Learn all about Vitamin C skincare including what strength to use, when to apply, how often to use, and when it is too strong.
Vitamin C serums and creams are one of those beauty products that can give you an almost instant boost of brightness and glow, but are there limits to how much you should use? And how high of a strength of Vitamin C is too high?
In this article, we will look into how much Vitamin C content you should look for in your creams and serums, how often you should use Vitamin C, when it may be too strong, when to apply Vitamin C, and where to find good Vitamin C formulas.
According to studies, the benefits of Vitamin C serums tend to continue increasing along with increased strengths, but only up to about 20% concentrations.
After 20% Vitamin C content, you may run into more irritation from the high concentrations without seeing much benefit in return.
The most common strengths we see in products are between 5%-20%, so if you are looking for a good place to start aim for 10%-15% and see how it works for your skin.
Also Read: What Does Vitamin C Serum Do for Your Skin? And Other Common Questions
Vitamin C actually does a pretty good job of lingering in your skin after an application of serums or creams, and after 4 days you will still have about 50% of the Vitamin C still hanging around.
The exact answer to how often you can apply your Vitamin C product is dependent on your skin type and how you respond to your product, but in general, a gentle Vitamin C product can be used 1-2 times daily without any problems.
If you do happen to have extremely sensitive skin, try applying every other day.
Also, if you know you are going to be having a really sun-filled day, you may be able to add in an extra Vitamin C application since UV light breaks down Vitamin C in your skin.
Read Related: Should You Use Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Cream Together?
In people that have extremely sensitive skin, you may have a slight irritation to Vitamin C serums.
Irritation is more common with the higher strengths of Vitamin C serums, and may be caused by the more acidic pH of Vitamin C.
Your skin should feel good after an application of your Vitamin C cream or serum.
So, if you are experiencing redness, itching, burning, or stinging, you may want to opt for a weaker formulation or try blending your product with a gentle moisturizer to dilute it.
Learn More: How To Use Both Vitamin C & Retinol In Your Skin Care Routine
Vitamin C tends to break down faster when it is exposed to UV light, like the light from the sun.
So, if you want your Vitamin C to hang out in your skin cells for the longest amount of time you may want to apply at nighttime or once you are home for the day.
Another thing to keep in mind is that if you are also using cosmetics or prescription which contain strong retinoids like Tretinoin, you may want to apply your Vitamin C apart from those products since retinoids are known to be mildly irritating.
The best time for you to apply your Vitamin C will be largely based on your daily schedule, and what other skincare items you are using.
Some may find it best to apply only in the morning, only at night, or morning and night. Test out a few different application times and see which one works for your life and skin type best.
Also Read: How To Rebuild Collagen in the Face: 7 Collagen Boosting Tips
Strut Brightly is our pharmaceutical-grade Vitamin C cream, that blends Vitamin C with a few other gentle skin-brightening, firming, and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, and botox-like topical Acetyl Hexapeptide.
Have an free Online Questionnaire-Based Visit with our doctors today to see if Strut Brightly fits in with your glowy-skin goals.
If you are a good candidate for Strut Brightly cream, we can send your compounded prescription directly to your front door.
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