Which Vitamin C Serum Is Best for Your Skin?
There’s a fit for every skin type.
We may be born with plump, hydrated and glowing skin, but as we age, maintaining those hallmarks of a naturally healthy-looking complexion requires work. That’s because the world is a harsh place—literally. Our environment is filled with exposure to microscopic free radicals in air pollution, smoke and UVA and UVB rays. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can damage and alter cells as well as contribute to oxidative stress in the body. They are responsible for illnesses, such as skin cancer, and the appearance of signs of aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and dryness. Protecting your skin from free radical damage and oxidative stress plays an essential role in maintaining skin health, and nothing gets the job done better than vitamin C.
The benefits of vitamin C for your skin
First, let’s answer the question “What is vitamin C?” Also called L-ascorbic acid, it’s a water-soluble vitamin that plays a role in skin immunity, healing and hormones and is found in foods such as citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables. (Think Brussel sprouts.) It’s also a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize unstable atoms and prevent their ability to damage skin. A verified star, vitamin C has been heavily studied and remains one of the most effective ingredients in skincare, like in vitamin C serum for skin , for example. The benefits of vitamin C include its ability to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, protect collagen and increase its production, protect against sun damage and reduce hyperpigmentation. Plus, it can have an overall brightening effect on any complexion. Sounds good, right? Suitable for all skin types and tones to use daily, it is regularly recommended by dermatologists as part of the trifecta of must-have skincare—yup, vitamin C for skin is right up there with retinol and SPF.
The best vitamin C serum for your skin type
While every skin type can benefit from vitamin C, that doesn’t mean there’s a one-size-fits-all serum. For the best results, you’ll want one that suits the unique requirements of sensitive, dry, oily or acne-prone skin. As a pioneer in the power of topical antioxidants, SkinCeuticals offers the best Vitamin C serums in a range of formulas for different skin types. The collection includes the original SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic (an award-winning icon), SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF and its latest addition, SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF Now, are you ready to put the powerhouse of vitamin C to work in your routine? Here’s a closer look at which formulas are tailored to meet the needs of different skin types.
1. Vitamin C serum for sensitive skin
Easily aggravated, reactive and red—if you have sensitive skin, it shows. But you’ll also feel it, because it’s prone to uncomfortable sensations, such as dehydration, tightness and tingling. An imbalanced microbiome (the invisible ecosystem of good and bad bacteria that healthy skin needs to thrive) can lead to a compromised skin barrier, which impairs functions such as fending off irritants. The best vitamin C serum for sensitive skin is SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. It combines 1% vitamin E with 15% pure vitamin C and 0.5% ferulic acid to soothe and calm sensitive skin while enhancing antioxidant protection against environmental aggressors.
2. Vitamin C serum for oily skin
The telltale sign that you have oily skin? A face that looks shiny or feels greasy to the touch by mid- or late day, especially the forehead, nose and chin. You may also be prone to enlarged pores. It’s best to treat this skin type with products that are oil-free, which includes SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF. It is the best vitamin C serum for oily skin and the newest addition to the SkinCeuticals antioxidant range. It blends 15% L-ascorbic acid and 0.5% ferulic acid with 0.5% silymarin (milk thistle extract) and 0.5% salicylic acid. Along with antioxidant protection, it helps to reduce oiliness, refine skin’s texture, minimize visible pores and improve clarity. It’s everything oily skin needs, and nothing more.
3. Vitamin C serum for acne-prone skin
Due to the production of excess sebum, oily and acne-prone skin have a lot in common. And that makes SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF the best vitamin C serum for acne, too. With a base of L-ascorbic acid and ferulic acid to protect skin against free radical damage, the oil-free formula also utilizes 0.5% salicylic acid to clear congested pores. But the standout ingredient is 0.5% silymarin, which addresses the interaction between oil oxidation and blemishes. Research suggests that oil oxidation is a form of free radical damage that can trigger inflammation and the bacteria that lead to the development of blemishes. Silymarin, an antioxidant from the botanical milk thistle, has been clinically shown to help minimize breakouts by reducing oil oxidation by up to 76%. That’s a big win over blemishes.
4. Vitamin C serum for dry skin
When your skin is naturally dry, dull and rough, it’s no secret that enhancing hydration levels leads to plump suppleness. A skincare routine that includes a layer of moisturizer is a must, but the secret to a constructive transformation is infusing a dry skin type with active ingredients that nourish beneath the surface. SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic is the ideal vitamin C serum for dry skin that is dehydrated. While the antioxidant blend protects skin from environmental stressors like the sun, which can have a drying effect, the 15% L-ascorbic acid helps to encourage collagen production. Collagen (a protein that attracts water to cells, is naturally occurring in our bodies and diminishes over time) is crucial to improving internal moisture levels. Try the hero ingredient vitamin C to give both a boost.
How to use a vitamin C serum
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Step 1. It’s best to use your vitamin C serum every morning to protect skin throughout the day. Start by cleansing your face with a formula that suits your skin type. Follow with a toner to prep skin.
Step 2. On dry skin, apply four to five drops of the best vitamin C serum for your skin type. Using your palms, press the product into your face, neck and chest. If you have normal or combination skin with an uneven skin tone, try SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF. It contains 2% phloretin, a fruit derivative antioxidant that helps improve the appearance of discoloration. eye serum with vitamin C is also a great addition to a morning skincare routine. SkinCeuticals AOX+ Eye Gel is designed to reduce the appearance of lines, puffiness and undereye circles while respecting the delicate eye area.
Step 3. Use a moisturizer, and always finish you’re a.m. skincare routine with a SkinCeuticals broad-spectrum sunscreen. For all skin types, using an antioxidant serum and sunscreen together provides intense protection from environmental aggressors that cause visible signs of aging.
Vitamin C serum before and after
Can we get visual assets (images/video) to include in this section to demonstrate results of using a vitamin c serum?
ANTIOXIDANT AUTHORITY
The Best Vitamin C Serum For Every Skin Type
There’s a supercharged treatment for that.
ANTIOXIDANT AUTHORITY
The Complete Guide To Vitamin C For The Skin
How to use the hero ingredient when your skin is reactive.
ANTIOXIDANT AUTHORITY
5 Things You Don't Know About Vitamin C
From a collagen boost to redness reduction, this non-stop ingredient is full of surprises!