Why can’t Vitamin C and peptides be used together?
Peptides and Vitamin C are two common ingredients found in many skincare products. Both are very popular in their own right and produce impressive results when applied to the skin individually. The question is whether they produce the same effects when used in the same product formula. Today we will explore why Vitamin C and peptides can’t be used together and, with any luck, we will clear up the confusion surrounding these two powerful ingredients and their skin benefits.
Can peptides and Vitamin C be used together?
Yes, peptides and Vitamin C can be used together. It is well known that peptides can be combined with other popular ingredients. You just have to choose your ingredients wisely. What I mean by this is that you should choose a combination of ingredients that will benefit your skin and keep the barrier strong and healthy. In the long run, your complexion will look noticeably younger, firmer, and more elastic.
If your skin is prone to sensitivity or dryness, the combination of these ingredients may cause skin irritation, redness, and flushing. But this doesn’t mean that if you have oily or combination skin, you won’t have sensitivity issues, whether mild or severe. Therefore, I recommend that you consult your doctor or dermatologist to discuss the best way to use these ingredients in your daily routine.
Therefore, if you want to use peptides and vitamin C together, I recommend alternating when each ingredient is applied to the skin. This allows you to reap the benefits of both peptides and vitamin C while avoiding unwanted side effects and irritation.
Why can’t vitamin C and peptides be used together?
As I mentioned before, peptides and vitamin C alone can produce impressive results. There are mixed opinions on the idea of using both ingredients together, but in general, combining these ingredients is easier than expected. Vitamin C has impressive results in combating a range of skin conditions, such as: B. Environmental aggressors that cause oxidative stress on the skin. This can manifest as a variety of uneven skin tones, such as: B. Dark spots and hyperpigmentation, as well as premature signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.
Since vitamin C provides antioxidant benefits to the surface of the skin, you’ll find that it protects newly produced collagen as the peptides send signals to the underlying layers of the skin.
Which came first, peptides or vitamin C?
A lot of it depends on the consistency of the formula, which contains peptides and vitamin C. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, there is a rule for how to apply skincare. Start with the thinnest and then move to the thickest. This ensures that each product is fully absorbed into the skin without having to compete with the barrier created by heavy creams and facial oils.
For example, if you have a serum rich in vitamin C and a moisturizer with copper peptides, you can apply the serum first and then the moisturizer to ensure your skin gets the most out of each ingredient.
Can you use vitamin C in the morning and peptides in the evening?
Yes, you absolutely can! Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidant ingredients in over-the-counter skincare. Many people believe that applying vitamin C in the morning gives the best results, thanks to its impressive ability to fight hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and even early signs of aging. Since the skin barrier is completely protected from the antioxidant benefits of vitamin C, you can enhance these benefits by using peptide-rich products in the evening. When you sleep, your exposure to free radicals such as UV rays or pollution is limited, so the peptides in the lower layers of the skin can work completely undisturbed.
When you use these ingredients in this way, your skin will be completely transformed, giving you a healthy, radiant, and youthful complexion.
Which is better, vitamin C or peptides?
This is a matter of personal preference, as each ingredient has its own unique benefits.
Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin Care
A powerful antioxidant that protects against free radical damage such as pollution, environmental aggressors, central heating and UV radiation.
It stimulates the skin’s self-repair, which significantly increases collagen and elastin production.
Fights signs of premature aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin.
Reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation, evens out skin tone and dark spots
Visibly brightens skin tone
Removes dead skin cells from the skin’s surface
Skincare Benefits of Peptides
Improves the strength of the skin barrier
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Helps tighten skin by boosting collagen and elastin production
Calms inflammation and repairs damaged skin
Fights acne-causing bacteria for clear, transparent skin
Leaves skin feeling plump, hydrated and youthful
Now that you’ve rounded up the benefits of each powerful ingredient, this should help you decide which one would be beneficial for your daily routine. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from combining them, using them every other day or in different skincare routines throughout the day.
Which is better, peptides or retinol?
Again, you can decide personally based on the skin concerns you want to address. Retinol is certainly one of the most effective anti-aging ingredients. Its fast results never cease to amaze people, but this also comes with the disadvantage of increased skin sensitivity. Peptides, on the other hand, can achieve similar results, but in a gentler way. However, the results and time you get with peptides may not match the effects of retinol. If you want to learn more about whether you can use peptides and retinol together, read our blog post.
Hopefully, some of your questions about peptides and vitamin C will be answered there. Always remember that if you have any questions about a new formula or ingredient, you should consult your doctor or dermatologist. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram.
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.
