When it comes to skin brightening, several skincare ingredients come to mind, but only one dermatologist-approved staple deserves a place in your skincare routine: Vitamin C. The gold standard for brightening up a dull complexion, vitamin C is one of the most potent topical antioxidants essential for any skincare regime. Among all the vitamin C products, vitamin C serum is the most popular and powerful.
If you’re looking to reap the skin-brightening benefits of vitamin C serum, then it’s essential to understand how to incorporate it into your skincare routine. Although it can easily be included in both morning and evening routines, there are a few things to keep in mind. So, here’s how to best utilise this hero ingredient for a brighter, smoother and plumper complexion.
1. Choose the Right Concentration
First and foremost, identify the right concentration of topical vitamin C for your skin type. If you’re new to active ingredients, then start with a low concentration of 10% and see if your skin can tolerate it. As your skin becomes accustomed to it, you can increase the concentration to 15% or 20%. L-ascorbic acid is the most potent and beneficial form of vitamin C serum for skin so, make sure you see that name on your ingredient label.
2. Always Patch Test First
As with any skincare ingredient or product, it’s important to patch test first. And serums are known to penetrate deep within the layers of the skin, so it’s all the more essential to test them first. Apply a small amount of the serum on your skin and wait for 24 hours to see if there’s any skin irritation or allergic reaction. If all is well, you can start using the product as recommended. But if your skin suffers a reaction, then discontinue the product and look for an alternative.
3. Start Slowly
Since vitamin C is a potent active skincare ingredient, it’s important to incorporate it gradually into your skincare routine. You can start by using the vitamin C serum three times a week and work up to daily use. And don’t expect instant results, it takes several weeks of continuous use to start seeing a visible improvement in your skin complexion. So, before you grow impatient and stop using the product, give it at least a month to work its magic.
4. Begin with a Clean Canvas
Whether you’re planning to use the serum in your AM or PM routine, always start by cleansing your face. If you’re someone who likes to use a toner or an exfoliator, then make sure to cleanse, tone and exfoliate before applying the serum. You can also build a vitamin C skin care routine by incorporating vitamin C-based cleansers and toners into your regime. This will help maximise the benefits of vitamin C for your skin.
5. Layer It Under Moisturiser & SPF
Now, squeeze 2-3 drops of the serum on your hand and gently massage it on your face using your fingertips. Allow the serum 60-90 seconds to sink in before following up with a moisturiser. Although vitamin C doesn’t make your skin vulnerable to sunburn, adding a layer of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 can help protect your skin from UV rays. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C will work well in conjunction with the sunscreen to help neutralise any free radicals.
6. Store Properly
When it comes to active ingredients, it’s important to store them safely to maintain their stability. So, make sure to keep your vitamin C serum airtight and store it in a dark, cool space away from sunlight. If you notice that the colour of your serum has become dark or cloudy or detect a rancid odour, the serum has likely oxidised. To prevent oxidisation, make sure to keep your serum airtight and away from sunlight.
7. Complement with These Ingredients
As far as complementary ingredients are concerned, vitamin C works well with vitamin E, vitamin B, hyaluronic acid, and ferulic acid. Additionally, you can also pair your vitamin C serum with retinol for added benefits. Alternatively, you can use a serum infused with these complementary ingredients like The Body Shop Vitamin C Glow Revealing Serum which is enriched with bakuchiol that’s known to have retinol-like effects on the skin. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to check their vitamin C range, made with 90% naturally derived ingredients.
Powerhouse Ingredient
All in all, vitamin C is a topical powerhouse that can deliver skin-brightening benefits like no other skincare ingredient. To reap its benefits, try incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine. But remember to choose the right concentration, patch test first, gradually increase the frequency, layer it under a moisturiser and SPF, and store it safely. With these instructions in mind, get ready to see a glowing complexion in no time!
