Are you new to Vitamin C serum? Nowadays, you can hear loads of appreciation about it from various beauty influencers and experts. So, if you are wondering how to include this serum in your skincare routine, check out this article.
We know that coming to a different skincare ingredient can be intimidating. And therefore, we have prepared this detailed guide that will help you to use vitamin C serum with ease.
Vitamin C Serum- An Beginners Guide
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can help you to fight against visible aging signs, pollution, environmental damage, pigmentation, and many more.
As a powerful antioxidant, it protects your skin from exposed pollutants. So you can minimize sun damage and pigmentation. It stimulates collagen production to make your skin plump and smooth.
Additionally, it is one of the popular choices among youth looking for bright and glowing skin. Keep on reading to know everything about vitamin C serum.
Note:
It is a brightening ingredient you cannot afford to miss when looking for glowing and youthful skin.
Best Way To Apply Vitamin C Serum
Step 1- Cleansing
Like every other skincare routine, you should start by cleansing your face. In the morning, you should use a gentle cleanser. It will help you get rid of last night’s dirt and sebum.
If you have a nighttime routine, you know how many skincare ingredients are resting on your face in the morning. You have to get rid of them before applying anything else.
Step 2- Toner
The next step includes using a hydrating toner. While buying any toner, remember to check the ingredients list and avoid toners with alcohol or any harsh ingredients.
Always opt for hydrating toner with some skin-soothing ingredients that will help to restore the skin’s pH level to normal after washing. And provides extra hydration and makes it ready for the next level.
Step 3- Essence
Now, here is where things get interesting!
You cannot miss this step if you want glowy and glass-like skin. The essence is applied before the serum. It is lightweight and adds an extra layer of moisture to your skin.
Note:- The basic rule for layering is to go from thin to thick.
Step 4- Vitamin C Serum
Here is the most awaited step- Vitamin C. Before applying vitamin C serum, your skin should not be damp but dry. You don’t want to reduce the efficiency of the serum by layering it above wet skin.
Drop 3-4 drops directly on the skin and pat dry until your skin absorbs it. Now, wait for a few minutes to dry before the next step.
Step 5- Other Serum
You can skip this step, but if you want faster results with added benefits, you can layer your skin with other serum. You can use Vitamin E or hyaluronic acid to increase the efficiency of the serum.
Step 6- Moisturizer
Now top it off with your favorite moisturizer to seal in the moisture. It will prevent the skincare from evaporating, giving enough time for your skin cells to absorb the goodness.
Step 7- Sunscreen
Now, if you are following this routine in the daytime, top everything off with sunscreen. You should use a two-finger method to get enough sunscreen to protect your skin from sun damage.
You can skip this step if you plan to follow this routine at night.
Step 8- Moisturizing Lip Balm with SPF
Never forget your lips!
You should use moisturizing lip balm with SPF to prevent lip hyperpigmentation. And get those soft and plump pink lips.
At night, you can use a moisturizing lip mask.
What To Layer With Your Vitamin C Serum?
So, what is good to layer with your Vitamin C serum? Here are a few things you can us to increase its efficiency and get faster results.
- Vitamin C Serum And Hyaluronic Acid Serum
You can easily pair hyaluronic acid serum with this to enhance its anti-aging properties. You can use either hyaluronic acid as a serum or moisturizer on top of your this serum.
- Vitamin C Serum And Vitamin E
Vitamin E works well with Vitamin C serum. They both are antioxidants that enhance each other’s properties.
- Vitamin C Serum And Ferulic Acid
Another powerful antioxidant you can use with vitamin C serum is ferulic acid. You can add this to your skincare routine with vitamins C and E for maximum benefits.
What Not To Mix With Your Vitamin C Serum?
Now we have discussed how to layer Vitamin C serum with other serums. We will now discover more about serum you need to avoid altogether while using vitamin C. Why? Because it can hinder it and cause damage or no effect on the skin.
- Vitamin C Serum And Retinol
So you may use your retinol serum with vitamin C serum, but if you have sensitive skin, you should refrain from doing so. Have anti-aging compounds that can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but when combined with Vitamin C serum can result in skin feeling redness or irritation. It can even increase skin damage under UV rays. If you are using both serums, you should use one in your morning skincare and the other in your nighttime skincare.
- Vitamin C Serum And AHA/BHA
Another thing that you should not combine with your Vitamin C is Alpha hydroxy serum (AHAs) and beta hydroxy serum (BHAs). The AHAs are known to renew their skin surface. BHAs are known to cleanse your pores getting rid of dead skin cells.
But now here is the catch. You cannot combine these acidic ingredients with another acidic ingredient, i.e., vitamin C. If you do so, you can experience irritation. You can use this on alternate days or in alternate routines.
- Vitamin C Serum And Niacinamide
The most awaited question is how to use vitamin C serum with niacinamide. Many people get confused when it comes to using these serums. Many wonder if they can mix niacinamide serum with vitamin C serum.
The answer to this question is that you shouldn’t combine niacinamide with Vitamin C. They cancel out each other chemically, making both ineffective on your skin. If you want to use both on your skin, you can use a formulated serum containing both ingredients.
How To Choose The Best Vitamin C Serum?
Now, if you are convinced to buy a Vitamin C serum for yourself, let us help you in choosing the best one for you.
- Concentration
The first thing you will spot on any vitamin C serum is concentration. Different brands offer different percentages of concentration.
Don’t think that the highestconcentration of vitamin C serumwill help you deliver a faster result.
Instead, anything between 10 to 20 is a good concentration if you are using this brightening serum for a while. But if you are a complete beginner, you should start by choosing lower than 10% and increasing it slowly. So your skin has enough time to adapt to this active serum.
Also, anything above 20% is a complete no. As it can damage and irritate your skin. And the last thing you want is to damage your skin barrier, which takes years to repair.
- Packaging
Vitamin C is a highly reactive solution. It can react with air, light, or heat and reduce the power of your serum. It will cause slower results.
So while choosing any brand, make sure it comes with a dark bottle with a dropper rather than a transparent one.
When To Use Vitamin C Serum? Day or Night?
One of the most common confusions aboutVitamin C serumis when to use it. According to some experts, you use it at day time and others at night. The readers are left in confusion as to what they should believe in. But don’t worry. We have got you covered.
According to skin experts, you can use this serum in the morning or night as per your choice. If you are looking for sun protection, you can apply it in the morning as they have photo-protective properties protecting the skin from sun damage.
But don’t go directly into the sunlight after applying this serum. You should wait a bit to expose your skin to the sun. Also, don’t forget to use sunscreen after moisturizer for maximum protection.
If you are using any other serum in the daytime, then you can use this serum in the nighttime. It allows your skin to recover from sun damage and get glowing skin in the morning.
How Long Does Vitamin C Serum Take To Work?
The answer to this question is different for every person. A general rule is that you can see results from Vitamin C serum within three months. With regular use of this beauty elixir, you can start noticing even tone skin, reduced hyperpigmentation, and glowy skin.
Top 7 Benefits Of Vitamin C Serum
Have you heard an Apple a day keeps the doctor away? You have, rig?t. Think of this serum as an apple of the skincare world. It can keep your skin concerns at bay, giving you a healthy complexion.
- Boost Hydration
This skincare ampoule is an integral part of skin hydration. It reduces water loss from the skin layers and locks moisture in the skin. Continuous usage of this serum will help you get smooth, hydrated, and plumpy skin.
- Skin Brightening
Vitamin C is one of the key skin-brightening ingredients. It helps you to get that youthful glow. It can reduce melanin production, giving you an even skin tone. When paired with vitamin E serum or moisturizer, it delivers faster results.
- Reduce Inflammation And Redness
If you are dealing with red and inflamed skin, a Vitamin C run can help to soothe it. It has some anti-inflammatory properties that can minimize redness and irritation caused by it.
- Boost Collagen Production
Vitamin C serum is the only solution for all your aging concerns. It boosts collagen production, which reduces wrinkles and fine lines. Your skin uses this ingredient to produce collagen from an early age, but with time it loses the natural vitamin C that you need to add to your skincare as a supplement.
- Protection Against Sun Damage
Vitamin C serum is one of the best ways to protect your skin from visible sun damage. Why is extra protection from UV lights and environmental pollution? It can also reverse these damages so that you can get an even skin tone.
- Reduce Hyperpigmentation
If you are dealing with hyperpigmentation, then Vitamin C is one of the best for this issue. It helps you to fight various issues that arise from hyperpigmentation, such as sun spots, melasma, age spots, etc. Continuous use of the vitamin C serum reduces melanin production, which fades away hyperpigmentation.
Final Words
Vitamin C serum is one of the most powerful serums and can work magically to treat your dark spot, hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and aging signs. By incorporating this serum into your skincare routine, you will see several benefits.
I hope you can now include this serum to your skincare routine without confusion. If you have any questions, let us know in the comment section below.
