these two vitamins together. These vitamins work nicely as a team and can be paired together as part of your supplement regimen.

Is it better to put vitamin C on wet or dry skin?

You'll want to apply your vitamin C serum to clean, dry skin. “As far as active ingredients go, vitamin C is quite unstable, and it's easily affected by outside elements such as air, light and moisture,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger.

Is it better to use vitamin C serum at night or morning?

While you can work your vitamin C serum into either your morning or evening skincare routine, most dermatologists recommend the morning [2]. This keeps your skin protected from free radicals as you go about your day, and can work especially well with your sunscreen to keep you safe from UV radiation.

What are the side effects of vitamin C serum?

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.

Previous article
Do red marks on skin go away?
Next article
How do you fix orange hands after spray tan?