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What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is, quite literally, one of the gold standards in skincare. Also written as ascorbic acid or l-ascorbic acid, you’ll often find this ingredient in products for dullness, uneven tone, hyperpigmentation, and aging skin. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant, meaning it can neutralize damaging free radicals from the sun, pollution, and more.
Vitamin C Skin Benefits
Vitamin C is one of those skincare ingredients that’s incredibly beneficial for multiple concerns. It’s mostly known for its brightening abilities since it inhibits the enzyme that stimulates pigment in our skin, lightening dark spots and acne scars while leaving behind an even, glowing tone. This applies to dark undereye circles too, which is why you’ll find it in our Vacation Eyes Brightening Eye Gel.
The benefits of vitamin C skincare aren’t limited to dullness, however. Vitamin C is great for the skin as part of an aging skincare routine. It assists in building and maintaining collagen, which naturally degrades as we age. Because vitamin C is an antioxidant, it keeps the skin’s moisture barrier healthy and strong, preventing future damage from occurring. With consistent use, vitamin C can result in a strong, smooth, and bright complexion.
How to Apply Vitamin C
You’ll find vitamin C products in all kinds of skincare, usually as a vitamin C serum, moisturizer, mask, facial peel, or other treatment. Because vitamin C comes in many different concentrations and strengths, all skin types—even acne-prone and sensitive complexions—can benefit from it. Apply vitamin C daily during your AM or PM skincare routine unless you’re sensitive, in which we recommend starting with 3x per week.
Yes, it’s orange and yes, it has a distinct smell (we promise you won’t even notice after a little while). The color may change from product to product but don’t worry, it doesn’t affect the formula’s performance.
What Ingredients Can I Mix it With?
You can layer vitamin C with most other skincare ingredients and products. Vitamin C and niacinamide in particular make a great power couple, which is why we formulated the two together in our Stroke of Brilliance Brightening Serum. Because it’s an antioxidant, it can also boost the protective abilities of your sunscreen. AHAs and vitamin C also make a great pair; the chemical exfoliants dissolve dead skin cells so vitamin C can penetrate the skin even more efficiently. Find both in our Doctor’s Visit Instant Resurfacing Mask.
Vitamin C is an active ingredient, meaning it can irritate some skin types—particularly sensitive ones— when mixed with other ingredients. Unless a product formulates both vitamin C and retinol or vitamin C and acids together, we recommend using them in separate routines.
Does Vitamin C Expire?
While all skincare products do expire, vitamin C specifically is very unstable when formulated in its purest form:l-ascorbic acid. This ingredient is sensitive both to air and light, so always store in a dark, cool place (like a cabinet, not near a steamy shower), replace the cap as soon as you are done using it, and look for products that come in airtight, opaque packaging. To keep your vitamin C as fresh as possible, look for a vitamin C powder, such as our Found the Light Powder with Vitamin C. It allows your vitamin C to maintain its brightening abilities without dulling over time. Another perk? It allows you to easily mix vitamin C into any serums, creams, and treatments to give them a brightening boost.
Depending on your skincare goals, vitamin C can take 4-8 weeks to start delivering visible results—be consistent!