As your best friend in the skincare world, Vitamin C is one of those ingredients that you really should have in your routine—regardless of age or skin type. Vitamin C Serums are a great way to give your skin a boost in addition to other steps in your skincare routine. This brightening, anti-aging, skin protecting ingredient can be used for a variety of benefits that will give your skin a boost no matter what your goals are.
“If there is one ingredient I always recommend that someone add to their skincare routine, it’s Vitamin C,” says Dr. Parks. “Vitamin C, or Ascorbic Acid, can fight harmful toxins from sun damage and pollution while helping your skin appear brighter and more nourished,” he adds.
One of our most popular Vitamin C serums is the Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex. This gentle but powerful serum can help to repair skin damage and brighten spots caused by hyperpigmentation while working to hydrate and balance the skin. This makes it a great option for any skin type, plus it’s gentle enough to use hand in hand with other anti-aging products such as retinoids or AHAs for a powerful anti-aging routine.
“Ascorbic Acid is gentle enough to be used in combination with chemical exfoliants such as retinoids because it has restorative properties and won’t irritate the skin further,” says Dr. Parks. “This also means Vitamin C is a great ingredient for eye creams in addition to serums, because it’s a gentle but powerful active ingredient that can brighten and restore,” he says.
What is a Vitamin C Serum good for?
“Vitamin C is the kind of ingredient that almost everyone can benefit from,” says Dr. Parks. Topical Vitamin C is an important component of skin health. It acts as a powerful antioxidant to help fight the effects of harmful toxins that we encounter every day—from sun damage to exposure to pollutants in the air. Because of this, it can help brighten the skin by addressing dark spots caused by hyperpigmentation and aging. In clinical trials, it’s been shown to improve overall skin tone and brightness.
“Topical Vitamin C can help with acne by addressing inflammation as an antioxidant,” says Dr. Parks. “It can also balance sebum production, which is great for those with oily skin and acne caused by an over production of sebum,” he adds. On skincare labels, look for ingredients like L-Ascorbic Acid, or anything with the word “Ascorbyl” or “Ascorbate” in it, like Ascorbyl Palmitate or Sodium Ascorbate.
“I do like to warn patients that there is a chance they could be sensitive to topical Vitamin C in skincare,” says Dr. Parks. “There is a delicate microbiome on your skin, and if that microbiome is disrupted it can cause adverse effects in response to using topical skincare products. I have heard of patients noticing an increase in breakouts after using topical Vitamin C products,” he says. Some studies show that Vitamin C supplements, when ingested, can cause shifts in the gut microbiome. “Patients with sensitive skin may notice that Vitamin C products only trigger breakouts or increase overall sensitivity. In these cases, I recommend using a low concentration Vitamin C product or ceasing use of a Vitamin C product altogether,” says Dr. Parks.
How to Use a Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can be used in combination with other products in your routine. “I recommend applying your Vitamin C serum in the morning, before applying your moisturizer, SPF, or makeup,” says Dr. Parks. “This will help your skin to absorb the ingredient properly so that you can get the most out of the product,” he adds.
The La Roche Posay 10% Vitamin C Serum is a popular choice among DermWarehouse customers, as well as the StriVectin Super C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum. “Because this one contains a Retinol, I recommend using it as part of your night routine and no more than a couple of times per week,” says Dr. Parks. “Retinoids can cause slight irritation when used too often, but are an important step in any exfoliating routine,” he adds.
When to use a Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, meaning it helps protect your skin from damage caused by free radicals. “Free radicals are unstable molecules that can lead to premature aging and other skin concerns,” says Dr. Parks. “By applying vitamin C serum in the morning, you’re giving your skin an extra layer of defense against these harmful elements. When you apply it at night, it will help to even out your complexion overnight so that your skin is bright and even in the morning,” he adds.
You can use the ingredient in both your morning and evening skincare routine, which means it will often be found as an active ingredient in moisturizers, cleansers, and even eye creams. The Jan Marini C-Esta Eye Repair Concentrate is a popular option for products that brighten the eye area, while the Obagi Professional C Serum 20% can help protect your skin against harmful toxins.
“Vitamin C is gentle enough to be used every day,” says Dr. Parks. “While retinoids and Vitamin C can be mixed together when using the right products, the two can occasionally cause irritation. If you find that this happens when you use them together, use your Vitamin C in the morning and a retinoid at night,” he says. Those with sensitive skin can still use a Vitamin C serum, but may want to be careful when using them in combination with other active ingredients such as retinol or glycolic acid.
Which Vitamin C Serum is Right for You?
Picking the right Vitamin C product will depend heavily on your skin type and what your goals are. For most people, Vitamin C serums are a great addition to your morning or evening skincare routine. However, if you have sensitive skin like we mentioned before, it might be a good idea to stick to using Vitamin C in your morning routine if you use a retinoid at night.
If you’re looking to brighten your skin, particularly if you have some hyperpigmentation, the Revision Skincare C+ Correcting Complex is a great option because it can repair skin damage and improve discoloration caused by hyperpigmentatation. As a powerful antioxidant to shield your skin from harmful toxins and pollutants, we recommend the Clarity Rx C-Results Vitamin C Hydrating Antioxidant Cream as a powerful all-over hydrating cream that can give your skin some added protection when used with an SPF in the morning.
