What Does Vitamin C Do for the Skin? Your Top 5 Questions Answered
We all know the important role Vitamin C plays in our immune function, but do you know how Vitamin C benefits skin? Over the past few years, Vitamin C skincare has taken the beauty world by storm. From Vitamin C serums and facial essences to hydrating creams and lotions, this natural skincare ingredient has become a staple of top shelves around the world.
Whether you’re dealing with dullness, uneven skin tone, or fine lines, Vitamin C can assist to tackle a range of complexion concerns and leave you with glowy, healthier-looking skin. Need further convincing? Read on to discover the answers to the 5 most common questions about Vitamin C skincare and learn why it’s well worth the hype.
1. What does Vitamin C skincare do?
One of the best things about VItamin C is that it’s suitable for skin of all types, tones, and ages. Used correctly, this natural antioxidant powerhouse could deliver a range of benefits to your skin, including the 5 set out below.
It reduces dark surface spots
Thanks to its high antioxidant content, Vitamin C can help reduce dark spots on your face and lighten skin, leaving you with brighter skin and a more even complexion. With regular use can assist you in achieving a more even skin tone.
If you’re prone to discolouration, redness, or dullness, a good Vitamin C product can calm inflammation and even out your skin tone. Plus, it won’t change your skin’s natural pigmentation.
It helps protect the skin from pollution and UV damage
Every day, our skin is exposed to environmental aggressors such as smoke, exhaust, chemical fumes, and other air pollutants that can cause oxidative damage to skin and result in premature ageing. Vitamin C helps shield your skin from this damage, in addition to protecting it from UV rays.
It boosts hydration
This hardworking vitamin also works to strengthen your skin’s barrier and seal in moisture for longer. The result? Hydrated, healthier-looking skin.
2. What ingredients and products should I avoid if I’m using Vitamin C skincare?
While Vitamin C is gentle and generally safe for all skin types, it’s important to remember that it’s still technically an acid. In short, this means that it can disrupt your skin’s pH levels if it’s combined with other acids, leaving you with irritated, dry, or sensitive skin.
If you’re unsure of what not to mix with Vitamin C skincare, as a rule of thumb the following active ingredients don’t interact well:
- BHAs such as salicylic acid
- Niacinamide
- Benzoyl peroxide, which can cause Vitamin C oxidation and make the ingredient less potent
Notably, you don’t have to avoid the above active ingredients if you want to add Vitamin C skincare products to your rotation: You just need to use them strategically. If you want to continue using acids and actives to exfoliate and refine your skin, be sure to apply them at an alternate time to your Vitamin C products. We recommend saving active ingredients for your nightly skin care routine and applying Vitamin C in the morning – advice we’ll expand on below.
If you also use products containing retinol, we recommend applying them every other day and skipping the Vitamin C products on those days all together. This is because retinol and Vitamin C can counteract one another and dry out the skin when applied at the same time.
3. When should you use Vitamin C in your skincare routine?
Since Vitamin C helps shield your skin from pollution and sun damage, it’s best to apply it in the morning, when UV radiation is at its highest. The vitamin loses effectiveness when it’s exposed to light, so make sure you give it a minute to absorb before heading outside.
To make the most of Vitamin C, we suggest applying your skincare products in order of the thinnest consistency to the thickest. For bright, radiant skin, here’s when to use Vitamin C in your skincare routine:
Cleanse your skin with our Brightening Meyer Creamy Cleanser.
2-3 times a week, follow this up by exfoliating with our Brightening Chia + Omega Radiant Skin Polish.
Mist your face with our Brightening Clemintine + C Illuminating Toner. This Andalou Naturals Vitamin C toner will hydrate your skin and allow your other products to penetrate better.
Press or pat a light layer of our Brightening Turmeric + C Enlighten Serum into your skin.
Dab our Brightening Luminous Eye Serum around the eye area.
Lock in moisture with our Brightening Probiotic + C Renewal Cream.
Finish with a broad-spectrum sunscreen for added protection against UVA/UVB rays.
Top Tip: Once a week, treat your skin to a brightening face mask like the Brightening Pumpkin Honey Glycolic Mask. Heading to a special event? Pop on the Instant Brighten & Tighten Hydro Serum Facial Sheet Mask to prep and perk up your skin.
4. How should I introduce Vitamin C into my skincare routine?
As with all skincare products containing acids and active ingredients, it’s a good idea to add only one Andalou Naturals Vitamin C product to your routine at a time. To be safe, always patch test each product on your arm or behind your ear before applying it to your entire face to check for any irritation or other negative reactions.
By slowly introducing Vitamin C to your skin, you’ll get an idea of how your skin reacts to different forms of Vitamin C skincare. If your skin is loving the effects and looking brighter and healthier as a result, then go ahead and add another product to your rotation.
Generally, combination, oily, and pigmented skin can handle high levels of Vitamin C, while dry or sensitive skin types can tolerate slightly less. Ultimately, you know your skin the best, so experiment until you find the best Vitamin C skincare routine for you.
Top Tip: Vitamin C is potent, so a little goes a long way. Apply your products sparingly unless otherwise stated.
5. Is Vitamin C skincare safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Unlike retinols and other actives, it’s safe to use Vitamin C while pregnant.
Better yet, if you’re dealing with pregnancy-induced hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C is a fantastic addition to your routine. It’ll help to reduce dark spots and give your skin the hydration it’s craving at all stages of your pregnancy.
Add Vitamin C skincare to your daily routine today
Vitamin C is one of our favourite skincare multitaskers. It’s a great way to brighten your complexion and boost hydration, and there are plenty of products to choose from.