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Vitamin C is a skincare ingredient that works wonders on the skin. If you are not on the Vitamin C serum bandwagon, then you have no idea what you are missing. This little miracle in a bottle is definitely worth all the buzz it has surrounded it.
Vitamin C serum is safe and effective for oily skin, dry skin, and all skin types.
The human body does not produce vitamin C, and although it is found in many foods (kiwi, lychee, red fruits, blackcurrants, etc.), the epidermis only benefits from a very small amount of it.
The benefits of vitamin C serum on the skin are amazing, and the best thing is that you see actual results. You know how annoying it is to hear people talk about something, and then when you try it you wonder if something is wrong with you because it just won’t work! Well, this is not it. Some of the spells it casts upon your skin include protection from:
- Uneven skin tone.
- Hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and blemishes.
- Sagging skin.
- Sunburns.
- Dryness.
- Wrinkles and fine lines (as it increases collagen production).
- Environmental stressors andfree radical damage.
- Acne scarring.
- Eye puffiness, bags, dark circles, and crow’s feet.
If you experience any of these skin misfortunes, you need to add this Vitamin C serum to your everyday skin routine and have yourself some happy, popping and glowing skin.
Table of Contents
Is Vitamin C serum good for oily skin?
Anyone with oily skin should use vitamin C serum, or you will deny your skin a world of benefits. Let’s establish that first. Many people with oily skin see it as a problem and are always looking to sort out the problem. Every skin type has its pros and cons, but we feel like when it comes to oily skin types, the advantages are too attractive. These pros include:
- Oily skin protects itself well from signs of aging, I mean, who doesn’t want some of that magic?
- It is resilient,
- And it is hardly suffering from sensitivity.
The one con that we can all agree on is the excess natural sebum. And that is what most people with this type of skin like to fight off. Instead of trying to get rid of natural oil/sebum of your skin, you should work with your skin to find a balance.
As you may already know, a lack of hydration can trigger your sebaceous glands to produce more sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture; this is where vitamin C serum comes into play, when applied topically, vitamin C has been proven to maintain the lipid protective barrier of the skin and increase moisture retention, as such, it can be a great ally when it comes to treating oily skin and combination skin.
Besides, the best vitamin C serums available on the market are water-based, have a lightweight texture, and are easy to absorb, which is what you want with oily skin.
Other Benefits:
Vitamin C serum has a myriad of other benefits for oily skin, including:
- Boosts collagen levels in your skin, which helps reduce signs of aging.
- Protects the skin from free radical and sun damage.
- Helps fade pigmentation and dark spots and provides the skin with a youthful glow.
- Evens out skin tone.
- Improves skin texture.
- Helps the fast healing of acne scars, blemishes, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by increasing the skin cell turnover rate.
- Reduces the appearance of dark circles.
How to Choose the Best Vitamin C Serum for Oily Skin
Now that we have established how vital Vitamin C serum is to your oily skin, let’s see how well to choose the one that works best for you. These Vitamin C serums are not all made the same.
Vitamin C serum comes in different forms which are different when it comes to absorption; some of these forms include:
- L-ascorbic acid (water-soluble, a stable form of vitamin C),
- Sodium ascorbyl phosphate or Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (water-soluble),
- Ascorbyl palmitate (fat-soluble),
- Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (fat-soluble), etc.
Here are some factors to take into account while choosing the best vitamin C serum for you:
Type of Vitamin C Serum
A suitable and active Vitamin C Serum is one that is well structured and made to be highly absorbent and or has good penetration into the skin for it to provide excellent results.
The recommended type for oily skin that includes the elements that enables it to have high penetration ability is one with the L-ascorbic acid. This ingredient is one of the purest and most original forms of vitamin C available, it is best for oily skin because it’s water-soluble and absorbs excellently into the skin; thus, you are sure that it will do its purpose.
Percent concentration of vitamin C in the serum
When choosing a serum, it’s essential also to make sure that it has the right concentration. Most serums in the market come with 10 to 20% concentration, such as those that contain L-ascorbic acid.
But the ideal percent concentration of vitamin c for oily skin (L-ascorbic acid) should be between 5 to 20%.
PH levels
PH level is a crucial factor to take into account when choosing the right vitamin C serum, always keep in mind that a PH level of 3.5 or lower is best for the skin.
Formulation
In order to work effectively and provide the best results, vitamin C serum should be combined with other antioxidants such as ferulic acid and vitamin E that protect collagen degradation and repair the cells on a deep level.
Serums that contain vitamin C and hyaluronic acid provide also a boost of hydration and are great for oily skin.
Though vitamin E is usually combined with vitamin C for its potent antioxidant properties, it is not recommended for oily skin as it is an oil-soluble vitamin and therefore can clog the pores.
Water-based or oil-based
The difference between water-based and oil-based vitamin C serums is that water-based vitamin C serum is more absorbent, but it oxidizes quickly, which means that it has a short shelf life, on the other hand, oil-based vitamin C serum absorbs slowly but lasts longer.
However, the best vitamin C serum, especially for oily skin, is the water-based one as it gives instant results and it is much lighter than the oil-based one.
The color
The color of your vitamin C serum will indicate its effectiveness; the serum should be white or colorless and have no odor, as the vitamin C oxidizes with time, its color will become yellow and eventually brownish, it is an indicator that the serum has lost its effectiveness as an antioxidant and should be discarded.
Keep in mind that vitamin C serum is sensitive to the air and light, in order to keep it as long as possible, buy the ones that come in amber-colored bottles, make sure you store the product in a cool, dry, and dark place, and close the bottle tightly after use to prevent air from getting in.
How to Use Vitamin C Serum
Using Vitamin C serum is straightforward; there is no rocket science about it. There are different opinions on when to use the serum. Some people prefer to use it at night while some during the day given that it also helps fight UV damage. But it makes no difference as long as you remember to use it.
Cleanse and wash your face in the morning, dry with a clean face towel, take a few drops of Vitamin C serum and apply on your face and neck, massage gently. Allow the serum to penetrate the skin before applying your moisturizer. You can now put on some sunscreen. If you wear makeup, from there, you can do your usual makeup routine. If not, you can last the whole day with the few drops you have applied and enjoy your popping skin.
You can use vitamin C serum in the morning and evening if you don’t have a history of allergies or sensitive skin.
Don’t forget to exfoliate your skin at least twice a week so that the serum penetrates deeper into the skin to achieve a glowing, healthy, supple, and brighter complexion.
Conclusion
It is no lie that Vitamin C serum is the savior that people with oily skin have been waiting for. The benefits of vitamin C serum are numerous, moreover, it is safe to use for even the most sensitive skin.
Incorporating vitamin C serum in your daily skincare regimen can make a huge difference in your skin over time.
As a word of caution, make sure to look after your bottle of serum as it is supposed to be. How you store your serum is integral to the results it gives you, keep it in a cool, dry, and dark place.
Make sure to check if it has changed its color to brown just in case you didn’t keep it well. Always replace your bottle every six months although if you regularly use it, it might be over before the six months, which is still okay.
Hi, it’s Judy!
I’m a passionate skincare specialist and writer. I have more than 7 years of experience as a beauty, fashion, and lifestyle writer and editor, and I’m extremely passionate about what I do.
