Vitamin C is an amazing skin care ingredient that anyone can add to their skin care routine.
Its antioxidant powers repair damaged skin cells and protect it from oxidative stress caused by environmental factors like UV rays.
It can brighten and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reduce discoloration, acne scarring and uneven skin tone and promote collagen production.
Even better, a great vitamin C serum doesn’t have to be expensive and can be found right in your local drugstore.
Keep reading to learn the skin care benefits of vitamin C, how to properly use it in your skin care routine, how to store it for best results and which vitamin C serums you can add to your drugstore cart on your next shopping trip!
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The Benefits of Vitamin C For Skin
Vitamin C is a must have antioxidant in your skin care routine because it has so many benefits for skin and is great for any skin type. Specifically, vitamin C:
- can be applied during pregnancy or while breastfeeding (unlike retinol)
- provides hydration to the skin
- can brighten and even the complexion
- can reduce redness, irritation and inflammation in skin
- can reduce hyperpigmentation and dark spots
- can reduce the appearance of under-eye circles
- promotes collagen production for plumper skin
- helps protect against sun damage and negative environmental factors
- can reduce the look of acne scars
- reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles
- protects against free radical damage
- can improve wound healing and skin repair
Tip: Vitamin C in less than 10% concentration will not be potent enough to see results. Aim for vitamin C serums in the 10-20% range.
How To Add Vitamin C To Your Skin Care Routine
Vitamin C can be used morning or night, but is best used in the morning under your sunscreen because of its ability to work with your sunscreen to provide additional protection to the skin. Vitamin C is really easy to add into your morning skin care routine, with many vitamin C serums being made to add directly onto the skin or being mixed in with your existing skin care products.
As a sample, my morning routine looks like this:
- cleanse
- apply hydrating toner/essence
- apply vitamin C serum
- apply hydrating serum
- moisturize
- sunscreen
How To Avoid Irritation & Vitamin C Mistakes
To avoid irritation or negative interactions, avoid using vitamin C in the same application as your exfoliating or retinol products. There are also vitamin C serums that are formulated for sensitive skin types (like the La Roche Posay serum further down this article).
As always, be sure to patch test new products for reactions and use the product only once or twice a week to start to ensure it doesn’t overly irritate your skin. It is common to feel some warmth in your skin after applying a vitamin C serum; this warmth usually goes away after your skin gets used to vitamin C and shouldn’t cause further irritation. Avoid use if excess redness or irritation occurs (your skin will always tell you when it’s not happy with a product, don’t ignore it!).
If you are not used to vitamin C or you have sensitive skin, you may also have to reduce the potency of the serum you use; start with a 10% vitamin C serum and work your way up to higher potencies once your skin has become used to this ingredient.
Be sure to use your vitamin C serum consistently for best results! Most serums take upwards of three months for best results and should be continually used for ongoing results.
Vitamin C Oxidation & Storage Tips
L-ascorbic acid is the strongest and purest form of vitamin but is also the least stable. As a result, it can lose its antioxidant benefits when exposed to factors like air, light or heat.
When a vitamin C serum has oxidized, you will notice it will look dark yellow, orange or brown (think of a sliced apple that turns from white inside to brown). While it is still safe to use on the skin, it won’t be as potent as it was before it oxidized.
Always purchase vitamin C serums that come in an opaque container to block out light and protect it from oxidizing too quickly. Serums in a pump versus an open container will also last longer. Storing your vitamin C serum in a cool, dark place can also improve its longevity.
How To Store Vitamin C Products:
Proper storage is key to maintaining the stability and potency of vitamin C serums. Follow these tips to ensure your serum remains effective:
- Buy Serums In Proper Packaging: Always purchase vitamin C serums that come in an opaque container to block out light and protect it from oxidizing too quickly. Serums in a pump versus an open container will also last longer.
- Keep it Cool: Vitamin C serums are prone to oxidation when exposed to light and air. Store your serum in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to preserve its potency.
- Seal Tightly: Close the bottle tightly after each use to prevent air from entering and accelerating oxidation.
- Check Expiry Date: Pay attention to the expiry date of your vitamin C serum and replace it if it has expired, as degraded formulations may no longer deliver the best results.
6 Amazing Skin Care Ingredients For Healthy Skin
Suffer from acne? Bumpy skin? Fine lines? Dark spots? Redness? Find out how to pick the best skin care ingredients to treat your skin care issues in this post.
Great Drugstore Vitamin C Serums To Shop!
L’Oreal Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum
This serum uses vitamin C to brighten and smooth skin, while salicylic acid works to deeply exfoliate pores for a more refined complexion. This fast-absorbing liquid serum is made with the most potent form of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) to maximize its effects.
Add 2-3 drops of this serum directly on your skin or mix it into a moisturizing for glowing results!
BUY IT: AMAZON
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 10% Pure Vitamin C Concentrate
I just finished a tube of this and loved this one! It comes in a cream form and applies easily onto the skin without interfering or pilling with my other morning skin care products.
This fragrance free serum will smooth and brighten your skin while leaving it feeling smooth and matte for makeup application.
BUY IT: AMAZON
Indeed Laboratories Vitamin C24
I love the products from Indeed Labs and their drugstore Vitamin C24 serum is next on my wishlist. This serum/moisturizer combination is formulated with 22% ascorbic acid and 2% hyaluronic microspheres to help protect skin from environmental damage while increasing hydration levels to even out skin tone and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles.
The formula is also designed to quickly absorb into the skin and not oxidize to maximize the benefits of this serum. This serum is also vegan and fragrance free.
BUY IT: AMAZON
Reducing Acne Scars And Boosting Collagen With Banish!
Find out how Banish skincare can boost collagen and reduce the appearance of acne scarring with their vitamin C infused products and microneedling tool.
Neutrogena Rapid Tone Repair 20% Vitamin C Brightening Serum Capsules
This 30-pack of individual vitamin C capsules contains 20% pure vitamin C to smooth and brighten skin with a non-scented formula. The encapsulation of this serum preserves the freshness and potency of this serum to avoid oxidation for best results every time.
The seaweed-derived capsules are biodegradable in water and the serum is paraben free, preservative-free, alcohol-free, oil-free, fragrance-free and dye-free
BUY IT: AMAZON
Garnier Vitamin C Brightening Serum
This Vitamin C serum contains a potent mix of Vitamin C, niacinamide & salicylic acid, to reduce the appearance of dark spots and enhance skin’s youthful glow. The formula provides a non-greasy finish in a gentle, affordable formula!
BUY IT: AMAZON
Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Serum
Olay is known for its amazing anti-aging formulas at great prices and this vitamin C serum is no different. This clean formula excludes parabens, synthetic dyes and pthalates and visibly brightens skin while peptides support the skin barrier.
It has a light citrus scent with a non-greasy formula. It also contains lactic acid and vitamin B3 (niacinamide) to further smooth and brighten skin for optimal radiance.
BUY IT: AMAZON
RoC 10% Vitamin C Face Serum
ROC has amazing skincare formulations with ingredients included for optimal results. Its 10% Vitamin C Serum with nano-peptides works to brighten and smooth skin while protecting it from environmental stressors with its lightweight formula. Clinical results promise smoother, brighter skin with continued use, making it a must in your anti-aging skin care routine.
BUY IT: AMAZON
Vichy LiftActiv Supreme Vitamin C Serum
Vichy’s vitamin C serum boasts a 15% vitamin C formula promising to make skin tighter and brighter in just 10 days. The tip applicator helps prevent formula contamination. Formulated with only 11 ingredients and an advanced anti-oxidant complex in a formula that’s lightweight, fragrance-free & allergy tested.
BUY IT: AMAZON
Paula's Choice Vitamin C15 Super Booster Review
Learn how this C15 Super Booster with 15% Vitamin C serum from Paula's Choice can boost collagen production and reduce the look of dark spots and fine lines.
La Roche Posay 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum
La Roche Posay is one of my most favourite skin care brands and is formulated to provide results to all skin types, but especially sensitive skin. It gently exfoliates and visibly refines skin texture and tone with salicylic acid, while soothing sensitive skin in a gentle formula. This serum is lightly fragranced and non-comedogenic.
BUY IT: ULTA
CeraVe Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
This drugstore vitamin C serum is formulated with 10% pure vitamin C in packaging made to maintain the stability of the formula for best results. Vitamin C smoothes and brightens skin while hyaluronic acid ensure moisture is retained in the skin for full hydration.
This serum has a gel texture for a light, non-greasy feel and includes ceramides to restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier.
BUY IT: AMAZON
Vitamin C serums are great additions to any skin care routine and provide so many benefits for a radiant, youthful complexion.
By understanding how to use them properly, you can harness the full potential of vitamin C to unveil your skin’s natural radiance.
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