How to Use Vitamin C in your Skincare Routine

Why is it important to use Vitamin C the right way?

Vitamin C has a number of benefits but if used  incorrectly or paired with the wrong ingredients, it can result in unwanted side effects including itching, irritation, tingling, breakouts or in some cases the Vitamin C may not work.

Here are 5 things to consider while using Vitamin C in your skincare routine

1. Use 1 – 2 times a day

Use Vitamin C in the AM with SPF 30+ to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, and UV rays. If you have dry or sensitive skin, opt for a Vitamin C serum in the PM or a lower concentration in the morning. Using Vitamin C more than 2 times a day could result in blackheads and irritation which could pose extra concerns for your skin barrier.

For best results, use a Vitamin C serum twice a day or a Vitamin C sheet mask 2-3 times a week.  

2. Know your skin type

Vitamin C works well with most skin types. However, some skin types may react to Vitamin C differently. We recommend that you always do a patch test before using new products so you can gauge how your skin would react to a new product. 

Baobab glow-c serum containing Vitamin C, arbutin, and african baobab is worth checking out if you experience discoloration and/or dull and uneven skin regardless of your skin type. Also answer our skin quiz so we can create the perfect routine for you by first determining your skin type. Take our skin quiz here. 

3. Build a skincare routine 

Using a Vitamin C serum without a proper skincare routine could potentially slow down your results. For example, when you don’t cleanse your skin there is a build up of impurities and layering a serum over uncleansed skin stops the serum from being properly absorbed by your skin, reducing its effectiveness. So, be sure to build a skincare routine which supports the effectiveness of your serum. 

Check out our beginner’s guide here for a step-by-step process of how to build a skincare routine. Ideally, Vitamin C should be preceded by a cleanser and toner then followed by moisturiser and sunscreen. 

4. Work your way up

Vitamin C, just like other actives, comes in slightly different concentrations. Your best bet is to start with Vitamin C of a lower concentration of 8-10% then slowly work your way up if needed. This will help monitor your skin’s response to Vitamin C and act accordingly to prevent any adverse side effects.

Using vitamin c with high concentrations of 20%, for instance, right off the bat could irritate the skin, cause itching and tingling sensations. 

5. Layer Vitamin C serum correctly 

Never use Vitamin C within a few hours of using salicylic acid, retinol, or glycolic acid. Low pH actives such as Vitamin C should always go before higher pH products such as hyaluronic acid. If you’re using 2 serums in a skincare routine, ensure that the water-based serums are layered before the oil-based serums. 

If you are looking for the right Vitamin C product for daily use, we recommend our Baobab Glow-C serum, infused with African Baobab, 8% Vitamin C and 2% Arbutin to visibly brighten and even skin tone. If you prefer a boost of Vitamin C coupled with a pamper session, our “I Am Brilliant” sheet masks are the perfect option for you.

Will you be adding Vitamin C to your skincare routine? Let us know in the comments below 🙂