What Does Vitamin C Serum Do for Pimples?
Of all the active ingredients in skincare, Vitamin C is definitely a favorite for those who want a youthful, radiant complexion. Due to the many benefits of Vitamin C serum for the skin, you’ll find that once you apply it to your skin, you’ll never stop. That’s why today I’m telling you about the benefits of Vitamin C serum and how they fight acne.
What Does Vitamin C Serum Do for Your Skin?
Vitamin C serum contains a combination of vitamins, also known as ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid, which belong to the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) family. They are able to remove dead skin cells that accumulate in the outer layer of the skin, which can cause problems such as pimples, uneven skin texture and dull skin tone, flaky, dry skin.
It also helps the skin fight dark spots and acne scars, which can become more pigmented due to other environmental aggressors such as UV rays and pollution. The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C protect the skin from free radical damage and skin stress. Dark spots and acne scars are significantly reduced and less noticeable as vitamin C slows down the production of melanin, which seeps into damaged holes in the skin layer. Think of vitamin C as a giant plug that prevents more pigment from escaping.
Important benefits of vitamin C for skin:
It reduces the appearance of sun damage, such as superficial dark spots and acne scars.
Can help visibly brighten your complexion and correct dull and blotchy areas of skin.
Contains antioxidant properties to prevent irritation, redness, and inflammation caused by environmental skin stressors.
May help speed up the skin’s natural healing process.
This article outlines the key benefits of vitamin C and how it treats the skin. However, as with all AHAs, sensitivity to UV rays increases, so it’s important to use a product with SPF 30 or higher every day to protect your skin from further damage. You can find out more about ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid in our dedicated guide to the skin care benefits of vitamin C.
Does vitamin C serum cause pimples?
Actually, it can! If you find your skin is experiencing breakouts and any type of blemishes (from blackheads to pimples), vitamin C can help fight them. The exfoliating action helps keep pores free of bacteria, product buildup, or dirt, preventing blackheads and whiteheads. For more active, larger pimples, vitamin C can reduce inflammation and speed up the healing process of skin damage caused by unnecessary popping of pimples. You’ll also find that vitamin C can also help correct skin tone and even eliminate hyperpigmentation or dark spots if you give in to temptation and pop your pimples.
Vitamin C can cause pimples and breakouts, but that’s only half the story. If you’re experiencing breakouts or spots, it could be due to other ingredients mixed into the serum’s formula.
When looking for a product, it’s best to consider your skin type and pay attention to which ingredients will help your skin thrive without causing imbalance or breakouts. For example, oily skin types should avoid shea butter, while dry skin types should avoid salicylic acid.
When should I apply vitamin C serum to my face?
When it comes to applying skincare products, the order can be a little confusing. I’ve mentioned this before on our blog, but the easiest way to remember is to apply from thin to thick. This results in the need to apply a serum to the skin after using an acid toner or chemical peel, but before moisturizing. This allows the active ingredients packed into the serum to penetrate the skin without having to compete with the barrier created by the moisturizer.
Many skin experts believe that using a vitamin C serum as part of your morning routine is the best way to wake up and brighten your skin, so that the glow from using vitamin C is visible throughout the day. Others also find that vitamin C serums are more effective at night because there are no daily distractions interfering, which means the antioxidant benefits can kick in faster and produce better results.
Does Vitamin C Help Fight Dark Spots?
Vitamin C has been praised for its ability to reduce the appearance of dark spots on the skin. Because the damage occurs in the lower layers of the skin, dark pigmentation is one of the most difficult skin issues to address. Luckily, with the exfoliating and protective properties of ascorbic acid, you’ll see a significant improvement in the overall appearance of your complexion in 4-6 weeks. While the damage that caused the dark spots can’t be completely reversed, you can make them less noticeable. For example, imagine a white tablecloth with a peppercorn on it. If you grind the peppercorn into a powder, this phenomenon will be less noticeable. If you imagine this, you will understand how vitamin C can reduce the appearance of dark spots, but it does not completely eliminate them.
What are the side effects of vitamin C serum?
Some people say that when they first apply vitamin C serum to their skin, they feel a stinging or slight tingling sensation. This is considered a normal reaction and should not last more than 2-3 seconds. If you experience any of the following reactions, it is recommended not to use vitamin C on your skin because it is too strong.
Rash
Scaling
Redness
Itching
Tightness of the skin
Severe dryness
As we always recommend, when using new skin care products, you should consult your doctor, dermatologist, or skin care expert to make sure the ingredients and formula are safe for your skin. If you want to try another AHA for chemical peels, you can always learn more about what AHAs and BHAs are and how they benefit your skin on our website.
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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.