As for where the vitamin C serums fit into your existing skincare regime? You’ll want to apply it after cleansing to clean and dry skin, in the morning and at night (or just in the morning, depending on the form of vitamin C and potency you choose). Follow your vitamin C serum with your favourite moisturiser and face sunscreen or SPF during the day, and a night cream in the evening. This will seal the serum and hydrate your complexion further.
Who should not use vitamin C serum?
There are a few skin types which might wish to steer clear. Case in point: those with rosacea. Using a vitamin C serum may cause unwanted irritation and breakouts.
Which vitamin C serum is the best?
Though – in theory – most people can introduce a vitamin C serum for face to their routine, there are a few things to consider when it comes to shopping for them.
Vitamin C is available in a number of concentrations, from 5% through to 30%, and it depends on your skin type as to the potency you should go for. Generally speaking, we’d recommend products that contain between 10-15% potency as being the most universal.
Vitamin C is highly effective in its pure form, but it’s notoriously unstable due to the fact that it can reduce in effectiveness with exposure to oxygen, light, water and high pH. This makes it hard to formulate. With that in mind, while it is a hero ingredient, its properties are difficult to stabilise — so if you can, opt for something a little more expensive and something housed in a darker bottle (they’ll block light so it doesn’t oxidize and keep your product working well for longer).
Consider your skin type, too. If you have oily skin, look for “ascorbic acid” on the label. If you have dry skin, look for vitamin C serums which also include moisturising ingredients like (everyone’s favourite) hyaluronic acid. If you have acne-prone skin, salicylic acid is tough on blemishes. Make a beeline for the La Roche Posay Pure Vitamin C Serum.
Scroll down for our full edit of the very best vitamin C serums to brighten your skin…
After more skincare content? Head this way for the best moisturiser for dry skin, best moisturiser for combination skin and the best moisturiser for oily skin. We’ve also got the best face masks, best eye cream, anti-ageing creams, night creams, gradual tanner, sun cream, hyaluronic acid serums and the best cleansers.
For more shoppable beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet. And for more from our Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.