While vitamin C is great at protecting and encouraging rejuvenation of the skin, hyaluronic acid will work to hydrate and plump the skin. If you're unsure about when to use vitamin C when layering products, apply vitamin C serum first, followed by hyaluronic acid - this will help to add moisture back into the skin.
Hyaluronic acid
If you're willing to give the duo a go, follow up your Vitamin C serum with hyaluronic acid-infused moisturiser, like the Pond's Super Light Gel Oil Free Moisturiser With Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin E. It's got the goodness of Vitamin E AND hyaluronic acid and will give you total skin hydration.
Once your vitamin C serum has dried down, apply moisturizer. This order is crucial because applying moisturizer before your serum could block your skin from absorbing all of its goodness. If applying in the morning, follow with a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher.
Generally speaking, the best time to apply vitamin C serum is in the morning, after cleansing and toning your complexion, and before moisturizer and SPF. If you want to maximize the perks, and don't have overly sensitive skin, you can apply it in the morning and evening.
We recommend that beauty lovers use our Vitamin C Serum after cleansing, exfoliating, masking, and/or toning — but always before moisturizing.
The average time suggested was somewhere between 1-2 minutes. The issue with vitamin C is that it is a very unstable ingredient, meaning products are usually very carefully formulated to keep it as potent as possible. Dr Khan explains: “With vitamin C, you want to get the most out of the product by not diluting it.
Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid
Usually, you get hyaluronic acid as a thicker serum, so layer it on top of vitamin C and then apply your moisturizer. For the best results, make sure your skin has mostly absorbed one skincare product before applying the next one.
If you are applying a Vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid separately, it's suggested that you apply the Vitamin C first, and then add the hyaluronic acid afterward in order to help fortify the skin barrier and lock in the moisture.
Never combine Vitamin C serum with AHAs, BHAs, retinol, niacinamide, and benzol peroxide in the same routine. It can lead to skin flaking, drying, and irritation. Dermatologists instead recommend choosing serums with 2 or more antioxidants.
Vitamin C works best in combination with vitamin E, ferulic Acid, vitamin B, and hyaluronic acid. Designed to deliver a high concentration of actives, a vitamin C serum is a popular choice in skincare.
You can try cetaphil products. But you may not need any moisturisation after application of Vit C serum.
Vitamin C is effectively an acid (it's sometimes known as ascorbic acid), so layering it with AHAs and BHAs like glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids is a big no-no.
After applying vitamin C serum to your face, wait for it to be fully absorbed by your skin. It should take somewhere between one and two minutes to completely dry off. Then, go ahead and apply the hyaluronic acid serum.
To layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serums, always apply vitamin C first to cleansed, dry skin. Be sure to leave time for your vitamin C to sink in, then follow up with your hyaluronic acid.
The ideal wait time is 5-10 minutes depending on how soon the product is absorbed.
However, the best way to know, according to Dr Kiran, is to notice the difference in your skin. “If you use the serum for a month and find your skin to be bright, clear, less sensitive to the sun, and you are feeling fresher, then vitamin C is definitely working,” she said.
Nearly across the board, dermatologists recommend incorporating vitamin C serum into your morning routine (as opposed to using it at night). The reason for this recommendation relates to its ability to protect the skin.
While most people can tolerate daily use of vitamin C serum, some people may experience redness, irritation, or even breakouts. If you have sensitive skin, it's important to start slowly when using a vitamin C serum. Begin by using it every other day, and gradually increase to daily use if your skin can tolerate it.
“Vitamin C also inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that makes dark spots in the skin.” To get the antioxidant effect of Vitamin C use a daily moisturizer that can help protect your skin.
A: Yes, you can use a night cream after using a vitamin C serum.
Also, we consulted with scientists who told us that if you wear vitamin C without sunscreen, your vitamin C can actually be photo-incinerated (i.e. totally burned away) by the sun.