Whether you read about it in a magazine or see it splashed across your favorite beauty blogs, vitamin C is an ingredient that you’ll come across time and time again. It’s a skincare classic – no skincare routine would be complete without containing at least one form of this beloved antioxidant.
Ask any beauty expert about the best way to add vitamin C to your skincare routine and they’ll all say the same thing; with a serum. Why? Read on as Vine Vera explains!
Why Use Vitamin C in the First Place?
If you’re new to skincare, you’re probably wondering why there’s so much hype surrounding vitamin C serums. Here are just a few of the benefits that this superstar ingredient has to offer:
Reduces the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles
One of the main reasons why vitamin C is so loved is due to how it effectively reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Clinical studies confirm this while also showing how vitamin C has a tightening effect on skin that looks saggy. Whether this wrinkling and sagging is due to aging, oxidative damage, or weight loss, regular use of vitamin C will give the skin a much firmer finish.
Lightens the Look of Dark Spots
Hyperpigmentation is another skin concern that often arises with age. It’s usually down to sun damage, with excess UV exposure causing the skin to over-produce melanin, its pigment. Vitamin C, when applied topically, will lighten the look of discolored skin cells to give the skin a more even appearance.
Soothes the Feeling of Inflammation
Inflammation can cause a number of skin problems. From redness and puffiness to acne and psoriasis, it doesn’t spell good news for your skin. Inflammation will also speed up the skin aging process, accelerating the rate at which you develop fine lines and wrinkles. With vitamin C, however, you won’t need to worry about this quite so much. Research shows that vitamin C is excellent at reducing the feeling of inflammation, leaving the skin feeling calmer and better balanced.
Gives the Skin a Bright Glow
Wish that your skin would glow a little brighter? Vitamin C could help. Not only does this ingredient target the appearance of discoloration, but it will also give your entire complexion a more radiant glow.
Leaves the Skin Feeling Better Protected From UV Rays
You’re probably already aware of the dangers that UV rays can pose to your skin. However, did you know that excessive UV exposure also depletes the levels of vitamin C in your skin? Using a vitamin C serum will not only help to keep those levels topped up but, at the same time, when combined with a sunscreen, it can also keep your skin feeling better protected from UV damage.
Helps With Hydration
When it comes to hydrating skincare ingredients, vitamin C is often ignored. However, several studies have shown that vitamin C can have a very hydrating effect on the complexion. The use of vitamin C slows down transepidermal water loss, which is the rate at which the skin loses moisture to evaporation. This, in turn, keeps the skin looking fuller, plumper, and dewier.
But Why a Serum?
With vitamin C being such a popular ingredient, you’ll notice that it’s used in a variety of different skincare products. Cleansers, toners, essences, moisturizers – vitamin C-infused formulas of all of these are usually easy to find.
So, if that’s the case, why does everybody recommend a serum?
The answer is simple. When using an ingredient like vitamin C, you want to encourage it to dive down as far as possible when penetrating the different layers of your complexion. The deeper it goes, the more of a visible impact it will have, and the consistency of a serum allows it to do just that.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t incorporate vitamin C into other stages of your skincare routine. Layering the ingredient can be very effective too! However, if you’re only planning on using one vitamin C product, a serum would be the best way to go.
High-Performance Vitamin C Serums to Try
Ready to add a vitamin C serum to your skincare routine? Here are a few from Vine Vera that are well worth trying:
The Resveratrol Vitamin C Serum
Although you’ll find vitamin C in several Vine Vera serums, the Resveratrol Vitamin C Serum is one of the best ways to pamper your skin with this antioxidant. Why? Because it brings together two different forms of vitamin C; tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and ascorbyl palmitate. Both are revered for their gentle, non-irritating nature, making them suitable for all skin types.
One thing to know about vitamin C is that it works even more effectively when it’s combined with other antioxidants. That’s exactly what this serum does. In addition to vitamin C, it also contains resveratrol, vitamin E, and vitamin A, plus a few antioxidant-rich plant oils.
The Chianti Revival Serum
Hoping that vitamin C will help to lighten the look of your dark spots? With the Vine Vera Chianti Revival Serum, those hopes will soon become reality!
This serum makes use of ascorbic acid – the purest form of vitamin C. It also features kojic acid and licorice root extract, both of which are known for how they target the appearance of hyperpigmentation. You’ll find several other noteworthy ingredients in this formula too, including sodium hyaluronate, peptides, seaweed extract, ceramides, and resveratrol.
The Resveratrol Pinot Noir Longevity Serum
The Vine Vera Resveratrol Pinot Noir Longevity Serum showcases the hydrating properties of vitamin C. It’s a great serum to use if you’re hoping to bump up your skin’s moisture levels while also enjoying the other benefits offered by vitamin C.
In this formula, vitamin C is joined by several hydrating heroes, including sodium hyaluronate and glycerin. You’ll find lactic acid in this blend too. Not only does it have moisture-binding properties, but it will also work to clear away any dullness and dryness from your complexion.
The Resveratrol Eye Collection Age Defying Eye Serum
While the serums above can all be safely used on the delicate skin around your eyes, the Resveratrol Eye Collection Age Defying Eye Serum has been specifically designed for this area.
This serum harnesses vitamin C’s ability to lighten the look of discoloration by combining it with other ingredients that do the same. Between licorice root extract, peptides, green tea extract, and sodium hyaluronate, your eye area will quickly look brighter and more radiant.
Adding a Vitamin C Serum to Your Skincare Routine
Now that you’ve chosen a vitamin C serum, let’s take a look at how to incorporate it into your skincare routine in a way that enables you to soak up maximum benefits:
Start With Clean Skin
If you want your vitamin C serum to truly work its magic, it should always be applied to freshly cleansed skin. If you don’t cleanse your skin first, your serum won’t be able to pass through the layer of impurities that sits on your skin’s surface. This means that it won’t be able to actually reach your skin cells.
With that said, you don’t want to apply your serum to irritated skin either. So, make sure that the cleanser you use is a gentle one. A formula like the Vine Vera Resveratrol Cabernet Mousse Cleanser would be a good choice as this cleanser moisturizes and soothes the complexion while it cleanses.
Alternatively, try the Resveratrol Vitamin C Cleanser to add yet another layer of the antioxidant to your skincare routine.
Rebalance With a Toner
Vitamin C works best if the pH level on the surface of your skin is in balance. Unfortunately, cleansing can sometimes throw this off. This is why following your cleanser with a toner is usually a good idea.
The Resveratrol Cabernet Toner from Vine Vera is ideal for applying before turning to vitamin C. In addition to balancing your complexion, it will also soothe it with a blend of chamomile, aloe vera, and resveratrol.
Apply Your Vitamin C Serum
Now that your skin is prepped, you can go ahead and apply your chosen vitamin C serum. If you plan on using multiple serums in your skincare routine, take some time to assess their consistency. Ideally, you want to start off with the thinnest and lightest serum before working your way up to the thickest. With that said, avoid using more than three serums in your routine as you don’t want to end up unintentionally diluting the vitamin C, along with its effects.
Lock it in With a Moisturizer
When you apply a serum to your skin, you expect it to stay there. However, in reality, it won’t be long before that serum begins to evaporate away. This is why it’s important to lock that serum in with a moisturizer.
The Vine Vera Resveratrol Vitamin C Moisturizer will beautifully complement any vitamin C serum. As you can tell from its name, this cream boasts some vitamin C of its own too. It’s also loaded with other antioxidants to enhance the visible effects of the vitamin C.
Sun Protection
Last but not least, don’t forget about sun protection during the day. With vitamin C capable of leaving the skin feeling even more protected from sun damage, pairing it with a sunscreen will really help to maintain your complexion’s youthful radiance.
Ideally, you want to be using a sunscreen that offers up a few additional antioxidants, just like the Vine Vera Resveratrol Cabernet Replenishing Moisture Cream SPF 30. This cream not only functions as a sunscreen but also happens to be a great moisturizer. It will simplify your morning skincare routine while also leaving your skin feeling touchably soft and smooth.
Summary
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons to add a vitamin C serum to your skincare routine. It can help with just about every aspect of your complexion! So long as you choose the right serum and properly integrate it into your skincare routine, it won’t be long before you’re reaping all of the rewards that this incredible antioxidant has to offer.
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