Whether you’re a newbie or a skin care guru, you are certainly familiar with Vitamin C. The ingredient has been a part of our lives from an early age whether as an immunity booster or a skin care favourite.
Vitamin C serum has consistently been under the limelight of the beauty industry for its anti-aging and brightening abilities. Also known as the ‘glow ingredient’, the benefits of Vitamin C serum exceed far more than these two qualities.
Adding this one ingredient in your skin care regime can be the end of your several skin concerns. But before you jump the wagon, it is best to understand the ‘what, why, how and when to’ of the magic ingredient.
In this blog, we made a complete guide to answer any of the questions you may have about Vitamin C serum.
In This Article
What is Vitamin C Serum?
Among the numerous serums available on the market, vitamin C serum is considered as one of the best by dermatologists and skin experts. Vitamin C serum is a powerful antioxidant that helps to stimulate collagen and elastin production to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It is also beneficial for uneven skin tone and texture, brightening, prevention against hyperpigmentation, free radicals, acne scarring and UVA rays.
Benefits of Vitamin C Serum
- Reduce Wrinkles and Fine Lines
The firmness and elasticity of our skin depends on the level of collagen and elastin present in our bodies. As we age, collagen levels in our body decrease leading to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Due to its highly acidic formulation, vitamin C promotes an increase in the production of collagen and elastin in our body. This helps manage and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
- Hyperpigmentation and Dark Spots
Vitamin C is known to slow down the production of melanin which is beneficial for treating hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
- Skin Hydration
Vitamin C prevents transepidermal water loss from the skin. When the skin suffers from transepidermal water loss or evaporation of water from the skin, you may experience dry, flaky and dehydrated skin.
For topical application, dermatologists recommend using vitamin C serum as it has an aqueous base formula which provides better penetration of the protein for skin hydration.
- Suitable for Almost all Skin types
Vitamin C serum is suitable for almost all skin types including dry, sensitive and acne prone skin.
Additionally, it can also be used along with other skin care ingredients including SPF and alpha hydroxy acids.
Note: If you have sensitive skin or skin concerns, it is still recommended to seek your dermatologist’s advice before adding vitamin C in your skin care regime. Do a test patch to determine if the product suits your skin.
- Minimises Redness and Puffiness
Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties that helps protect skin cells from free radicals that cause oxidative stress and an inflamed skin.
Thus, vitamin C serum for face helps calm inflamed skin and minimises redness.
- Protects Against UV Rays
Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that help prevent the skin from oxidative stress such as pollution, dust and harmful UV rays.
Combined with its anti-inflammatory properties, vitamin C also prompts quick wound recovery including sunburn, acne scars, dark spots, and slows down skin ageing giving you a clear smooth skin.
Choosing a Vitamin C Serum
When choosing a vitamin C serum, it is essential to look out for certain skin care ingredients. There are also a few ingredients you need to avoid.To help you out, we have pointed out a few of those ingredients.
Ingredients to Look Out for
- L-ascorbic Acid: L-ascorbic acid is the most effective formulation of vitamin C that helps influence collagen production, reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and dark spots.
- Hyaluronic Acid: Hyaluronic acid is humectant i.e. an ingredient that helps to keep the skin hydrated and well-moisturised. Long term use of it can also help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles resulting in healthy and plump skin.
- Vitamin E: As an antioxidant, vitamin E helps protect the skin from harmful free radicals and UV rays. It also is useful in skin nourishment. When used as an ingredient in vitamin C serum, the two ingredients are more effective in preventing the skin from UV rays and free radicals. Vitamin E may also prove beneficial in treating eczema.
- Sodium hyaluronate: A derivative of sodium hyaluronic, sodium hyaluronate prevents transepidermal water loss and helps reduce inflammation of skin, and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Ferulic Acid: Ferulic acid best works with vitamin C to influence collagen production, slow down skin ageing and also reduce the effects of UV rays on the skin.
- Emblica: Emblica or the Indian gooseberry has antioxidant properties that help prevent premature ageing of skin, protects against oxidative stress like pollution, blue light and dust. It also helps brighten and even out skin tones.
Avoid Mixing These with Vitamin C Serum
- Alpha-hydroxy Acid: Mixing an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) like salicylic acid with vitamin C (also an acid) can change the pH level of vitamin C making it less or ineffective.
- Beta-hydroxy Acid: Just like AHAs, beta-hydroxy acids like lactic and glycolic acidscan change the pH level of vitamin C. Moreover, using multiple skin care acids at once can cause skin irritation, redness and inflammation.
- Retinol: It’s best to avoid mixing vitamin C serum for face with retinol. The pH level of retinol is comparatively higher than vitamin C and using these two at once lower their effectiveness. Moreover, they may also result in irritation of skin, redness and skin allergy.
SkinQ’s Vitamin C Glow Serum is a dermatologist recommended vitamin C serum in India. Developed for Indian skin, our vitamin C serum is formulated with active ingredients like L-ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, emblica and sodium hyaluronate.
The active ingredients of Vitamin C Glow Serum protects the skin from oxidative stress like harmful UV rays, pollution and dust. It has also proven to reduce melasma or pigmentation flare-ups, damage caused by UV light and prevents transepidermal water loss resulting in bright, hydrated skin. Long term use of Vitamin C Glow Serum helps prevent hyperpigmentation of the skin.
How to Use Vitamin C Serum?
Before starting out with vitamin C serum, there are a few essential things to keep in mind.
- Be patient when you first introduce your skin to the serum. Using it 2-3 times a week is recommended.
- When choosing vitamin C serum for oily skin and other skin type, select a serum with L-ascorbic acid formulation. L-ascorbic acid is a potent and most beneficial formulation of vitamin C serum for oily skin. And other skin types
- The best vitamin C serum for dry and sensitive skin type is one with a formulation consisting of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. This form of vitamin C serum is water-soluble and is less irritating for dry and sensitive skin.
- For new users of vitamin C serum, dermatologists recommend starting out with a serum that has a concentration as low as 10%. Concentration level can be increased to 15% once your skin is used to the serum.
- How well a vitamin C serum is absorbed by the skin depends on its pH level. For a sensitive skin type, the best vitamin C serum is with pH level of 5-6 whereas for normal skin type, it is recommended to choose a vitamin C serum with pH of 3.5.
The best way to apply vitamin C serum:
- Cleanse your face with a face cleanser that suits your skin type.
- Take approximately 3-4 drops of vitamin C serum in your palm and massage it gently on your face.
- Allow the serum to dry before applying moisturiser.
- Layer your face with a sunscreen of SPF40 as the last step.
When to Use a Vitamin C Serum ?
For most skin types, vitamin C serum is best used in the morning. Using vitamin C serum in the a.m on a cleansed face allows it to better penetrate in the skin. Moreover, an application of the serum in the morning may also help protect your skin from oxidative stress such as pollution, dust and UV rays. But there is no harm in using it twice a day i.e. in the morning and at night.
When applying vitamin C serum in the morning, it is recommended to follow it with a sunscreen of at least SPF 40.
For sensitive skin types, it is recommended to use vitamin C serum at night on a cleansed face. Follow it with a good moisturiser.
Wrapping Up
Vitamin C serum is an essential part of a skin care regime if blemish-free, glowing and hydrated skin is the goal. If you’re just starting out, remember to take it slow and be consistent. It takes several weeks before you can notice visible results.
It is recommended to consult your dermatologist before adding vitamin C serum india in your skin care regime.