Can You Use Vitamin C Serum in the Morning? - Serum101 (2023)

Can you use vitamin C serum in the morning?

If you are asking this question, then chances are that you have been using your Vitamin C serum for quite some time now.

While some estheticians will tell you to use vitamin C serum only at night, there is no reason not to use it in the morning as well. Treating your skin to vitamin C serum in the morning is a great way to boost your skincare routine.

In this article, you’re going to discover whether or not you can use vitamin C serum in the morning and how to use it to turn back the hands of time. Read on.

What Does Vitamin C Serum Do?

To answer this question, you need to know a little bit about what Vitamin C does.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant. In other words, it protects your skin from free radicals that can cause damage to the skin cells. It does this by neutralizing said free radicals.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms that have an odd number of electrons, and as a result, they’re looking for a pair of electrons to balance them out. They steal electrons from healthy cells in the body, causing damage in the process.

Since antioxidants have an even number of electrons, they can give up their pair of electrons and neutralize free radicals. This helps fight off damage that can lead to wrinkles, age spots, and other signs of aging.

Vitamin C also increases collagen production, which helps keep skin firm and heals damaged tissues; It also brightens overall skin tone by reducing melanin production.

Because it contains vitamin C as its main ingredient, vitamin C serum provides the above benefits to the skin when applied topically.

Can You Use Vitamin C Serum in the Morning?

“Yes, you can use vitamin C serum in the morning. With its anti-aging benefits and ability to brighten skin tone, vitamin C serum is one of the most useful products out there for morning use,” says Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist.

In his words, the reason why vitamin C serum works so well in the morning is that it’s an antioxidant that helps to protect against environmental damage like pollution, smoke, and the sun—all of which can lead to premature aging.

When you use it in the morning, vitamin C serum wakes up your skin with a fresh, energized complexion. It also works to fade dark spots, heal acne scars, and boost collagen production, thereby reducing wrinkles with time.

On the downside, vitamin C can be very irritating if applied to sensitive skin or exposed to too much sunlight. So, you should always make sure that you wear sunscreen and protective clothing to safeguard your skin from UV rays.

How to Use Vitamin C Serum in the Morning

• Wash your face with a gentle foaming cleanser and pat dry with a clean, soft towel.
• Apply two to three drops of the serum directly on clean fingers or a cotton swab.
• Using gentle motions, apply the serum to your face and neck.
• Wait for 10-15 minutes before applying moisturizer and sunscreen.

NOTE: Be aware of your body’s reaction to the product. If you experience redness or tingling, stop using the vitamin C serum immediately and look for another product.

What Are the Benefits of Using Vitamin C Serum in the Morning?

• Prevent wrinkles: Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it can help reduce oxidative stress on your skin which results in collagen loss and fine lines and wrinkles.
• Even skin tone: Vitamin C evens out blotchy or uneven skin tone, which is great if you have mild scarring from acne or even sun damage from too much exposure.
• Keep skin firm: Vitamin C works as a natural collagen booster to keep your skin firm, smooth, and hydrated. Collagen keeps your skin looking youthful while preventing wrinkles and fine lines from forming.
• Treat acne: Instead of drying out your skin, vitamin C serum prevents breakouts by keeping your skin hydrated while killing bacteria.
• Heal wounds: Vitamin C also helps to heal wounds quickly by keeping scar tissue soft so that it can stretch easily when your body moves.
• Reduce sun damage: Vitamin C serum provides a powerful antioxidant effect on the skin. This helps to protect it from sun damage and repair damaged cells.

Can You Use Vitamin C Serum at Night?

Absolutely yes, says Dr. Zeichner. One of the best ways to get the most out of your vitamin C serum is to apply it at night after cleansing your face.

This helps lock in moisture and increases absorption into your skin while delivering maximum results. You’ll wake up with refreshed skin that looks years younger.

The benefits of using vitamin C serum at night are so great that you should notice them right away. However, keep in mind that it can take your skin some time to adjust before it shows dramatic results.

So, Should You Use Vitamin C Serum in the Morning or at Night?

The answer is that it doesn’t matter. You can use vitamin C serum both in the morning and at night without affecting its efficacy.

“When you apply vitamin C serum to your skin in the morning, it works to combat the effects of free radicals, thereby reducing the appearance of wrinkles, and other signs of aging,” says Dr. Zeicher.

But to reap the full benefits of vitamin C serum, you should also apply it at night, and then follow it with a moisturizer. This will help your skin better absorb the nutrients from your serum and help you achieve a more youthful appearance.

If you are worried about how much vitamin C serum you should use for your face, 2 or 3 pumps should be enough for your entire face and neck area. You can always add more if needed or as directed by the specific product’s instructions.

Which Form of Vitamin C Should You Look For in a Serum?

There are several forms of vitamin C. This includes L-Ascorbic Acid, Ethylated Ascorbic Acid (EHA), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP), and Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (THDA).

To choose the best one for you, consider discussing your skin concerns with your dermatologist. He/she will then choose the form with the most benefits for you and help you select a serum that contains it.

Vitamin C Serum Before or After Moisturizer?

To make sure you get the most out of your vitamin C serum, apply it before applying your moisturizer. The reason for this is that applying vitamin C after moisturizer will reduce its potency since vitamin C oxidizes when exposed to air or light.

When using your vitamin C serum, wait 10-15 minutes before applying your moisturizer and sunscreen. You only need 2-3 pumps for your entire face and neck, but you can use more if you need to.

FAQs

What is a serum?

A serum is a lightweight skincare product that you apply after cleansing and toning. It goes on before your moisturizer and sunscreen (if you use one).

A good serum should have a texture that’s light, but not runny. And you should be able to feel it sinking into your skin as you apply it.

How should you store your vitamin C serum?

Experts suggest storing vitamin C serum in a cool, dry place away from sunlight or any other heat sources.

Tightly close your bottle after every use to prevent oxidation from occurring. If you are going to be away for an extended period, consider placing the serum in the refrigerator so that it doesn’t degrade.

How long does it take to see results from using vitamin C?

4-6 weeks. It can take up to six weeks of regular use before you start to see any results from using vitamin C on your skin.

The time it takes will also depend on the concentration of vitamin C in your product, and how often you apply it. If your vitamin C product is poorly formulated, you might not see any benefits.

Conclusion

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in many aspects of skin health. It stimulates collagen synthesis, helps to prevent and repair sun damage, reduces the appearance of dark spots, and protects against oxidative stress.

You can apply your vitamin C serum at any time of day. There’s no need to restrict your application to daytime. Just make sure to wear sunscreen and protective clothing like hats since sun exposure will make it less effective.

Thanks for reading.

To learn more about vitamin C serum and other skincare products, visit Serum101 today.