Vitamin C Serum: What is it and how do I use it?

In the skincare world today, serums have become all the rage. You’ve probably seen new serum products pop up in your favorite skincare or makeup store - Anti-aging, skin brightening, acne-fighting, hydrating, exfoliating, reparative and renewing, and many more.

We all know our skin needs nourishment and care just like the rest of our body. After all, your skin is the largest organ in your body. But, what exactly does your skin need? One of the many topical skincare essentials that you need to maintain a youthful glow is vitamin C.

Keep reading to learn more about vitamin C, why you should be using this serum in your daily routine, and how to use vitamin C serum properly. 

What is vitamin C and what can it do for my skin?

Vitamin C is an essential vitamin for the human body, though our bodies can’t produce vitamin C on their own. We get a lot of our vitamin C from eating healthy fruits and veggies, like oranges or leafy greens. Vitamin C helps in the process of building healthy tissue, maintaining healing processes, repairing collagen in bones, and even maintaining healthy brain function [1, 2]. 

You’re probably getting vitamin C in your diet, but there’s no certainty your skin is reaping the benefits of the vitamin C you’re consuming. That’s why topical vitamin C serum is so helpful - it’s a direct way to make sure your skin can achieve things like smoothness, evenness, and a natural glow.

In skin care, vitamin C is coveted for its antioxidant and anti-aging properties. Plus, it’s safe for pretty much all skin types. Vitamin C can benefit the skin in some of the following ways [1, 3, 4]: 

• Boosts hydration
• Brightens the skin
• Reduces redness
• May help to prevent sagging
• May help wound healing
• Helps restore collagen production
• Prevents sun damage
• May help to soothe sunburns
• Improves the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots, and acne
• Helps slow early skin aging
• Fights inflammation caused by free radicals

What kinds of vitamin C are used in skincare?

The pure form of vitamin C is known as L-ascorbic acid. Other forms that can also pop up in skincare products include:

• Sodium ascorbyl phosphate
• Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
• Ascorbyl palmitate
• Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
• Retinyl ascorbate

These vitamin C derivatives are designed to retain potency for longer periods [4]: 

• L-ascorbic acid
• Ascorbyl palmitate
• Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate

We recommend looking for a vitamin C serum that uses a stable, active form that is gentle on the skin. We also recommend aiming for serums that are about 10% to 20% vitamin C for optimum results. Look for vitamin C serums with water-free formulations and opaque bottles that are airtight. 

How do I use vitamin C serum properly?

The beauty of vitamin C serum is that you can use it daily, either day or night, or both. It’s recommended to use vitamin C serum before other daily products and to follow up with products that also contain vitamin C in their ingredients. 

Using your vitamin C serum properly is easy peasy: 

1. CLEAN AND BARE-FACED

It’s always best to start with a clean slate. Use your favorite cleanser to wash your face and rinse thoroughly to reveal your bare, beautiful skin. Gently pat your face dry with a clean cloth. 

2. APPLY YOUR TONER (OPTIONAL)

If you have an extensive skincare routine, you probably apply toner (we love that). We recommend using your preferred toner before any other face serum, oil, or lotion. 

3. VITAMIN C TIME

Get ready - it’s time to apply your vitamin C serum! You will only need a coin-sized drop of your serum - trust us, a little bit goes a long way. Rub the drop between your fingertips to warm the serum, then apply a thin layer to your face and neck. 

5. LET IT ALL SOAK IN 

Let your vitamin C serum settle into your skin - your skin will love to soak it all in, so give it the chance! When the serum is fully dried, you can begin applying your next skincare product. 

6. SEAL IN THE GOODNESS WITH SOME HYDRATION

Next, you can follow up with a moisturizing oil or face cream to seal in your serum and also hydrate the skin. Not only does your skin love soaking up nourishing essential nutrients, but it also loves a yummy soothing hydration moment, too. 

7. DAYTIME SERUM LOVERS - WEAR YOUR SUNSCREEN

Many people prefer to use their vitamin C serums in the morning due to vitamin C’s ability to protect against sun damage [1, 3, 4]. However, vitamin C isn’t a substitute for good old-fashioned sunscreen. If you’re going to be out in the sun, make sure to apply your sunscreen so your vitamin C can perform at its best! 

8. DON’T MIX AND MATCH WITH CERTAIN PRODUCTS

Some ingredients in other products can reduce the effectiveness of your vitamin C serum or irritate your skin when combined with vitamin C. Things like niacinamide, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol are often recommended not to mix with vitamin C. Ask a skin expert if you have any questions about which products are safe to use with a vitamin C serum.

Remember, consistency is key if you want to see real results. Add vitamin C serum into your skincare routine in a way that makes the most sense for you. You might be a daytime serum lover or a nighttime serum connoisseur. It all depends on your own personal preferences!

If you experience discomfort or irritation at any point when using your vitamin C serum, stop applying regularly and talk to a skincare professional for the next best steps. 

Ready to try Vitamin C Serum out for yourself? Click here! 

How do you use vitamin C serum in your daily skincare routine? Let us know! The Aloe Infusion community always loves hearing from you.

We’ve gone ahead and enclosed a 20% off Coupon below for you to use in the store - remember, you DESERVE to have naturally flawless skin! Click here to start shopping!

Resources: 

1. Pullar, J., Carr, A., & Vissers, M. (2017). The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients, 9(8), 866. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9080866.
2.  Harrison, F. E., & May, J. M. (2009). Vitamin C function in the brain: the vital role of the ascorbate transporter SVCT2. Free radical biology & medicine, 46(6), 719–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.12.018.
3. Neera Nathan, M. D., & Payal Patel, M. D. (2021, November 10). Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-topical-vitamin-c-important-for-skin-health-202111102635. 
4. Doyle, A. (2021, November 15). 11 reasons to use a vitamin C serum. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/vitamin-c-serum-benefits#benefits.