The Do's & Don'ts of Vitamin C In Skincare
We know there's a lot to know when it comes to skincare and skincare ingredients like Vitamin C. So, here's a little breakdown to of what to do, and what not to do, to make it easier for you.
Vitamin C in skincare offers a huge array of benefits. It is an absolute must in your skin routine if you are concerned about slowing the signs of aging, fading pigmentation, or brightening dull skin.
Vitamin C Benefits:
- Brightens a dull complexion
- Helps fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation
- Repairs wounds and skin damage
- Increases hydration and skin moisture
- Promotes collagen production
- Increases skin elasticity
So we know all these incredible reasons to include Vitamin C in our skin care routine - but here are some very important things to know, to get the best results!
The Do's:
Use Daily
Vitamin C combats the free radicals which attack your collagen and elastin supplies, as well as fighting oxidative stress to the skin. Using it daily in your skin routine is a must. Unlike exfoliating acids or retinols which can be used just a few times a week, your skin can benefit from using Vitamin C every day.
Choose a formula with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid for stability
Vitamin C is not a stable ingredient. This means that it requires other ingredients to stabilize it in order to retain maximum efficacy. Ferulic acid not only provides increased stability to a solution of vitamins C+E, but also adds a substantial synergistic photo-protection, essentially doubling its efficacy. Moreover it provides additional protection against thymine dimer formation that should prove useful for prevention of skin cancer. Our Active Rejuvenation Oasis Serum is formulated with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid for this very reason.
Chose airless packaging
One of the most crucial factors to consider when choosing between an airless pump and a dropper is the preservation of your Vitamin C serum. Vitamin C is notoriously sensitive to light, air, and heat. When exposed to these elements, it can become less effective and may even lead to skin irritation.
We chose airless packaging for our Active Rejuvenation Oasis Serum for this exact reason.
Feel free to use with niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and other hydrating ingredients.
The hydrating and brightening benefits of Vitamin C can be further enhanced by using it with ingredients like Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid and other hydrating and softening ingredients! Feel free to either use a serum like our Active Rejuvenation Oasis Serum which also has hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, or simply layer your serums and beauty waters.
Use as part of you AM skin routine
Our skin gets most of its oxidative stress throughout the day, and during daylight. Vitamin C helps tackle this as part of a morning skin care routine.
Use separately from retinols/AHA/BHA
Retinols, AHA and BHA when used with Vitamin C can lead to skin irritation and break outs. Additionally, retinols, AHA and BHA will sensitize your skin to the sun, and so should not be used as part of a morning skin routine. Use your Vitamin C in the morning and exfoliating acids in the evening- just make sure to cleanse your face in between.
Opt for a stabilized form of Vitamin C (such as the ingredient STABLE-C)
As mentioned earlier, Vitamin C is not a stable active ingredient. There are now stabilized forms of Vitamin C on the market, as found in our Active Rejuvenation Oasis Serum, which are formulated specifically to prevent oxidization and maximal results.
The Don'ts:
Never mix with AHA BHA or Retinol (you can use it at separate times of the day instead, just make sure to cleanse in between.)
It's important to use AHA, BHA, Retinol, or other exfoliating acids at night, and separate from your use of Vitamin C in your skincare routine. These exfoliating acids will sensitize your skin and can lead to skin irritation when used with Vitamin C. You can of course, just separate out when you use them - acids at night and Vitamin C in the morning for that reason, just make sure to cleanse in between!
Don't use Vitamin C in a clear bottle or packaging
Vitamin C is an unstable ingredient that can degrade fast when exposed to light, heat, and air. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose a vitamin C serum that is packaged in a dark, airtight container, such as an airless pump bottle. Avoid clear dropper bottles that expose the serum to light, as this can cause it to lose its potency and effectiveness. For this reason, our Active Rejuvenation Oasis Serum uses opaque, airless packaging, for maximal efficacy.
Don't use a formula that is too strong for your skin or causes irritation - more is not always better!
Using too high a concentration of a Vitamin C serum can lead to irritation and redness, whilst using too little can reduce its effectiveness. To get the best results, use a pea-sized amount of serum for your face and neck, and gently massage it in using upward motions. If you are new to using Vitamin C, opt for a gentle formula with other hydrating ingredients.
Don't use any vitamin c serum that is expired or oxidized
Thus, using an oxidized serum is conclusive to do more harm than good. If a Vitamin C serum oxidizes, it acts as pro-oxidant and causes inflammation and irritation to the skin, which leads to skin damage. The way to tell if it has oxidized is that it will turn a brown color. Additionally, don't use a Vitamin C serum passed its sell-by date, and use it within 3-6 months of opening.
Don't continue using any vitamin C serum causing irritation.
If you experience signs of irritation or an allergic reaction to a Vitamin C product, stop using all your active skincare products (including Vitamin C) to let the skin heal. You may want to use a gentle cleanser and a basic moisturizer to avoid aggravating your inflamed skin until it returns to normal, as well as going easy on exfoliation.
Those are our Do's and Don'ts of using Vitamin C in your daily skin ritual! We hope it was easy to understand, and useful to you. All of the above points were what we formulated our Active Rejuvenation Oasis Serum with, so that you get the most out of our daily brightening and anti aging serum. Get 15% Off your 1st order and free ground shipping when you sign up to our mailing list!
