Concentration: The sweet spot for the concentration level is between 10 and 20 percent. You definitely want a concentration that's higher than 8 percent for maximum effectiveness. But going over 20 percent could lead to irritation and doesn't increase its benefit.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This drugstore option comes highly recommended by dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D., for its moisturizing properties and versatility.
Vitamin C serum reduces dark spots, brightens skin, and fights common signs of aging.
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.
The vitamin c serum that seems to last as a forever essential is SkinCeuticals' C E Ferulic serum. There's a full celebrity lineup for this famous serum, including Ashley Graham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tracee Ellis Ross, Hailey Bieber, and Sienna Miller, per US Weekly and WhoWhatWear.
Good (Skin) Days C's The Day Serum
Vitamin C moisturizers are also becoming more common, Dr. Lamb says, and you'd want to use those at the end of your skin-care routine. And if you're wondering if you can use vitamin C every day, the answer is yes.
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.
Vitamin C contains anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the redness and swelling that comes with acne. The results are more pronounced when you use the vitamin topically. It, therefore, helps improve the appearance of acne wounds. It may help reduce hyperpigmentation.
The main difference between Vitamin C Serum and Hyaluronic Acid Serum is the basic functionality of the compounds. Vitamin C shall protect you from skin damage, while Hyaluronic Acid Serum helps your skin retain moisture. For effective results, these both are combined to give desired results for your skin.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Together? Not all powerful skincare ingredients can be mixed, but hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are two that become even stronger when paired with one another. These ingredients can provide both immediate and lasting results when used together in anti-aging formulations.
Most of the skincare experts we spoke with recommend adding a Vitamin C serum to your skincare routine slowly before building up a daily or twice-daily tolerance. “I recommend every other day to daily use in the morning, typically three to five drops for the entire face,” Palm says.
Vitamin C serums are legendary for a reason: They really work. Uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness — you can name just about any common complexion concern and there's a good chance that vitamin C (and the skin-care products it's featured in) is a recommended treatment.
Then, she works in her serum—she uses the Biba Los Angeles Plant Stem Cell Peptide Serum ($85) —with a massaging motion while it's wet. She explains that this technique helps the product soak in better. Next, she applies her nighttime moisturizer, the Biba Los Angeles Cream Barrier ($95).
Vitamin C is a powerful ingredient in many anti-aging products. Some studies show that it can reduce the appearance of wrinkles when you use it for at least 12 weeks. A healthy diet that's high in this nutrient might help, too. Research suggests that people who eat more vitamin C have fewer wrinkles.
Form: Liposomal Vitamin C
This form is the best absorbed and is great for those with digestive problems because it can be absorbed without fully going through the digestive system. Liposomal vitamin C is often made with sunflower lecithin which can help the liver detoxify the body from toxins.
All forms of vitamin C work in much the same way, but people should always choose a reputable seller and consider the dose, quality, and price point before buying a product. Consuming too much vitamin C may cause side effects.
If you're eating a varied diet that includes enough fruits and vegetables, it's unlikely that you're deficient in this water-soluble vitamin. However, if you're supplementing, vitamin C with rose hips may help boost your intake of other nutrients, not just vitamin C.
Since antioxidants, such as vitamin C, neutralize ROS, they may inhibit these protective effects and could cause an increase in acne-causing bacteria. Overall, though, there is not enough evidence to support the claims that vitamin C serums can cause acne.