What is a Vitamin C Serum?
If you are an expert in the skin care regimen and know your products to the tooth, then you surely do understand the importance of a vitamin C serum. Be it anti-aging, pigmentation, or tan, vitamin c is like a magical ingredient sent down to us by the skin gods. All we have to do now is put it to its best use. You might feel drinking your lemon water every day is giving you the dose you require, but it’s not guaranteed to go to your skin right away. Adding a serum to your daily intake is what you need.
How does it help?
- Safe
When it comes to safety and versatility, vitamin c is the hero. It can also be used topically for an extended period, without the risk of harming the skin. Unless someone suffers from hypersensitivity to their skin, it can be used without any worries. When combined with other skincare actives, such as SPF, retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, etc. it shows the best of its effects.
- Hydrates
Studies have proven that the use of topical Vitamin C penetrates through the skin in its best form of ascorbic acid. And also, it reduces the trans epidermal water loss, allowing your skin the retain moisture at its best. Hydration is the most important when it comes to our body, mind, and skin. It provides you with the right amount of electrolytes that are produced when you offer the body the right amount of vitamins and supplements.
- Brightening
Being a highly potent antioxidant, it’s a crucial component of many skin brightening regimens. Vitamin C promotes pigment production and keeps inflammation of the skin controlled and sober. It restricts the enzyme in the skin that is responsible for the making of melanin, which is how your skin begins to grow brighter and even-toned. If you are dealing with skin that is tanned, or discoloration, a good vitamin c serum should do wonders in fixing that for you.
- Reduces Redness
Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, it helps in reducing the swelling and redness that comes along with acne or heat in the body. Used topically and within days you will notice a drastic change in the scars and puffiness that makes your skin feel bruised. The overall appearance of your face will appear more radiant and healthier.
Even when dealing with hyperpigmentation, that is the dark spots that appear on your face once the acne has subsided, Vitamin C can reduce that as well. It works on the tyrosine enzyme that is responsible to produce melanin giving your skin color.
It does the job of a brightening agent and makes those dark spots disappear without affecting the color of your skin.
How to use it?
Different products have different levels of potency in Vitamin C. And even though this item is safe to use, the higher the level of acidity the more chances it has of causing a small amount of irritation. It is always advised to use a small amount of it as a test on your skin to see which product and how much potency of Vitamin C can your skin handle.
- Choose an area of your body or face skin that is not immediately noticed.
- Take a small amount of it and wait 24 hours post-application.
- If you do not see any side effects then you can continue to apply it on your face, however, if the skin begins to rash or burn it’s advisable to stop.
Once you have chosen the safest and most effective product for yourself here are steps to follow as to when to apply the serum.
- Cleanse
The first step to your skincare routine should be to cleanse your face, if you have make-up or not washing your face thoroughly with a nourishing face wash is a must.
- Tone
A toner is used to calmly refresh the layers of your skin without snatching away its moisture. This means it will clean and eliminate any underlying dirt in the face without causing it to dry excessively.
- Serum
Then comes the Vitamin C serum that suits your skin, take a decent quantity on your hands or directly apply the tube to your cheeks and forehead. Massage the liquid into your pores and let it do its magic.
- Moisturize
Finally, in the end, you can apply a generous layer of moisturizer to your face. This can be treated as a step to sealing the entire process. The moisturizer acts as a barrier to stop any dust or oil from collecting and disturbing the products from doing their job. And because we usually all sleep under a fan or air conditioning it keeps the skin from drying out as well.
Apart from all the benefits and uses mentioned, Vitamin C has a lot of other advantages as well, like showing effects on dark circles, promoting collagen production, preventing the skin from sagging, and also can protect against sun damage. We do undervalue this ingredient when we should be treating it like a conjuring potion for our skin. However, for anything to show its true effects the key is consistency. If you apply it regularly you will see the best results for your skin.