Hailed as a rockstar skincare ingredient, Vitamin C is renowned for its skin-brightening abilities.
It is also a powerful antioxidant which protects the skin from damaging free radicals while also reducing dark spots and redness and preventing premature ageing.
Fundamentals Skincare’s Natasha Davel unpacks everything you need to know about this hard-working active ingredient and how to add it to your skincare routine.
“Topical Vitamin C is a multi-purpose workhorse that can protect, repair and enhance your skin,” she said.
Here are some of its proven benefits:
- Reduces wrinkles.
- Increases collagen production.
- Aids wound healing.
- Helps protect against sun damage.
- Reduces hyperpigmentation by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosinase, that causes skin discolouration.
- Evens skin tone.
- Brightens complexion.
- Acts like armour against pollution and other free radicals.
- May also help protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet rays when used in combination with a broad-spectrum
Davel said using a powerful and stable Vitamin C serum for around 12 weeks and longer, can help smooth out the appearance of your skin and promote a healthier appearance.
How to choose a Vitamin C product:
Davel suggested that when choosing to incorporate this ingredient into your skincare routine, it is important to look for products that not only have Vitamin C.
“Throw in some Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid as these ingredients can team up to boost stability and penetration.”
“If you have sensitive skin or rosacea, you might want to opt for the gentler Vitamin C options, like Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate.
How to use Vitamin C serum
Davel stressed that it is important not to layer Vitamin C products with peptides, which are short chains of amino acids that make up certain proteins needed by the skin.
“Layering these two ingredients one can cause chelation so just wash your face and always start with clean skin so your Vitamin C serum doesn’t mix with impurities.
She also suggested using a toner to balance the skin’s pH before applying Vitamin C to the face, neck and chest.
You can then apply moisturiser to form a protective seal around skin, but Davel urged against layering retinol directly after Vitamin C as this can over stimulate the skin.
It is also important to apply sunscreen following the application of Vitamin C serums as they may increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight.
Vitamin C increases the skin’s cell turnover, which can lead to breakouts in the first few weeks of use, Davel said.
“High concentrations of Vitamin C can cause irritation and reactions when mixed with certain active ingredients, such as retinol and other acids,” she said.
Meanwhile, Vitamin C can be used at any time of the day.
“It’s common to use Vitamin C in the morning and retinol or exfoliants at night, since they shouldn’t be mixed in the same routine,” said Davel.
“If you go this route, just make sure to use SPF when using Vitamin C during the day.