Vitamin C serum has many health benefits for your skin, including promoting collagen production and protecting against sun damage. Some people may experience side effects.
What’s a vitamin C serum?
If you have your head in the skin care game, you’ve likely heard of vitamin C serums.
Vitamin C is touted as one of the best ingredients on the market for pro-aging support — and the key to maintaining a smooth, even, and glowy complexion.
Although you’re probably getting vitamin C in your diet, there’s no way to guarantee it’s going straight to your skin. Using serums and other topical products is the most direct way to reap these benefits.
Read on to learn why you should add vitamin C serum to your routine, how to introduce a new product, and more.
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Benefits
There are plenty of benefits to using vitamin C on your skin. For example, vitamin C:
- is safe for most skin types
- provides hydration
- can brighten your skin
- can reduce redness
- can reduce hyperpigmentation
- can reduce the appearance of under-eye circles
- promotes collagen production
- may help prevent sagging
- may protect against sun damage
- may soothe sunburns
- may help wound healing
1. It’s safe for most skin types
Vitamin C has an excellent safety profileTrusted Source. Most people can use topical vitamin C for an extended period of time without experiencing any adverse reactions.
A 2017 review of researchTrusted Source notes that vitamin C may cause minor skin irritation in concentrations above 20%. Because of this, its concentration often ranges between 10% and 20% in skin care products.
Vitamin C is also safe to use with other skin care actives, including alpha hydroxy acids, retinols, and SPF.
2. It’s hydrating
According to a 2017 research review, most healthy skin and organs contain high concentrations of vitamin C, suggesting that vitamin C accumulates in the body from circulation.
Review authors noted that topical vitamin C penetrates the skin best in the form of ascorbic acid.
Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, another vitamin C derivative used in skin care, has been shown to have a hydrating effect on the skin, according to a 2022 reviewTrusted Source. It decreases transepidermal water loss (TEWL), allowing your skin to retain moisture better.
According to a 2019 studyTrusted Source, an antipollution, antioxidant serum containing Deschampsia antarctica extract, ferulic acid, and vitamin C reduced TEWL by 19 percent, improving the skin barrier function.
3. It’s brightening
Vitamin C can help fade pigmentation (more on this below!) and smooth the skin’s surface to reduce dullness. This gives skin a youthful glow.
A 2017 reviewTrusted Source notes that vitamin C use has been shown to impede melanin production. Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin color.
By inhibiting melanin production, vitamin C can help fade dark spots and hyperpigmentation. It may also help brighten your skin’s appearance.
4. It helps reduce redness and even out your skin tone
Vitamin C has also been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory agent through its antioxidant capacity, according to a 2015 reviewTrusted Source. This means it soothes your skin and can reduce puffiness.
Vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory action may help:
- neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative damage
- optimize the immune system to discourage an inflammatory immune response
The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C can also help reduce redness, which in turn can create a more even complexion.
The combined reduction of dark spots, redness, and irritation makes for a clear, smooth skin tone.
5. It helps fade hyperpigmentation
Since it impedes melanin production, vitamin C can actually fade hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation — including sunspots, age spots, and melasma — occurs when melanin is overproduced in certain areas of the skin. It can also happen in areas where acne has healed.
Vitamin C inhibits melanin synthesisTrusted Source by downregulating the activity of an enzyme known as tyrosinase. It’s widely used in dermatology for reducing pigmentation of hyperpigmented spots on the skin.
It’s also been used to treat gingival melanin hyperpigmentation (gum hyperpigmentation), though studies are limited.
Dealing with acne? In addition to vitamin C serums, there are other options for treating hyperpigmentation acne.
6. It reduces the appearance of under-eye circles
Vitamin C serums can help smooth out fine lines by plumping and hydrating the under-eye area.
Although vitamin C is more effective at reducing overall redness, some people say it can help alleviate discoloration associated with under-eye circles.
According to a small 2019 studyTrusted Source on three treatments for dark circles, vitamin C mesotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in the pigmentation of under-eye circles. However, some participants also reported a burning feeling.
Some other ways to help get rid of under-eye bags include using a cold compress and adding retinol to your skin care routine.
The skin under your eyes is thin and sensitive, so it’s best to stick to products specifically designed for the under-eye area.
7. It promotes collagen production
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that depletes over time. Lower levels of collagen can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin C is well known for boosting collagen productionTrusted Source through the process of collagen synthesis. In fact, collagen synthesis can’t happen without vitamin C.
This is because vitamin C is the essential cofactor for the two enzymes required for collagen synthesis:
- prolyl hydroxylase, which stabilizes the collagen molecule
- lysyl hydroxylase, which provides structural strength
You can also boost collagen production through your diet.
8. It may help prevent skin sagging
Collagen production is tied to skin elasticity and firmness. When your collagen levels begin to drop, your skin may also begin to sag.
Applying a vitamin C serum may boost collagen production, resulting in an overall tightening effect, reports a 2017 reviewTrusted Source. This is true for sagging due to natural aging, oxidative stress damage, or extreme weight loss.
This means it can help reduce the appearance of sagging skin, making your skin look firmer and more toned.
9. It protects against sun damage
Excessive exposure to oxidant stress via pollutants or ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is associated with depleted vitamin C levels in the skin.
Vitamin C levels are also lower in more mature or photodamaged skin, though researchers are unsure whether this is a cause or effect.
Sun damage is caused by molecules called free radicals. These are atoms with a missing electron. Free radicalsTrusted Source search for other atoms from which they can “steal” an electron — and this can lead to significant damage to the skin.
Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants protect healthy skin cells by “giving” these free radicals an electron, rendering them harmless.
10. It may help soothe sunburns
In addition to minimizing redness, vitamin C accelerates cell turnover, according to a 2017 reviewTrusted Source. This replaces the damaged cells with healthy new ones.
Topical application of vitamin C, in combination with vitamin E and other compounds, has also been shown to reduce injury due to UV irradiation (aka sunburn), notes the above 2017 review. This combination also decreases the inflammation induced by excessive UV exposure.
It’s important to note that researchers found that vitamin C alone is only minimally effective at reducing sunburn on its own.
11. It generally helps boost wound healing
Given its effects on sunburn, it should be no surprise that topical vitamin C application can speed up overall wound healing. Healthy wound healing reduces your risk of inflammation, infection, and scarring.
In fact, having a deficiency in this key vitamin can make wounds take longer to heal.
A 2017 reviewTrusted Source found that taking vitamin C supplements had a positive effect on skin healing and growth by boosting antioxidant levels in the body and the skin.
This is partly because wound healing is associated with collagen formation, and vitamin C boosts collagen production.
How to use a vitamin C serum
Although topical vitamin C is generally well tolerated, all skin products have the potential to cause side effects.
You should always do a patch test to assess your risk of allergic reaction. Here’s how:
- Select a small area of skin that’s easy to conceal, like your forearm.
- Apply a small amount of product and wait 24 hours.
- If no side effects occur, you can apply it to your face. Discontinue use if you develop a rash, redness, or hives.
When it’s time for a full application, follow the instructions on the product’s label.
It’s possible to have a skin reaction after repeat exposure, so it’s best to introduce new products one at a time, spaced out by a few weeks.
Vitamin C serum is typically applied once or twice per day. A good rule of thumb is to cleanse, tone, apply vitamin C serum, and then moisturize. Be sure to apply skin care products with clean hands.
It can be safely used with other active ingredients, although using alongside products containing niacinamide may make vitamin C less effective.
According to a 2020 reviewTrusted Source, a combination of tyrosine, zinc, and vitamin C was shown to increase the bioavailability of vitamin C 20 times more than just vitamin C alone.
Make sure to check your product’s use-by date. If the product has darkened or otherwise changed color, the vitamin C has likely oxidized. Although the product is still safe to use, it no longer carries the same benefits.
Potential side effects and risks
Although irritation is unlikely, you should always do a patch test before full application. This is the only way to determine how your skin will react to the serum.
If your skin is especially sensitive, avoid products with L-ascorbic acid. Products with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate may be less likelyTrusted Source to cause irritation.
Vitamin C products
Serum stability is affected by two things: product formulation and packaging.
The following vitamin C derivatives are designed to retain potency for longer:
- L-ascorbic acid
- ascorbyl palmitate
- magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
You should also ensure that the product has a water-free formulation. And the bottle should be opaque and airtight.
You can check out our favorite vitamin C serums organized by how dry or oily your skin is.
The bottom line
Vitamin C can help heal blemishes, reduce hyperpigmentation, and give your skin an out-of-this-world glow.
Consistency is key for maximum effect, so add it to your skin care routine in a way that makes sense for you.
Some people apply it in the morning to take advantage of its UV-protectant properties, while others find that it works best as a night serum. Others apply it twice daily.
Discontinue use if you begin to experience irritation or discomfort.
