How to Use a Vitamin C Serum Effectively

Adding a Vitamin C serum to your skincare routine is the secret to healthy, glowing skin, offering incredible benefits like brightening, reducing the appearance of dark spots, and evening skin tone. 

But in order to maximise the benefits of your Vitamin C serum, you need to know how to use it correctly and prevent any potential irritation. This guide will walk you through incorporating Vitamin C into your skincare routine to achieve that dreamy, radiant glow you've always wanted!

When to Use Vitamin C Serum in Your Skincare Routine

Vitamin C is an active ingredient, meaning it is directly responsible for brightening your complexion. The very best time to invite this powerhouse into your routine is when your face is freshly cleansed and completely bare, ready to soak up all its goodness.

So, where does a Vitamin C serum fit into your daily glow-up ritual? Here’s a simple guide to make sure you're layering it perfectly with other skincare products for optimal benefits:

1. Cleanse or Double-Cleanse: Prep your skin with a gentle cleanser to remove any impurities. If you are performing your skincare routine in the evening, make sure to double cleanse to remove make-up, sunscreen and pollutants from your busy day in Malaysia.

2. Tone (Optional): If you use a toner, apply it after cleansing to balance your skin's pH and prep it for the next steps.

3. Apply Vitamin C Serum: Apply your Vitamin C serum and let it sink in for a minute or two before moving on. 

4. Moisturise: Lock in all that goodness with a hydrating moisturiser.

5. Sunscreen (During the Day): If this is your morning routine, it is important to apply a broad spectrum sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher to shield your skin from UV damage that can counteract the benefits of Vitamin C.

Should You Use a Vitamin C Serum in the Morning or Evening?

Some of you might notice that many people recommend applying a Vitamin C serum during the morning. You might be asking “Can I use a Vitamin C serum at night?”. The good news is, there's no "right" answer, it all depends on how it lines up with your lifestyle and skincare routine.

Ultimately, no matter when you choose to apply your Vitamin C serum, you'll still be receiving all its wonderful benefits. What changes is simply how you integrate it into your routine and how you layer it with your other beloved skincare products!

How to Layer Vitamin C with Other Popular Skincare Ingredients

Now that you know when to apply your Vitamin C serum, let's chat about how it plays with other popular skincare ingredients in your routine. The golden rule for layering products is always from the thinnest consistency to the thickest. But besides that, some ingredients are best friends with Vitamin C for your skin, while others might need a little careful timing or separation to ensure maximum benefits and happy skin!

Hyaluronic Acid

Best friends! Hyaluronic Acid is a hydration hero that plumps and moisturises. You can apply your Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster right after your Vitamin C serum for extra hydration and a dewy finish. They're a perfect match for healthy, supple skin.

Retinol

Separate and conquer! Both are powerful active ingredients, so using them at the same time can cause irritation. It's best to use your Vitamin C serum in the morning (for antioxidant protection) and your Retinol product (like Paula’s Choice 1% Retinol Treatment) at night. Alternatively, you can simply alternate them on different evenings.

Niacinamide

An excellent duo! Niacinamide helps with oil control and reduces pores, while Vitamin C helps to brighten your complexion and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Apply your Vitamin C serum first, let it absorb, then follow with your niacinamide product (like Paula’s Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster) for enhanced brightening and antioxidant benefits. 

Just a tip: if you're using high-strength formulations for both, consider starting with lower strengths or introducing them gradually, as combining two potent ingredients could potentially lead to irritation for some skin types.

AHAs/BHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids/Beta Hydroxy Acids)

Separate for success! These chemical exfoliants are very likely to cause irritation if used together with a Vitamin C serum at the same time. To get the best of both worlds, alternate the use of your Vitamin C serum and your AHA/BHA exfoliant (like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 25% AHA + 2% BHA Exfoliant Peel) on different days. 

Can You Use Other Forms of Vitamin C?

While Vitamin C serums are a popular choice for its concentrated benefits, you'll be happy to know you don't just have to use serums to experience the glow-boosting powers of Vitamin C for your skin! This superstar ingredient can also be found in moisturisers, offering a different way to incorporate it into your routine. 

For busy mornings, Paula’s Choice 5% Vitamin C Sheer Moisturizer SPF 50 offers a brilliant shortcut that combines your daily Vitamin C boost with a weightless moisturiser and broad-spectrum sun protection — allowing you to combine your serum, moisturiser and sunscreen in a single step, talk about a time-saver!

Make Your Skin Glow with Vitamin C

So, there you have it, your complete guide to incorporating a Vitamin C serum into your skincare routine! By understanding how to use a Vitamin C serum correctly — from prepping your skin to layering, you’ll be well on your way to even-toned and radiant skin. 

For beginners or those with more sensitive skin, a gentle reminder: it's always a great idea to start with a lower concentration of Vitamin C and less frequent application, gradually building up as your skin gets accustomed.