How to Use Vitamin C Serum

If there’s one skincare product everyone should incorporate in their regimen, it’s a vitamin c serum. As far as skincare ingredients go, vitamin C is essential for your best skin possible. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that prevents sun damage, can brighten dark spots, and stimulate collagen production. An easy way to incorporate it into your skincare routine is with a serum. You might already be using one, but you may not be using it the right way. Read on to learn more about vitamin c serum, how to use it, and my favorite picks for every budget.

So, what is Vitamin C serum?

As noted above, vitamin C serum has a whole slew of benefits for the skin. Combined with retinol, it can be a powerful skin-boosting and anti-aging ingredient (more on retinol & vitamin C in a bit). Without a laser or more invasive facial procedure, vitamin C is your best bet at combatting hyperpigmentation and brightening your skin to give it the ultimate glow. Because it’s a collagen-stimulating ingredient, it can also soften fine wines and help prevent future wrinkles (which makes it also great in eye creams!). Serums are absorbed into skin quickly, so it’s an ideal step to add to your routine.

Vitamin C serums are also often mixed with other skin-boosting ingredients, such as Vitamin E or ferulic acid.

How and when do I use vitamin C serum?

Vitamin C is usually applied after you cleanse and tone, but before your moisturizer. Many people use it during the day, but it can actually also be used at night! Using it during the day has the added benefit of preventing damage from the sun and free radicals (but you still need to wear sunscreen!). Using vitamin C actually can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so a nighttime application can help mitigate that reaction. If you’re looking for the order to apply vitamin C, you can follow the order below.

Daytime skincare routine:

+ Splash with water (you usually don’t need to cleanse in the morning, but you can if you want)

+ Toner/essence

+ Eye cream

+ Vitamin C serum

+ Moisturizer

+ Sunscreen

Evening skincare routine:

+ Cleanser (if removing makeup, you may want to double cleanse to make sure you get all of it off. I use wipes when I’m in a hurry or a cleansing balm along with my usual cleanser. I also really, really love micellar water.)

+ Toner / essence

+ Eye cream

+ Serum – alternate between vitamin C and retinol

+ Night cream

Add or subtract steps as needed for your skincare routine.

One important thing to note is that vitamin C doesn’t always play nicely with other skincare ingredients. It can also be a harsh ingredient on the skin, and some people notice more sensitivity to it than others – including itching or redness on the skin. Personally, some products make my skin tingle a bit when I apply them (higher L-ascorbic acid percentage), but it quickly goes away without any irritation. If you aren’t sure how your skin will react, look for a product with lower vitamin C.

There are mixed reviews on mixing vitamin C with retinol, with some people saying they need to be used separately for optimal results. I prefer using vitamin C during the day and other serums at night. If I do use vitamin C at night, I alternate evenings with other serums and try not to mix.

The Best Vitamin C Serums

Below are my favorite vitamin C serums that I’ve personally tried. Before you go running out to buy and test every single one, you should know that vitamin C can break down more easily than other skincare ingredients when it’s exposed to air, heat, and light (so basically, as soon as it’s packaged). Some Vitamin C products come with a relatively short shelf life for maximum efficacy, so be sure to read labels and reviews before committing to one.

Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum

One of my favorite vitamin C serums, but a little pricey for what you get (the color of the serum changes quickly as the formula oxidizes) and the consistency is a little sticky, which some people dislike. I usually buy the travel size so I can bring it with me on trips and use it up before the serum oxidizes. Bonus – it’s actually a great value, ounce for ounce!

Joanna Vargas Rescue Serum

I’ve been going to Joanna Vargas for facials and love her products as much as the treatments itself. One of my favorite products from her line is her vitamin C serum. Hers smells amazing and absorbs quickly into the skin, and layers perfectly with her other products.

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic

The most expensive serum listed here, but universally loved. It includes vitamin E and ferulic acid with vitamin C for a brightening and hydrating combination. I’ve only used a sample of this and am saving up to buy the full-sized bottle.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

The very first vitamin C serum I ever used! I still love this serum for daytime and it’s one of the more affordable vitamin C products. It doesn’t feel as potent as some of the other serums, so it’s a good starter product to see how your skin reacts to the ingredient.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Brightening Serum

This serum is 15% vitamin C, so it’s pretty potent and should definitely be worn with sunscreen! From reviews and personal experience, it is gentle on sensitive skin despite its high vitamin C percentage.

BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner

Not actually a serum, this product is almost cream-like and sinks into your skin before you can rub it around. It’s unlike any other vitamin C serum I’ve used, and it does cause a slight tingle on my skin (it contains 20% L-Ascorbic Acid, which is very high for an over the counter product).