When To Use Vitamin C Serum Morning or Night – 9 Tips To Use

When should I use vitamin C serum? And how to use vitamin C serum day or night? To answer these questions accurately, read this article to learn about its antioxidant properties and how to safely and effectively incorporate Vitamin C into your skincare routine.

1. Vitamin C serum: what is it?

Vitamin C is a safe and highly effective acid that can work to reduce dullness, uneven skin tone, texture, and blemish-scarring while offsetting the impact of environmental aggressors. Most experts recommend a formula that contains between 10 and 20 percent vitamin C, depending on your skin type. With continued use, your skin will appear brighter, more even, and glowy.

Our bodies do not produce vitamin C naturally, so we must get it from food, drinks, supplements like an oral vitamin, or topical skin care products like a vitamin C serum or cream.

2. When to use vitamin C serum day or night

How and When to use vitamin C serum in a skincare routine? In general, the best time to apply vitamin C serum is in the morning, after cleansing and toning your skin, and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. Dermatologists almost recommend including vitamin C serum in your morning routine. Vitamin C is not only an effective antioxidant, but it can also supplement the protective effects of sunscreen. When used in the morning, before applying your SPF, it protects against UV rays that may pass through that first layer of defense.

While using vitamin C serum at night will not harm your skin, it may interact with other skin care products designed for use in the evening (such as retinol) and cause skin irritation and sensitivity.

It’s important to note that vitamin C serum works best when your skin is properly exfoliated. Lack of exfoliation can cause dead skin cells to accumulate, making it difficult for products to penetrate. However, keep in mind that exfoliation can cause sensitivity—especially if you’re using a chemical exfoliant with acids like AHA and BHA—so use your Vitamin C serum and acids at different times of day.

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3. How to use Vitamin C serum 

Vitamin C can react with certain ingredients, and some antioxidants are unstable. To get the most out of your vitamin C serum, here’s how to use vitamin C serum properly:

• Step 1: Wash your face. Always start with clean skin to prevent impurities from mixing with your vitamin C serum.
• Step 2: Use toner. Avoid toners containing other acids or exfoliants.
• Step 3: Apply the vitamin C serum. Apply any excess product to the tops of your hands, neck, and décolletage.
• Step 4: Apply the moisturizer.
• Step 5: Apply sunscreen. Avoid creams containing retinol.

Below are some ways when to apply vitamin C serum to face effectively with other active ingredients to have the healthy skin you desire:

3.1. How to use vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums are effective in enhancing skin health. Hyaluronic acid helps the skin retain moisture, keeping your skin hydrated no matter what type of skin you have, while vitamin C products support tissue growth, collagen production, and healing in their complementary ways to combat aging and sun damage. If you’re curious about the best way how to use vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid. Moving from thinnest to thickest is the solution. Apply the HA serum after the vitamin C serum but before the moisturizer if it has a slightly thicker, gel-like consistency.

3.2. How and When to use vitamin C serum and niacinamide

Niacinamide and vitamin C are both excellent for your skin, and they complement each other well. Niacinamide is an active, water-soluble form of vitamin B3 that provides extra moisture and increased collagen production, among other complexion-enhancing advantages. In addition, it has anti-hyperpigmentation and anti-inflammatory properties.

Combined, the two have a potent effect on aging signs on the skin. Some products contain both niacinamide and vitamin C, making them easy to incorporate into your skincare routine. However, most dermatologists advise keeping the two ingredients apart. To use the duo, stack one on top of the other from thinnest to thickest.

3.3. How to use vitamin C serum with sunscreen

Sunscreen should always be included in your skincare routine. It’s essential if you want to keep your skin healthy and clear. Dermatologists recommend using vitamin C serum before applying sunscreen.

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3.4. How to use vitamin C serum with moisturizer

Before applying moisturizer or sunscreen, apply vitamin C serum. To apply, follow these steps:

1. Using a gentle cleanser, remove any makeup or free radicals from your skin.
2. Apply a few drops of vitamin C serum to your face and neck, and gently rub in.
3. Apply moisturizer.

3.5. How and When to use vitamin C serum and retinol

While vitamin C serum is effective on its own, it can be enhanced by other topical serums to complete your skincare regimen, such as retinol. While retinol is a restorative skincare treatment that promotes skin cell turnover and when applied topically, deepens skin penetration compared to other treatments, it is a great addition to your evening skincare routine. Vitamin C serum is best used in the morning to protect your skin from sun exposure and other environmental aggressors during the day.

Although retinol and vitamin C serum can both be very powerful ingredients in skincare products, you should exercise caution when using them simultaneously as they may irritate the skin. When to apply vitamin C serum to the face? Applying retinol and vitamin C separately and at different times of the day is the ideal routine. (For example, apply your retinol at night and your vitamin C serum in the morning.)

4. Benefits of using vitamin C

Vitamin C, sometimes referred to as L-ascorbic acid or ascorbic acid, is typically found in serum form, though it can also be found in creams and lotions, which all aid in the substance’s easy absorption by the skin. These are some of the benefits of vitamin C serum:

1. Keeps skin safe from damage: Along with aging naturally, external enemies like sun exposure and air pollution constantly attack our skin. Vitamin C has been shown to have antioxidant properties by reliable scientific research. Applying vitamin C can improve the appearance of skin and reduce cell damage.
2. Has anti-aging properties: Free radicals can speed up the aging of your skin, and Vitamin C is already effective. It has also been shown to protect and stimulate the production of collagen. This causes wrinkles, sags, and bags, so protecting and replacing collagen can help keep your skin looking young.
3. It evens out skin tone and lessens redness: A 2015 study demonstrated that vitamin C’s antioxidant properties function as an anti-inflammatory agent. This proves that it calms your skin and may lessen puffiness.
4. Minimizes hyperpigmentation: Vitamin C can reduce hyperpigmentation by inhibiting melanin production. Vitamin C inhibits melanin synthesis by decreasing the activity of an enzyme called tyrosinase. It is widely used in dermatology to reduce hyperpigmentation on the skin.
5. Minimizes the appearance of dark under-eye circles: Vitamin C serums can help reduce fine lines by plumping and moisturizing the under-eye area. The study found that vitamin C’s ability to boost collagen may help thicken the skin under your eyes, making dark circles less visible, and reducing dark under-eye circles.

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5. Side effects when to use vitamin C serum 

Vitamin C serums with high concentrations can irritate. Retinol and other acids are examples of active ingredients that can react when combined with vitamin C. Applying sunscreen immediately after using a vitamin C serum is advised because it may also make you more sensitive to sunlight, or photosensitivity.

6. The best Vitamin C serum product currently

The following section contains a list of the top 4 vitamin C serums, as well as information on how vitamin C works on your skin. Take a look and select the best vitamin C serum for you, and know when to apply vitamin C serum to face:

6.1. Skinceuticals C E Ferulic

This brightening serum, which contains vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid to replenish the skin, is popular among smooth-skinned celebrities and dermatologists. Because vitamin C in skincare can be unstable, adding ferulic acid helps it last longer and improves its effectiveness. Its three antioxidants protect the skin from pollution and free radical damage. The formula is effective for 72 hours after application, even after washing your face.

6.2. Garnier Vitamin C Brightening Serum

Garnier’s Vitamin C Brightening Serum contains 3.5% Vitamin C, Niacinamide, and Salicylic Acid, which help to reduce the appearance of dark spots and enhance glow, as well as Lemon Extract, a powerful superfood known for brightening properties. The formula has been carefully formulated to provide dark-spot protection without feeling heavy or greasy on the skin.

6.3. Dermalogica Biolumin-C Gel Moisturiser

This is an ideal choice for those who prefer a simple skincare routine. Its silky gel consistency absorbs quickly and feels weightless on the skin, but it works hard to strengthen the moisture barrier with five types of hyaluronic acid and the essential vitamin C. It works well as a morning moisturizer and is high in antioxidants, which protect the skin from environmental stressors throughout the day.

6.4. La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C10 Serum

With a lower percentage of vitamin C than other options on the market, La Roche Posay’s offering is an excellent place to start for anyone new to vitamin C. It’s formulated with the lab’s soothing spring water, making it ideal for easily irritated skin types, and salicylic acid helps to smooth texture and reduce breakouts.

7. Which ingredients should be kept away from when using vitamin C serum?

A few ingredients should be avoided when using a vitamin C serum. It should never be combined with any acids, particularly alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs). These are commonly found in exfoliants, so double-check the ingredients in your scrubs before applying vitamin C serum.

Another ingredient to avoid if using a vitamin C serum is benzoyl peroxide, which oxidizes vitamin C and thus negates its benefits. Benzoyl peroxide is typically found in acne treatments or blemish creams, so double-check your product labels before adding vitamin C serum to your skincare routine.

Immediately cease using the serum if you feel any irritation or allergic reaction. Additionally, consult a medical professional right away if you continue to have concerns about vitamin C products or the health of your skin.

8. How to properly store vitamin C serums

Preventing oxidation is essential because the purpose of vitamin C serum is to shield your skin from oxidative stress. We’ll go over the following reasons why vitamin C must be carefully stored:

For your skin cells to stay safe from free radical damage, antioxidants like vitamin C bind to them. Here’s the thing: vitamin C oxidizes and loses potency very quickly because it will bind to any light or oxygen that gets inside its bottle or tube. For this reason, the best vitamin C products will be kept in dark, opaque packaging. Note that once the oxidation process begins, it cannot be stopped, so discard it, move on, and begin storing your vitamin C skincare products correctly!

The best way to do this is to keep it sealed and stored away from sunlight in a cool, dark, and dry area. It may make sense to store it in the refrigerator if you live in a warmer climate.

Does the Vitamin C serum Expire?

Vitamin C has an expiration date of three to six months, just like most skincare and cosmetic products. The majority of vitamin C serums have a shelf life of one to eighteen months if not opened. But, depending on the particular product, you should use your serum within three to six months if you’ve already opened it.

9. FAQs

9.1. How to apply vitamin C serum under the eyes

The best use of vitamin C for wrinkles around the eyes is in a daily skincare regimen. To ensure maximum absorption deeply into the skin, apply hyaluronic vitamin C serum while the skin is still damp, after washing. Using your ring finger, apply one or two drops and gently massage the orbital bone surrounding the eye.

9.2. Is it better to use vitamin C serum at night?

How and When to use Vitamin C serum? Using it before bed is safer and has far more beauty advantages; thus, we recommend you use it at night, before hitting the sack. Adding a vitamin C serum to your nighttime routine with just a couple of drops to your face should suffice. Tap it on your skin using your fingertips and leave it on overnight

9.3. At what age should we use vitamin C serum?

How and When to use vitamin C serum? If you are in your early twenties, then it is the right time to start using Vitamin C Serum in your skincare regime. We recommend incorporating Vitamin C into your skincare routine as soon as you learn of it!

9.4. When vitamin C serum turns yellow

If the vitamin C serum is yellow, it was most likely manufactured over 6 months ago with proper storage. A dark brown serum indicates that vitamin C has oxidized and will not be as effective and should be discarded.

9.5. When can I use vitamin C serum after microneedling?

Retinol and vitamin C serum should be avoided for at least 48 hours after microneedling. Once 2 full days have passed, you might want to gradually add products back into your daily beauty routine instead of doing your usual regimen, especially if you use products that have strong anti-aging formulas.

How and When to use vitamin C serum? Finding the right time of day and part of your routine to incorporate your vitamin C serum is essential for getting the most out of this impressive skincare ingredient. Vitamin C, when used correctly, can rejuvenate your skin, leaving it dewy, clear, and youthful. Healthyglowy shared its knowledge and responded to the questions we raised. Hopefully, this article on how and when to use vitamin C serum will provide you with numerous benefits. We also provide additional health and beauty tips. Start following Healthyglowy right now!

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