What Not to Take with Vitamin C?
You’ve undoubtedly heard of Vitamin C and know exactly why you should incorporate it into your skincare routine. However, there’s a lot of confusion about what exactly should not be mixed with Vitamin C. So stay tuned to learn more and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram if you have any questions.
What Not to Take with Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is known for being slightly unstable, and its acidic pH means it’s difficult to combine with other potent and active skin ingredients. Here are three key ingredients you should avoid when using Vitamin C.
Vitamin C and Retinol
One of the most potent ingredients in skincare, retinol is a highly effective anti-aging powerhouse with a variety of benefits. It boosts collagen production while increasing the rate at which skin cells renew themselves. This is too strong for many skin types, so introducing retinol into your routine should be done slowly to avoid severe irritation. If you choose to combine any form of retinoid with Vitamin C, you’ll find that it’s too harsh for your skin, regardless of your tolerance for retinol. To avoid this, apply vitamin C in your evening routine to protect your skin from UV rays and other free radical damage. You’ll find that retinol works best when used in the evening, as its effectiveness decreases with exposure to the sun.
Vitamin C and Niacinamide?
Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is found in a number of different skincare products. With its moisturizing properties, it hydrates your complexion and regulates the skin’s sebum production. This is very special, ensuring that the niacinamide keeps your skin plump and improves any signs of breakouts and acne. The problem with niacinamide and vitamin C is that they both have similar benefits for the skin. Therefore, if they are used together, they affect each other and are therefore useless. If you want to use both in your daily routine, leave at least 10 minutes between applications or alternate between them for the best results.
Vitamin C and AHA/BHA
It’s best to avoid vitamin C and AHA/BHA (such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid) altogether. Due to the chemical peeling effects of these acids, combining them with Vitamin C can be too harsh on the skin and cause severe irritation, reactions, and severe dryness. You also need to keep in mind that all of these ingredients have a low pH level that can cause a serious imbalance that can completely ineffective your skincare routine.
What can you take with Vitamin C?
Thanks to the powerful antioxidant effects of Vitamin C, your skin will be rejuvenated and repaired, your complexion will become more radiant, and signs of free radical damage will be significantly reduced. While Vitamin C alone can bring impressive results, there are some ingredients that combine perfectly with this powerful energy substance.
Best Ingredients to Mix with Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Ferulic Acid
Vitamin B
Hyaluronic Acid
To ensure that your skin stays healthy and happy, I recommend that you always consult a doctor or dermatologist to find the best combination of ingredients without worrying about adverse reactions.
Can Vitamin C and Niacinamide be mixed?
No, it is considered best not to mix Vitamin C and Niacinamide because the individual ingredients will cancel each other out, rendering them completely useless. As I mentioned earlier in this blog post, you can use Niacinamide and Vitamin C in your daily routine. However, you must make sure to leave at least 10 to 15 minutes between applications. Another way to use these two ingredients is to alternate applying them to your skin at different times of the day or even on different days.
If you want to learn more about using Niacinamide and Vitamin C, you can read our dedicated blog post on The Beauty Insiders.
Can Vitamin C be used with Hyaluronic Acid?
Yes, you can! In fact, your skin will be very grateful. This is because Vitamin C is known to cause mild irritation and redness to the skin, especially for those who are dry and prone to sensitivity. Then apply a hydrating ingredient like Hyaluronic Acid, you can combat potential dryness and irritation by providing extra hydration. This will give you a plump, radiant, nourished complexion that is protected from free radical damage and looks youthful.
Does Vitamin C cancel out Retinol?
The short answer is yes, and the more detailed answer is highly related to the pH levels of different formulations of products containing Vitamin C and Retinol. You have to remember how powerful these two ingredients are, and where potency is high, there tends to be instability. Due to the low pH of both, when mixed or used on top of each other, they can cause negative reactions that can lead to dry skin, irritation, redness, and itching.
To avoid these issues and unwanted side effects, I recommend using a vitamin C serum at the end of your morning routine before following up with a daily sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. You can then follow up with a retinol-rich product in the evening.
Which comes first, vitamin C or hyaluronic acid?
If you are using vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in separate products, I recommend starting with the vitamin C. This is because serum formulas with vitamin C have a thinner, lighter consistency compared to hyaluronic acid. The general rule of thumb when doing your skincare routine is to start with the thinnest and end with the thickest. When you use a hyaluronic acid-rich serum after a vitamin C product, you strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture on the outer surface, leaving the skin plump, hydrated, and at its healthiest.
Does vitamin C clog pores?
Yes, you can, but only if you use an unstable form of vitamin C, as ascorbic acid (another name for vitamin C) can oxidize when exposed to light and air, leading to the formation of blackheads and worsening the appearance of your skin. To avoid this, just make sure you are using the best form of vitamin C, and if you have any questions, stop using the product and consult your doctor or dermatologist.
Here is some more information on what you shouldn’t mix vitamin C with. Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what to look out for, and can incorporate this impressive powerhouse into your daily routine.
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.
