When and How to Apply Vitamin C
When and How to Apply Vitamin C Serum
When it comes to superhero skincare ingredients, you can’t go past vitamin C. This antioxidant helps protect skin cells from external aggressors such as air pollution and sun damage, while also helping to prevent signs of ageing and improve the appearance of skin texture.
There are a range of unique benefits that make vitamin C a powerful tool in your everyday skincare routine. To learn about the how to use vitamin C serum correctly and when, read on.
How to use vitamin C serum
If you want to utilise this antioxidant in its most powerful iteration, vitamin C serum is the best approach. Before you jump in however, it’s key to learn how to use vitamin C serum correctly before you start. Applying vitamin C (known as ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid) topically allows it to be absorbed directly into the skin. As an acid, it triggers the skin to support itself by producing more collagen and elastin. If you want to tackle the signs of ageing, boosting collagen production is the best place to start.
In order to maximise the benefits of this superhero antioxidant it’s important to know the best active ingredients to mix it with, and which to avoid.
Ingredients to pair and avoid with vitamin C serum
The list of vitamin C serum benefits is already quite lengthy, but what’s worth noting is that vitamin C also works well with a number of other active ingredients – while some should be used sparingly.
Vitamin E
Using both vitamin E and vitamin C in your skincare routine helps to fight free radical damage caused by things such as air pollution, UV radiation and a poor diet. Additionally, both ingredients fight different types of UV damage, so using them separately or together in one product is a great way to help prevent photodamage.
Ferulic acid
Ferulic acid and vitamin C also pair well together, with the former helping to extend the effectiveness of vitamin C, while also fighting free radicals.
Pineapple extract
While technically a source of vitamin C itself, pineapple extract works well with other forms of vitamin C. The Vitamin C Anti-Fatigue Ampoule Face Sheet Mask with Pineapple Extract includes vitamin Cg with the added benefit of pineapple, for its exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties. For a brighter and more even complexion, the Pinea-C Brightening Serum Cream is formulated with pineapple and vitamin C to improve the appearance of dull looking skin.
Retinol
Retinol is a much talked about active ingredient that also helps neutralise free radicals and aids with collagen production, but can you use vitamin C with retinol? While they can theoretically work together, doing so could lead to skin sensitivity, so it’s best to use on alternative days or times.
Hydroxy acids
AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) and BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) such as glycolic, lactic and salicylic acids are both acids like vitamin C. Mixing AHAs and BHAs with vitamin C, much like retinol can be overwhelming for the skin. If you want to use these in your skincare routine, it’s best to alternate their use.
When to use vitamin C serum
When it comes to how to apply vitamin C serum effectively, such as our Vitamin C Brightening Serum, you can apply it in the morning daily. This will help to protect your skin against free radicals like air pollution and UV light—things you’ll typically encounter during the day. When applying vitamin C serum for face, it’s important to start with a clean face to enable it to be properly absorbed. Start with a gentle cleanser, like our Pinea-C Brightening Foaming Gel Cleanser – formulated with both vitamin C and pineapple to help brighten the skin.
Once cleansed, apply the vitamin c serum and allow to thoroughly soak into the skin - then follow up with moisturiser and sunscreen. The same can be done at night, minus the SPF.
Vitamin C skincare pairings
To see visible results over time, it’s important to understand how to effectively layer vitamin C serum in a routine. See how vitamin C works with other hero ingredients below, with product recommendations from our Green Labs range.
Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that’s naturally found in many areas of the body and is capable of binding one thousand times its weight in water. Can you use hyaluronic acid with vitamin C? The answer is yes. Both have unique anti-ageing properties, and work well to complement each other. While vitamin C is great at protecting and encouraging rejuvenation of the skin, hyaluronic acid will work to hydrate and plump the skin.
If you’re unsure about when to use vitamin C when layering products, apply vitamin C serum first, followed by hyaluronic acid - this will help to add moisture back into the skin. Alternatively, you could skip these steps and use a product that features both ingredients. The Hyalu-Melon Replumping Serum Cream SPF 15 works to improve dehydrated skin and target fine lines, while providing hydration for up to 24 hours.
Vitamin C and Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 - a restorative ingredient that works with all skin types. The question of ‘can you mix niacinamide and vitamin C?’ remains a yes. Much like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and vitamin C also complement each other when addressing skin concerns. Both target signs of ageing skin, and manage the concern in different ways. When it comes to skin brightening, vitamin C will work on preventing the production of the enzyme tyrosinase which produces pigment in the skin, while niacinamide is said to inhibit the transfer of pigment in the cells.
When applying both ingredients separately, you can opt for a vitamin C serum with the Canna-B Pore Minimising Serum Cream SPF 15 which contains niacinamide and cannabis sativa seed oil to target oily and combination skin and enlarged pores. Both will help to refine the appearance of your complexion, while also allowing you to reap the benefits of both ingredients – for the ultimate glow.
