Vitamin C isn’t just a trend in skincare, it’s a powerhouse that can transform your skin. Renowned for it’s brightening, antioxidant, and collagen-boosting properties, vitamin C has become a staple in the routines of many seeking to improve skin texture and radiance.
Keep reading to learn more about how this simple addition can make all the difference in your skincare routine.
What is Vitamin C?
Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an antioxidant that the body needs to create collagen. In fact, vitamin C also helps control infection, heal wounds, and neutralize free radicals.
Despite being an important part of overall health, vitamin C is not effectively stored by the body and must be replenished daily. Replenishment can occur through food or supplements. When too much vitamin C is consumed, the body will stop adsorbing the excess and let it pass as urine. More serious adverse effects can occur with consistently excessive intake.
There’s no difference in whether adsorption occurs from food or supplements. Here are some foods rich in vitamin C that might already be part of your diet:
- Citrus fruits / orange juice
- Tomatoes / tomato juice
- White potatoes
- Red / green peppers
- Kiwifruit
- Broccoli
- Strawberries
- Brussel sprouts
- Cantaloupe / rockmelon
Please note: Vitamin C can be destroyed by heat and light! So high heat or long cooking times can break down the vitamin. If possible, eating the fruit or vegetable raw will result in the highest vitamin C concentration.
How does Vitamin C help my skin?
Here’s a breakdown of the key benefits:
- Skin Brightness and Texture
Vitamin C is known for its brightening effects. It helps stop the development of melanin production which in turn helps to fade dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone. This reveals a more radiant complexion! - Antioxidant Protection
Vitamin C combats free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage skin cells. Having this extra protection helps keep the skin youthful and healthy. - Collagen Production
Vitamin C helps to stimulate collagen production which in turn helps to firm the skin. Skin with increased firmness and elasticity will counteract fine lines and wrinkles, leaving the skin looking smoother and more youthful. - Damage Repair
If your skin is suffering from UV exposure or is recovering from other kinds of damage, vitamin C can assist in recovery. Its anti-inflammatory properties help to soothe sunburn and support the skin’s natural healing processes. - Hydration
A specific perk of vitamin C is that it enhances the skin’s ability to retain moisture. This in turn promotes hydration which is important for those with a dry skin type. - Enhanced Skincare Routine
Vitamin C can enhance the efficacy of other skincare products. When used alongside the right products, the adsorption of ingredients can be maximized which boosts the effectiveness of your routine.
How to start using Vitamin C for skincare?
Well here’s the thing, if you already consume enough vitamin C through foods or supplements then topical application may have limited benefits. This is mostly because only small amounts of vitamin C can penetrate the skin. So before adding to your skincare routine, reflect on your diet and keep your expectations reasonable.
That said, we still think vitamin C is worth a try!
When you purchase a product with vitamin C listed as an ingredient, it is important to check the percentage or concentration of the formula. A formula with 10 to 30 percent of vitamin C is best for dark spots and hyperpigmentation. A formula with less than 10 percent is better used as an antioxidant for protection against free radical damage.
Vitamin C can be incorporated into your routine through a serum, moisturiser, sunscreen, cleanser, or toner. The table below summarizes some tips for each of these different application methods:
| Vitamin C Application Method | Suggestions, tips, and tricks |
| Serum | – Higher concentration of vitamin C. – Best for oily/normal skin types. – Good for signs of aging or dark spots. – Use in the morning after cleansing and toning (before moisturizer, SPF, and any makeup). |
| Moisturizer | – A simple addition to skincare routines. – Best for dry/sensitive skin types. – Good for a dry and dull complexion. – Use at night after cleansing to let it settle into the skin. |
| Sunscreen | – Increased protection from UV rays. – Easy addition to skincare routines. – Suits all skin types. – Use in the morning after cleansing and toning (before any makeup application). |
| Cleanser / Toner | – Least intensive form of treatment. – Most can be used daily or twice per day (just check product concentration and recommendations). – Use in the morning, night, or both! |
Whilst a serum application is considered to be the most effective, everyone’s skin responds differently! We also understand that adjusting a skincare routine can be difficult, so it is nice to have options when considering new additions. However, please keep reading further down to make sure you aren’t pairing any wrong ingredients in your skincare routine.
A quick side note – regardless of the application method you choose, remember to patch test, gradually introduce, and store as per the product recommendations.
Ideal pairings
If you carefully construct your skincare routine, you will reap additional benefits when specific ingredients are paired together.
Here’s a brief overview in this image, but below we’ll provide a lot more detail!
| Ingredient | Information & Tips |
| Hyaluronic acid | – Hyaluronic acid helps retain skin moisture and can protect the skin after vitamin C application. – Use vitamin C first on clean dry skin and then use hyaluronic acid afterwards. |
| Vitamin E | – Vitamin E is an antioxidant that works well alongside vitamin C because it also protects against free radicals. – These products can be applied together on clean and dry skin. |
| Retinol (Vitamin A) | – Retinol helps promote skin renewal, address fine lines, and improve skin texture. – Combining retinol and vitamin C is great for anti-aging but can be irritating to the skin. Patch test first! – Try using these products at different times of the day e.g. vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night. |
| Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) | – Niacinamide helps improve skin texture, reduce redness, and regulate oil production. – New research supports the combined use of vitamin C and niacinamide to relieve inflammation and brighten your complexion. – Apply vitamin C serum first, once dry and has settled, apply niacinamide. |
| Peptides | – Peptides support collagen production which helps to maintain skin firmness and elasticity. – Combining peptides with vitamin C can result in more youthful skin. – Apply vitamin C serum before peptide serums unless you have experienced sensitivity. Then apply vitamin C in the morning and peptides in the evening. |
| Ceramides | – Ceramides strengthen the skin barrier and help retain moisture. – Vitamin C can benefit from the hydrating and barrier-strengthening effects of ceramides (especially those with dry or sensitive skin!). – Apply vitamin C to clean and dry skin then apply ceramides (perhaps as a moisturizer). |
| Sunscreen | – Sunscreen protects the skin from harmful UV rays, preventing sun damage and premature aging. – Vitamin C helps protect from sun damage but is not a replacement for sunscreen, they need to be used in combination. – Finish your morning routine with a broad-spectrum sunscreen before applying any makeup. |
| Antioxidant-Rich Ingredients | – Other ingredients like green tea extract, ferric acid, and resveratrol provide additional antioxidant benefits. – When combined with vitamin C, these antioxidants can reinforce each other, offering enhanced protection against environmental stressors. |
On the other hand, do not combine vitamin C products with AHAs, BHAs, and benzoyl peroxide. Pairing these ingredients with vitamin C can cause drying, flaking and skin irritation.
When layering serums or other skincare products remember that the order matters, do a patch test first, and listen to your skin if you experience irritation. If you have specific skin concerns or conditions, seek advice from a dermatologist to help tailor your skincare routine to your unique needs.
Final thoughts
Your body needs vitamin C so that your skin can thrive! Take the time to review your skincare routine and consider this addition. Perhaps this is the ingredient that your skin has been waiting for?
Got any tips and tricks to share? Let us know in the comments.
