How do I know if my Vitamin C serum is oxidized?
The benefits of using a Vitamin C serum are endless, as many of us incorporate it into our daily routines. While Vitamin C works wonders for the skin, it also has a downside: it can oxidize, breaking down its ingredients and becoming less potent and effective in treating the skin.
There are many factors to consider when trying to determine if your Vitamin C serum is oxidized. What does it look like? What should you do if you discover your product has been compromised? How does it affect your skin? These are some of the questions we’ll take a look at today.
How do I know if my Vitamin C serum is oxidized? Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it’s a powerhouse in keeping your skin healthy and glowing, and protects it from free radicals and other skin-damaging aggressors. Any skincare product that contains Vitamin C has the shortest shelf life, as once the product comes in contact with oxygen, its effectiveness decreases.
The easiest way to tell if your Vitamin C serum is oxidized is to look at the color. Serums that contain a lot of Vitamin C are clear, and will turn yellow or brown around 3 months after opening.
When this happens, it’s a clear sign that the L-ascorbic acid is losing its effectiveness, breaking down to become erythrulose, an ingredient found in self-tanning products that can last up to 7 days. The problem is that
Another feature of erythrulose is that it can also cause unnecessary skin damage by increasing free radical exposure, which can cause the skin to repair itself.
What should a vitamin C serum look like?
It’s always recommended to choose a vitamin C serum because, as mentioned earlier, it has a clear look that shows how much vitamin C is in the formula and allows you to see if it’s oxidized.
Although it may be difficult to rethink your initial idea that vitamin C should be orange, some brands have been known to add dyes to their formulas to recreate this effect. Ideally, choose a dye-free product
An opaque, sealed bottle ensures that the vitamin C stays as fresh as possible and is not exposed to too much UV light and oxygen, which can cause faster degradation.
Can oxygenated vitamin C serums be used?
Once the product is opened and used, the shelf life of vitamin C is about 3 months. After this, you should expect the formula to start to fade and turn brown.
There is nothing wrong with using the rest of the product, especially if it contains more than 10% active vitamin C and it still works. There are concerns about serums reacting with the skin and irritation, and some people have developed blemishes, breakouts, etc.
Is oxidized vitamin C bad for the skin?
There is no scientific evidence that oxidized vitamin C affects the skin. However, in many cases, skin irritation and discoloration can occur because oxidized L-ascorbic acid becomes a component of erythrulose, which is made into homemade vitamins and tanning products. Oxidized vitamin C is no longer a powerful antioxidant and can easily damage the skin by contributing to the production of free radicals, environmental aggressors, and daily aggressors, making premature signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles very visible. Since the amount of L-ascorbic acid in the product formula is very low, or even non-existent, you may find that the vitamin C serum is less effective and has no effect on your complexion. Can vitamin C serums be used daily? Compared to other alpha hydroxy acids (also known as AHAs), vitamin C is safe to take daily. With its ability to fight skin damage and other stressors, it can create a protective film on the skin throughout the day. Vitamin C serums are very effective in the mornings due to its antioxidant properties. However, many people find that applying them in the evening allows the AHAs to work without exposing them to the daily damage they are exposed to during the day.
If you want to learn more about AHAs and their effects on the skin, you can read our blog on the benefits of AHAs and BHAs for skin care. When should you throw away your vitamin C serum? Once your serum starts to turn yellow, this is a clear sign that there is too much air in the formula, making the vitamin C less effective.
Once the formula shows discoloration, it is best to discard the product entirely. Vitamin C is a notoriously difficult ingredient to handle and is unstable in aqueous solutions, which makes it more difficult to
determine if the vitamin C portion is active and actually beneficial to the skin.
To ensure that the skin is receiving the best possible treatment, the L-position must be taken into account. If ascorbic acid is listed in the ink on the packaging, it is not effective enough for optimal results. If it goes past the sixth, her skin will suffer.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about Vitamin C and how to tell if it is oxidized. There is a detailed blog post on the benefits of Vitamin C for skin care. Read it to get a better idea of what it means when you apply it to your skin and the results you will see.
DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life.
What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin?
Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition.
Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes.
If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider.
What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin?
Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity.
Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C.
Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post.
Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C?
Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster.
This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster.
While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin.
It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin.
Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning?
Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance.
You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather.
Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.
