The Right Way to Use a Vitamin C Serum

A glass of pure, pulpy OJ, isn’t the only way to benefit from Vitamin C, it can also be a treat for your skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the water-soluble vitamin (also known as l-ascorbic acid) plays an essential role in your complexion’s production of collagen and elastin. The powerful antioxidant can be found in skin care, especially serums, which  may help with the negative effects of UV radiation on skin’s surface. Basically, get that stuff on your skin ASAP. But before you dive all in, you’ll want to make sure you know how to use a vitamin C serum. Here’s how:

Step #1: Pick Your Product

Just because a step is obvious, doesn’t make it any less important. What’s the point of learning how to use a serum formulated with vitamin C, if you haven’t chosen one you actually want to use? For a push in the right direction, here are three of our favorite products—from the L’Oreal portfolio of brands—formulated with vitamin C.   

La Roche-Posay Active C10 Dermatological Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate – Intensive

What better to pair vitamin C with than another powerhouse ingredient—hyaluronic acid. Suitable for sensitive skin types, the formula targets wrinkles, fine lines and dullness and leaves behind a velvety, non-greasy finish.

La Roche-Posay Active C10 Dermatological Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate – Intensive, $52.99

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic

There’s nothing wrong with keeping things classic. Combining antioxidant vitamins C and E with ferulic acid, this formula enhances protection against damaging UV rays to better prevent premature signs of aging, while helping to diminish the appearance of photodamage over time with continued use.

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, $165

Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

How does continuous delivery of pure vitamin C sound? If you’re thinking “too good to be true”, you’ll need to reevaluate. This clinically-demonstrated with Continuous Delivery of 10.5% Pure Vitamin C, this formula demonstrates it’s possible to noticeably decrease the appearance of marionette lines, crows feet, and wrinkles while improving skin texture and radiance.

Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, $60

Step #2: Cleanse First

As tempting as it may be to jump straight to it once you’ve made your selection, you aren’t ready to coat your skin with serum just yet. You still need to cleanse, duh. Lather up a gentle cleanser and sweep away impurities sitting on the surface of your skin. You wouldn’t want anything coming between your complexion and your serum, would you? 

Step #3: Smooth on Serum

The morning may not be your favorite part of the day, but it’s about to get a whole lot better. There’s a silver lining to dragging yourself out of bed in the AM and that is taking active steps to help improve the appearance of your skin. Since some formulations can help protect against free radicals, the morning is the best time of day to apply a serum formulated with vitamin C to your skin, in tandem with Broad Spectrum SPF (more on that later). Start your day off right by reaching for the serum of your choice, and use your fingers to gently blend the product over your face and neck (pro tip: never neglect the neck, it’s one of the earliest areas to show the effects of aging). Before moving to your next step, give your serum a moment or two to absorb. 

Step #4: Follow with Broad Spectrum SPF

As you hopefully know (fingers crossed) sunscreen is necessary everyday. Seriously, no matter what. Come rain or shine, we expect you to apply Broad Spectrum SPF. The FDA confirms that everyone should apply water-resistant, broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF value of at least 15 as directed, every single day. Toss the sunscreen in your bag—you’ll need to reapply at least every 2 hours. While you’re at it, throw on a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses. You can never be too sun safe!