How Often Can I Use Vitamin C Serum?
I personally feel everyone needs and will benefit from having a vitamin C serum in their daily skincare routine. This partly has something to do with super healthy glow the active ingredient gives to the skin, but also the variety of benefits it can deliver. This is because vitamin C is a potent antioxidant meaning it can ward off the array of environmental aggressors our skin encounters on a daily basis.
The reason it is important to have an antioxidant on your skin throughout the day is to help protect the skin’s lipid barrier from damage after exposure to free radicals, such as pollution, UV rays, central heating, and harsh climates. With the barrier fully protected and able to function properly, you can reduce any concerns developing on the skin surface such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and loss of elasticity. All
this oxidative stress protection is something vitamin C is able to combat throughout the day. Unlike other products, such as sunscreen, moisturisers, and face oils, vitamin C cannot be wiped off the skin, but instead works in the skin at
That’s not the only benefits vitamin C has to offer, here are some examples of the other results you can expect to see when using vitamin C serums.
Vitamin C serum benefits
Helps to reduce signs of premature ageing, such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Helps wounds heal quicker
Improves skin tone and brightens complexion
Increases production of collagen helping the skin look firmer
Repairs and reduces signs of hyperpigmentation, sun damage, and dark spots
Provides all day protect from exposure to free radicals
If you wanted to know a little more about vitamin C and how it benefits the skin, check out our dedicated blog post over on The Beauty Insiders.
Now, let’s move on and explore how often you can use vitamin C serum.
Can vitamin C serum be used daily?
Absolutely, you could use vitamin C serums twice a day if you wished. To get the best out of your vitamin C, it is thought best to apply it onto completely cleansed skin after you have used a toner, but before your moisturiser and sunscreen. This ensures the active is able to penetrate the epidermis and set to work stimulating collagen production and providing protection for the outer barrier.
You will find that using vitamin C serum twice a day will double the free radical protection. By applying it in the morning, you will prepare the skin to its exposure to free radicals throughout the day, following this with an application in your evening routine will help repair and rejuvenate the skin while you catch up on your beauty sleep.
Can you use vitamin C serum too much?
Yes, you can! Our skin acts as a similar way as a wet sponge, by this I mean at one point, it will no longer be able to absorb any more active ingredients. Therefore, it is best to only use vitamin C products (especially serums as they work further down into the lower layers of the skin) twice a day.
If you are concerned you are over-using vitamin C, your skin will be the first one to tell you. You’ll find you may suffer from increased blackheads or find you have a flare-up of blackheads when you previously haven’t suffered. You may also find the skin is feeling tight, irritated, and itchy with signs of redness and blotchy patches on the skin. It is often recommended that if you are new to using vitamin C, it is best to start by using it once a day to allow your skin to build some tolerance and prepare for another application in the evenings.
Don’t forget, if you do have more concerns about using vitamin C, you can consult with your doctor or dermatologist for further help when finding the best formulation for you and your skin.
How many times a week can you use vitamin C serum?
Once your skin has become accustomed to vitamin C, you are able to apply it to the skin twice a day.
Some users, however, prefer to use it mostly during their morning routines to give their complexion a boost and leave the skin looking healthy, glowing, and revived. Additionally, some who have a sensitive skin may want to limit how often they apply the potent powerhouse as an aim to avoid unwanted skin irritation or reaction.
You may also find that if you have a skincare routine containing a collection of different actives, you may want to alternate when you use vitamin C throughout the week to avoid overloading the skin with ingredients, such as niacinamide, that can work against vitamin C and result in both ingredients losing their potency.
Can I use vitamin C serum every night?
Yes, just as I have already explained you can use vitamin C serums daily once your skin has a tolerance. I have also mentioned how many prefer using vitamin C in their morning skincare routines to make the most of the luminous finish to the complexion, but this is down to personal preference as the ingredient is highly effective both in the evening and morning skincare regime.
Can I use vitamin C twice day?
Yes, you can indeed, in fact some studies have shown that to gain quicker, and considerably more noticeable results, it is best to reapply vitamin C every eight hours. This is something that is merely suggested and understandably unachievable for most of us.
I also feel that you can always have too much of a good thing, and by reapplying vitamin C, you could result in a flare-up in acne and other forms of breakouts. Stick with using vitamin C twice a day, but only if your skin is happy with that. If you find yourself unsure, you can perform a patch test for 24 hours before applying it to the face to avoid unwanted skin reactions.
I hope I have answered some of your questions about how often you should use vitamin C serums in your skincare routines. If you have any further questions, come, and find us on Instagram.
