Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient known for brightening, protecting, and keeping skin looking its best. But here’s the thing—not all Vitamin C serums are created equal. If you’ve ever wondered why some are more effective than others, why concentrations vary, or why certain formulas cause irritation while others don’t, we’ve got the answers.
To clear things up, we spoke to Dr. Tania Romano, Head of Media and Education at SkinCeuticals. She breaks down everything you need to know about Vitamin C serums—what makes them work, how to get the most out of them, and why ingredients like Ferulic Acid can take your skincare routine to the next level.
We hear a lot about Vitamin C in skincare, but not all serums are created equal. What makes Vitamin C with Ferulic Acid more effective than one without it?
Although there are many vitamin C serums on the market, SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic serum is the gold standard worldwide. The product is formulated according to the Duke Parameters, meaning that l-ascorbic acid (the most bioavailable type of vitamin C) is used at a 15% concentration and formulated a low pH to ensure stability of the product and maximise skin penetration.
It is also well-reported in the medical literature that l-ascorbic acid works better when paired with vitamin E and Ferulic acid. Ferulic acid is also an antioxidant, however, it helps stabilise the vitamin C and enhance its activity in the skin. Therefore, the best vitamin C formulations, such as the suite of SkinCeuticals vitamin C serums, all contain Ferulic acid to help supercharge the antioxidant efficiency of the vitamin C and the overall formulation.
Many people use Vitamin C in the morning, but are there any benefits to using it at night as well?
Vitamin C only needs to be applied once a day. The best time to apply a vitamin C serum to your face is in the morning after cleansing. Due to its antioxidant actions, vitamin C helps to prevent UV damage (when used in conjunction with an SPF) and helps promote our skin’s own internal antioxidant capacity to protect against environmental stressors. As vitamin C is quite active, night-time use is normally associated with irritation as this is when most people are using a retinol serum. Therefore, stick with it as part of your daily morning routine.
Some people experience irritation with Vitamin C serums, especially those with sensitive skin. Are there any specific application tips or layering techniques to get the most out of it without irritation?
SkinCeuticals vitamin C serums are generally well tolerated by all skin types. When using the product, it should be applied to freshly cleansed skin in the morning before any other serums or moisturisers. There may be a select few individuals with very sensitive skin, and they may find using Phloretin CF or Silymarin CF with 10% l-ascorbic acid rather than 15% may be more tolerable.
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic might sometimes turn dark or smell different over time. What’s happening there?
It is normal for your CE Ferulic to change colour over time. This is because of oxygen affecting the formulation and is called ‘oxidation’. However, despite this, we have robust data showing that changes to the formulation’s colour and smell do not affect its efficacy or potency. A normal 30ml size CE Ferulic should last someone approximately 3 months if used daily, and no significant colour or odour changes should happen in this time frame. If your serum has been opened and not used for more than 12 months, we then recommend you discard it.
We always hear about layering skincare, but are there any ingredients that don’t mix well with Vitamin C?
It is best to use your vitamin C in the morning and your topical retinol or retinoid at night. That means these 2 products don’t cause excessive irritation in your skin. As vitamin C is an acid, it is also best to avoid using exfoliants as AHAs and BHAs together as these might cause skin irritation.
How can people tell if their Vitamin C serum is actually working? Are there any subtle changes they should look for in their skin over time?
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that provides protection against premature ageing by blocking free radical damage caused by daily environmental aggressors such as air pollution and sun exposure. Vitamin C can also reduce dullness, improve skin tone, and brighten the complexion for more radiant looking skin. Therefore, it is a product that everyone should be using as we are all exposed to environmental aggressors and have free radicals causing damage to our skin.
When first using CE Ferulic, it may take up to 12 weeks to notice any visible changes to the skin, and you will notice improvements in clarity, skin tone and fine lines that will highlight the serum is working.
Buy SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum
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