The bottom line: Vitamin C serums are essential for your skin. You’ve likely heard of the magical ingredient or maybe even toyed around with testing one, but did you know it’s one of dermatologists’ most-recommended ingredients to add to your skincare routine?
Vitamin C is one among the most well-rounded and universally effective active ingredients in skincare. No matter what type of issues you have with your skin—dullness, hyperpigmentation, redness, fine lines, lack of firmness—vitamin C will yield some impressive improvements to the appearance of your complexion once you commit to daily application of it.
What is Vitamin C?
Just like the vitamin A you take to fight off illness during cold and flu season; vitamin C in skincare protects your skin from environmental free radicals. Vitamin C is used to brighten skin, diminish dark spots after breakouts, and create a more even skin complexion.
How does it do it? The visible signs of oxidative stress can include a duller skin tone, increased reddening, and other symptoms. When our cells come in contact with harmful agents like vehicle emissions, cigarette smoke and UVA/UVB rays, free radicals are created.
Vitamin C Benefits for Skin
Excessive oxidative stress can make your skin weaker. This can lead to premature aging and hyperpigmentation due to sun damage or post-acne scarring. Vitamin C is not just a potent topical antioxidant; it is one of the more versatile active ingredients, as it also stimulates the skin’s production of collagen and is naturally anti-inflammatory—good news for people who also suffer from acne, oiliness, or blackheads or those who want some anti-aging properties.
Basically, everyone benefits from vitamin C. There is definitely a lot of “fluff” in skincare that you could do without, but if you’re focusing on youth preservation, calming redness and inflammation, fading dark spots, or just wanting that elusive “glow” that only Glossier models seem to naturally possess, you really shouldn’t skip vitamin C.
How to choose a Vitamin C serum
It is difficult to formulate Vitamin C in a way that ensures its effectiveness. The active ingredients that make a potent formula are very sensitive to light exposure and oxidation. Packaging is as important as the formula.
Ascorbic ccid, also known as L-ascorbic Acid, is one of the most well-known forms of vitamin A in skincare.agnesium ascorbylphosphate, sodium ascorbylphosphate and ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate. If there are no listed ingredients in a vitamin C product’s ingredients list, it is not powerful enough to show results.
L-ascorbic Acid is the most common vitamin C derivative used for skincare. However, with a pH of 3.0, it is also the most acidic. Most skin types can tolerate L-ascorbic acid, but if you are particularly sensitive, then consider formulas with any of the other commonly used derivatives—just know it will take longer to see the desired results.
To avoid light exposure and oxidation, it is best to package your vitamin C serum in an air-tight container.Many vitamin C serums come equipped with pipet applicators which allow for daily exposure to the air. This is not a good thing, but it does not mean it is a bad product.
Every vitamin C serum comes with an expiration date. When you first start using your serum, be aware of its characteristics. If your product becomes cloudy or changes in color, texture, smell, and/or color, it is time to stop using it immediately. It has oxidized and has expired. Vitamin C serums have a shelf life of six months to one year once opened.
How to Use Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C is often incorporated into morning routines because of the environmental aggressors that can create free radicals. A vitamin C serum can be used at night. However, it will likely interact negatively with other active ingredients, such as AHAs and retinol. Vitamin C serum is not required to be applied twice daily.
After cleansing, toning, hydrating with an essence, or another serum, apply your vitamin C serum. Finally, finish with moisturizer, SPF, and sunscreen. There are many reasons why you have to wear UVA/UVB protection every single day, but SPF and vitamin C really are two peas in a pod—both work to lessen the effects of oxidative stress on your skin. Your vitamin C serum doesn’t have to work as hard when combined with SPF, and vice versa.
The Best Vitamin C Serums
Maelove
Glow Maker Serum
Best Vitamin C Overall
Made with the classic blend of vitamin C (through L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E, and ferulic acid, this serum has everything you need for a bright, even complexion—without having to shell out major cash.
Biossance
Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil
Best Vitamin C for Dry skin
Vitamin C is recommended for dry skin, as it is compatible with other active ingredients. This one, along with squalane, is meant to brighten the skin and make it glow.
Paula’s Choice
Paula’s choice C15 Super Booster
Best Vitamin C to Oily Skin
This concentrated serum is lightweight and thin so it’s easy to apply, especially for those with oily skin. It locks in moisture without making your skin feel greasy.
Dr. Loretta
Anti-Aging Serum
Best Vitamin C For Sensitive Skin
You don’t need to worry about the tingling dryness that can be caused by vitamin C products with 15% or less. Don’t worry, this is still as brightening as any other vitamin C product.
Hyper Skin
Hyper Even Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum
Best Vitamin C for Hyperpigmentation
Hyper Skin uses vitamin C and Kojic acid to lighten dark spots and prevent them from coming back.
Skinceuticals
C E Ferulic
Best Vitamin C Splurge
This vitamin C is what you most likely think of when you think about vitamin C. It’s loved by dermatologists, celebs, and estheticians alike—and we’re here to admit that it’s worth the $$$ price tag. After just a few uses, it leaves glowing, bright skin.
Amazon
Tree of Life Vitamin C Serum
Best Vitamin C that is Budget-Friendly
This serum is rated highly on Amazon with nearly 29,000 reviews. This vitamin C is made with aloe vera gel and jojoba oil to moisturize the skin and soothe dryness.
Neutrogena
Capsules Vitamin C Serum Rapid Tone Repair
Best Anti-Aging Vitamin C
This oil-free, alcohol-free capsule has 20% vitamin C which deeply penetrates skin.
Source: The Every Girl