Vitamin C serum
Vitamin C serum became part of my skincare regimen a mere four months ago and I have been so amazed by its impact to my skin that it’s become my number one recommendation to transform your skin. Looking to step up your basic wash-then-moisturize skincare routine? Vitamin C.
I’m disappointed I don’t have a progression sequence of photos to prove how amazing this ingredient has been to my skin, but I will tell you what’s changed so far:
- The hormonal acne that I’ve battled since I was a pre-teen has disappeared. It took about 8 weeks of using Vit C serum to get to the point that my breakouts completely stopped.
- Hyperpigmentation is gone. I had a couple of noticeable sunspots on my cheekbones prior to starting to use Vitamin C – not anymore!
- My skin is more even and hydrated. I have combination skin and struggled with a T-zone that was oil and flaky at the same time, with simultaneously dull cheeks. Vitamin C has evened out my skin to the point that I can moisturize it more deeply (eliminating the flakiness) without it causing breakouts. My foundation also stays put all day instead of becoming an oil slick.
What is it?
If you want to reap the benefits of Vitamin C for your skin you cannot rely on orally ingested sources, it just won’t ever pack the same potency and punch. Vitamin C serums come in a range of percentage concentrations, can be a standalone product or included in a moisturizer. I recommend the standalone serum. Choose a lower percentage concentration (5-10%) for drier skin, and higher (15-20%) for oilier or hyperpigmented skin.
Why to use it: It’s one of the most beneficial skincare products and solves a myriad of problems.
Just Google Vitamin C serum if you don’t believe me. Vitamin C is currently hailed as one of the most effective, versatile and healthful things you can do to not only keep your skin looking amazing, but to effectively erase or reverse skincare battles you’ve grappled with for years.
- Accelerates collagen production (read: wrinkles show up slower)
- Helps remove hyperpigmentation and protects from sun damage
- Hydrates the skin
- Evens skin tone
- Is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals
When to use: Every morning
Apply Vitamin C to freshly washed, dry skin each morning as the first ingredient on your skin. Let it absorb completely (60+ seconds) before applying your next ingredients. You always want to apply skincare products from thinnest to thickest. After Vitamin C, I apply hyaluronic acid (mixed with these tanning drops a couple days a week), then moisturizer.
Vitamin C is a pretty dang safe ingredient but it’s not advisable to use with AHA’s or BHA’s because it can irritate your skin; pairing with retinoids raises some questions as well. I use an AHA/BHA peel once a week and retinol at night, so no Vitamin C for me as part of my nighttime regimen.
How to apply it
To freshly washed and dry skin, I apply 3 drops of serum: 1 in the middle of my forehead and one on each cheekbone. It’s not much thicker than water so as the serum runs down my face I use my fingertips to quickly swirl it around my face, neck, and chest.
Store your Vitamin C serum in a dark place (I keep mine in my make-up drawer) so it doesn’t lose its potency and oxidize – which you’ll know if your serum changes from its clear/light yellow color to dark yellow or brown.
My recommendations
Obagi medical grade 15% Vitamin C serum
