All About Vitamin C Serum
July 16, 2019
What to look for and how to use it
One product that is consistently recommended by dermatologists to include in your skincare regimen is a vitamin C serum. But what is vitamin C serum exactly and what does it actually do for our skin? And, how do we know we are choosing the most effective one, and how do we know if we’re even using it properly? Fear not, it’s not that complicated! There are just a few basic things to keep in mind when choosing and using the right product.
What is vitamin C and why is it important?
Vitamin C is a micronutrient that our bodies require to build things like muscle, cartilage, and collagen, the protein fibers responsible for skin firmness and resilience. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant helping to neutralize free radicals created within our bodies when we’re exposed to certain conditions, like pollution and UV rays. Unfortunately, our bodies can’t produce vitamin C on its own so we have to get it through diet (food) or supplementation.
How does vitamin C help your skin?
Countless studies have revealed the many health benefits of vitamin C and what happens if we don’t get enough (think Scurvy) but vitamin C is also a pretty huge deal in the skincare industry because of its collagen-boosting, complexion-brightening, and potent antioxidant properties.
Our skin needs and contains a high concentration of vitamin C, and low levels of it in the skin have been linked to two things: signs of aging and sun damage.
Decades of research on vitamin C in topical form have found it to be helpful in protecting our skin against sun damage and loss of skin elasticity and moisture and helps in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone.
How Vitamin C Serums Work
Our skin is our largest organ and the way in which the vitamin is delivered to the skin is important. Serums tend to have a thin gel-like consistency that absorbs quickly into the skin, making them one of the best, and most potent, delivery methods for getting are potent, concentrated doses of vitamin C into your skin. Because vitamin C is acidic, vitamin C serums are good at sloughing off dead skin cells, which then triggers the skin to regenerate cells and the production of collagen. With continued use, vitamin C serums can smooth out the skin’s surface, brighten dull skin, decrease dark spots, and minimize the look of fine lines.
Not All Serums are Created Equal
One of the most important things to understand about vitamin C is that not all forms of it are stable. Many serums on the market contain vitamin C in the stable form of L-ascorbic acid, which has been shown to effectively penetrate the skin. However, some experts believe the ester form, called calcium ascorbate which is ph-neutral, is even more effective in terms of stability and absorption rate. Something to keep in mind when reading product labels. Look for formulas that also include other antioxidant ingredients to help keep it stable and prevent oxidation. Your best bet is to find a serum that is also formulated with an oil-soluble agent. Not only will the product be able to work in more parts of the skin cell, it will be more stable. Products like Tevenere Nourishing Vitamin C Serum contain stabilizing Hemp Oil (a super moisturizer) and vitamin C serum with retinol.
How and when to use it
While you can apply a gentle formula like Tevanere Nourishing Vitamin C Serum both in the morning and at night, a once-daily application is usually all that’s needed. Some experts suggest using a vitamin C serum in the morning for added antioxidant protection against daily aggressors from the environment, stress, and sun exposure, others feel using your serum in your nighttime routine for overnight skin-repairing during sleep is optimal. Either way, when you apply your skincare products, think thinnest to thickest. So your vitamin serum is best applied after cleansing and toning but before any moisturizer or face oil, or night cream.
