A Skincare Lover's Guide to The Ordinary Vitamin C

Recent studies have found that vitamin C can lessen the appearance of dark spots and wrinkles. However, not every vitamin C product is stabilized or potent enough to make a difference in your skin's appearance.

Luckily, The Ordinary Vitamin C is now on the market. This product is one of the best vitamin C treatments available. Before getting into this product, let's look at vitamin C serums in general and how they work.

What Is a Vitamin C Serum?

To achieve healthy skin, there are many products that you could use in your routine. Dermatologists will always recommend sunscreen, retinol, and vitamin C.

These all work in concert, reducing signs of aging fine lines and wrinkles and helping prevent further skin damage. However, even on their own, certain types of vitamin C serums may help improve the skin.

So, why is this the case?

The chemical structure of vitamin C is quite complex. It's a micronutrient that helps with heart health and wound healing. It's also used to produce collagen, a protein that contributes to youthful-looking skin.

Typically, we find vitamin C in vegetables and fruit. Pure Vitamin C has been studied by scientists for many decades.

The main issue was that they had to figure out how to synthesize it. In 1934, a scientist named Rechstein created a simple, four-step process to isolate vitamin C.

This process would later become widely used in medicine and skincare. Besides helping produce collagen, vitamin C is considered a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants like vitamin C fight free radicals that damage the skin.

Free radicals are molecules that can cause oxidative stress when they come into contact with your skin. They might be found in dust, dirt, or common pollutants. These free radicals will damage your skin with enough exposure, but vitamin C can protect your skin.

How to Choose the Best Vitamin C

There are many vitamin C serums on the market that claim to perform miracles. Unfortunately, vitamin C is very delicate and can be damaged by improper storage.

When looking for vitamin C serums, ensure the packaging is not clear. When exposed to any type of light, the serum will oxidize, reducing its potency.

Another tip is to look for airless pumps. Oxygen will likewise cause vitamin C serums to oxidize.

Lastly, since vitamin C is water soluble, you want to look for a suspended formula. The pure powdered version of vitamin C is usually suspended in a secondary liquid.

The liquid suspension can be in HA spheres and squalane. Luckily, brands like The Ordinary are doing their due diligence to create the best formulas possible.

Can I Use Vitamin C if I'm Pregnant?

It's always best to consult your OBGYN before using any supplements, new skincare products, or the like. That said, vitamin C is usually considered safe to use while pregnant. The findings were confirmed by Dr. Nazarian, a world-renowned dermatologist.

The stress that pregnancy inflicts on the body can cause the skin to become more brittle and damaged, making it harder for it to repel free radicals. As vitamin C helps fight free radicals and bolster overall skin health, it's a great product to implement during pregnancy if you haven't already.

Can I Wear Makeup After Vitamin C?

When using The Ordinary Vitamin C, you can wear makeup. The formula was designed to be easy to layer with other products.

Therefore, you should not have any peeling when layering makeup on top. However, because this formula is water-based, ensure your makeup is also water-based.

Using oil-based makeup could make your application harder since oil and water do not mix. Nevertheless, the serum is very easy to work with, so you may not experience any issues at all.

Does Price Matter When Choosing a Vitamin C Serum?

Price does not matter when choosing a vitamin C serum. Some pricier vitamin C's have been found to not be as effective. This could be due to bad packaging or formulation.

So, don't think that the more a product costs, the more effective it will be. Products like The Ordinary are pure, packaged correctly, and effective.

Overall, don't look at the price for a product's effectiveness. Instead, look at the ingredients. Keep reading to learn about The Ordinary Vitamin C ingredients list.

Formula Breakdown for The Ordinary Vitamin C

The ingredients list of The Ordinary's Vitamin C serum is very simple and short, which is what you want. One of the first ingredients in The Ordinary Vitamin C is a powdered L-ascorbic acid suspension. The potency is very high compared to other formulas, boasting a 23% concentration.

Next, we see HA spheres which are just hyaluronic acids in the form of dehydrated spheres. This pairing is crucial for smooth and clear skin.

Vitamin C protects the skin from free radicals while HA hydrates the skin, allowing for a dewy base.

HA can draw in moisture twice as well as any other component. This is because HA's absorption rate lets it penetrate the deepest layer of the skin. Lastly, The Ordinary Vitamin C does not contain the following ingredients:

• Silicone

• Alcohol

• Gluten

• Nuts

• Oil

• Silicone

• Parabens

The formula is also vegan and cruelty-free. So, if you're on an ethical skincare journey, then The Ordinary is right for you.

How to Apply the Formula

You want to apply vitamin C in the morning so that it helps fight free radicals throughout the day. However, there is an order that should be followed when adding vitamin C to your regimen.

You'll want to start by cleansing your face in the morning. Next, apply a soothing toner. Avoid any toners with acids as they don't pair well with vitamin C.

Next, apply a thin layer of The Ordinary Vitamin C. You may feel a tingling sensation, but this is normal. Lastly, follow up with your regular moisturizer and sunscreen.

This simple routine will start brightening your skin over time. However, remember that you must be consistent. Overall, healthy skin comes from consistency and good formulas.

Chemical Reactions Related to Vitamin C and Other Formulas

As briefly discussed above, vitamin C should not be paired with acids. Let's dive deeper into the potential risks and chemical reactions associated with vitamin C.

First, you want to avoid using retinol with vitamin C. This does not mean you should stop using your retinol.

However, you should not use them in combination. Therefore, only use vitamin C in the morning and cycle your retinol for your night routine.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can be considered acidic. Therefore, avoid other acids like AHA's or BHA's within the same routine.

Next, you should avoid combining benzoyl peroxide or The Ordinary's Niacinamide Formula. Again, you don't have to cut these formulas out completely. It's best to avoid using them together as they can irritate the skin.

In extreme cases, a chemical reaction could occur causing your skin barrier to become damaged. A broken skin barrier can result in acne, fine lines, and dry skin. So always make sure you're following the intended direction for these formulas.

Normal Side Effects to Know About

Just like any new product, your skin may react. However, there is a threshold for normal side effects to look out for.

One of the first is mild irritation. This can look like red skin, patchiness, and even itchiness.

Next, you may experience a purging phase meaning you break out. This happens when new skincare gets implemented into your routine. The skin is "purging" out all the radicals in the skin to make room for new skin cell growth.

All of these reactions are normal. However, if they last more than 6 weeks, consider speaking to a dermatologist.

It's also possible you may be allergic to an ingredient in the formula. This is why it's important to do a patch test before starting use.

Typically, you'll want to do a small patch test on the neck, chest, or hand. If you don't react after 3 days, it's safe to assume you're not allergic to any of the ingredients. However, it's always best to speak with a doctor about any potential side effects or allergies.

The Results After Using Vitamin C Consistently

Right away you'll start to notice a glow in your skin when using vitamin C. After about 6 to 10 weeks of consistent use, you can expect your skin to look brighter as well. You may also start to notice your dark spots diminish.

A decrease in newer wrinkles will become apparent after 6 to 10 weeks. However, for stubborn, older wrinkles, it may take longer.

To speed up the process, drink plenty of water, sleep at least 8 hours, and reduce blue-ray lights. Overall, you can expect a glow, with bright new skin after consistent use!

The Best Skin of Your Life Starts Today

Having the best skin means you have to have the best skincare routine. In this article, we talked about the correct way to use vitamin C and the best formula for achieving results.

All that's left to do is visit our website and purchase The Ordinary Vitamin C. Act fast while supplies last, the skin of your dreams is just one click away.