How Long Does It Take For Vitamin C To Work?
The skin changes seen with Vitamin C do not occur quickly. Vitamin C serum can take 12- 16 weeks to work on dark spots and 6 – 12 months to work on wrinkles. But it is a very good skin care ingredient and is worth the wait in most skin types.
How long it takes for Vitamin C to clear skin depends upon:
what skin issues you are treating
your skin type
your skin care routine
how consistent you are
Making sure you are using products in your skin care routine to make Vitamin C work better is the only way to make Vitamin C work faster.
Learn more about how to clear skin fast in this blog.
How Long Does It Take Vitamin C Serum To Work On Melasma?
Melasma is a stubborn skin condition that has dark spots on the skin. Vitamin C can take a long time to work on melasma, in fact melasma may never clear if you are only using Vitamin C to treat it.
Vitamin C is classified as a skin lightener because it has some exfoliation effects and inhibits tyrosinase, the enzyme that makes the skin pigment melanin.
But vitamin C is not the strongest tyrosinase inhibitor to lighten skin. In fact, it is not our first choice for melasma. We prefer using Vitamin C in a maintenance regimen to prevent melasma, but not to treat melasma.
You can learn more about skin care routines to treat melasma here.
If you choose to use Vitamin C to treat melasma, this blog discusses dermatologist-approved Vitamin C serums for melasma.
You can speed up how fast Vitamin C works by following these tips:
Use a good brand of Vitamin C serum
Use one that is freshly opened
Don’t use a Vitamin C cream
Use a moisturizer with unsaturated fatty acids after the Vitamin C
Use a low pH cleanser before the Vitamin C
Choose oils that help Vitamin C work faster
Use other tyrosinase inhibitors
Use a cleanser for dark spots and for your Baumann Skin Type
and most importantly- use a tinted SPF of at least 15 EVERY day
Learn about Vitamin C serum to treat melasma.
Why does it take so long for vitamin c to treat dark spots?
Why Does It Take So Long For Vitamin C To Work On Dark Spots?
Vitamin C is not the fastest way to reduce dark spots on the skin.
There are skin lighteners that work faster.
The exfoliation and desquamation cycle of the skin determines how long it takes for dark spots to fade. You can learn more here.
If you want to speed up how long it takes Vitamin C to work, use it with these types of ingredients in your skin care routine.
Exfoliants
Tyrosinase inhibitors
Anti-inflammatories
PAR-2 Blockers
Retinoids
But when you shop for those products, make sure you shop by your Baumann Skin Type.
How Can I Make Vitamin C Work Faster On Dark Spots?
Customize your skin care routine for your Baumann Skin Type
Use with a retinoid
Be consistent
Change products every 3-4 months
Combine with other skin lightening ingredients
Add a PAR-2 blocker to your routine
vitamin C for wrinkles
How Long Does It Take Vitamin C To Work On Wrinkles?
Ascorbic acid helps increase collagen production but it takes at least 6- 12 months to see skin improvement.
Vitamin C will work faster on wrinkles if you are:
Using the best skin care routine for your Baumann Skin Type
Applying a strong retinoid
Applying the Vitamin C after a low pH cleanser
Applying Vitamin C to damp skin
Using your morning and evening routine consistently
Choosing a good Vitamin C
Using a fresh Vitamin C serum (replace every 8 weeks)
Although ascorbic acid will help wrinkles, the anti-aging effects of Vitamin C are not nearly as good or as fast as retinoids such as retinol.
Combine your Vitamin C with retinoids to see faster improvement of wrinkles.
Vitamin C serums are expensive, and they may not even be right for your Baumann Skin Type!
Before you waste time and money, shop for Vitamin C serums by your skin type.
These are the best Vitamin C serums:
La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum
$44.99
Add to Cart
Obagi-C FX System C-Clarifying Serum
$140.00
Add to Cart
Obagi Force Field Kit with Professional-C Serum 20%
$189.00
Out of Stock
Obagi Professional-C Peptide Complex
$125.00
Add to Cart
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
$26.99
Out of Stock
ISDIN Flavo-C
$100.00
Add to Cart
ISDIN Flavo-C Ultraglican Ampules
$46.00
Out of Stock
ISDIN Hyaluronic Booster 10 Ampoules
$46.00
Add to Cart
ISDIN Melatonik® Restorative Melatonin Night Serum
$160.00
Add to Cart
La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Cream
$54.99
Add to Cart
La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum
$44.99
Add to Cart
Obagi-C FX System C-Clarifying Serum
$140.00
Add to Cart
Obagi Force Field Kit with Professional-C Serum 20%
$189.00
Out of Stock
Obagi Professional-C Peptide Complex
$125.00
Add to Cart
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
$26.99
Out of Stock
ISDIN Flavo-C
$100.00
Add to Cart
ISDIN Flavo-C Ultraglican Ampules
$46.00
Out of Stock
ISDIN Hyaluronic Booster 10 Ampoules
$46.00
Add to Cart
ISDIN Melatonik® Restorative Melatonin Night Serum
$160.00
Add to Cart
La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Cream
$54.99
Add to Cart
La Roche-Posay Vitamin C Serum
$44.99
Add to Cart
Obagi-C FX System C-Clarifying Serum
$140.00
Add to Cart
Obagi Force Field Kit with Professional-C Serum 20%
$189.00
Out of Stock
Obagi Professional-C Peptide Complex
$125.00
Add to Cart
CeraVe Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum
$26.99
Out of Stock
ISDIN Flavo-C
$100.00
Add to Cart
ISDIN Flavo-C Ultraglican Ampules
$46.00
Out of Stock
ISDIN Hyaluronic Booster 10 Ampoules
$46.00
Add to Cart
ISDIN Melatonik® Restorative Melatonin Night Serum
$160.00
Add to Cart
La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C Face Cream
$54.99
Add to Cart
Vitamin C is weak, unstable, and does not penetrate well into skin. There are many things that you need to do to make Vitamin C work better and faster.
Vitamin C serums are not right for everyone, so they may not work at all if they are not the right skin care product for your Baumann Skin Type®.
Make sure vitamin C serums will work on your skin issues by choosing other products in the skin care routine that will help Vitamin C serums be more effective.
I would hate for you to waste time and money using the wrong skin care products for your Baumann Skin Type!
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.