What Does Vitamin C Serum Do For Spots?

What Does Vitamin C Serum Do For Spots?

Of all the active ingredients found in skincare products, vitamin C is a firm favourite amongst everyone looking to have a younger looking, glowing complexion. With its multiple benefits for the skin you will find that once you add a vitamin C serum to your skin, you will never stop using it. So today I am going to share with you the benefits if vitamin C serums and what they can do for spots.

What does vitamin C serum do for your skin?

Vitamin C serum containing forms of the vitamin, also known as ascorbic and L-ascorbic acid makes it part of the Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) family. These have the ability to exfoliate the build-up of dead skin cells that collect on the outer layer of the skin causing some concerns, such as spots, uneven skin texture and dull looking complexion with flaky, dry patches of skin.

There is also the skin benefit of combating dark spots and post-acne scaring that can become more pigmented if exposed to UV rays and other environmental aggressors, such as pollution. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C allow the skin to be protected from free radical damage and skin stresses. Any dark spots and acne scars are notably reduced and less visible due to the fact that vitamin C is able to slow down the production of melanin which seeps through the damaged holes caused in the layers of the skin, just imagine vitamin C as a giant plug stopping any further pigmentation from escaping.

Key Benefits of vitamin C for your skin;

  • It can reduce the appears of sun damage, such as, surface dark spots and acne scaring
  • Can help visibly brighten the complexion and correcting any dull and blotchy areas of the skin
  • Contains antioxidant properties that helps to protect against irritation, flare-ups and inflammation caused by environmental skin stresses
  • Can help speed up the natural healing process of the skin

There you have a run-down of the main benefits of vitamin C and how it can treat the skin. Much like all AHAs however, sensitivity to UV rays is increased so ensuring you use a daily SPF of 30 and above is important to protect the skin from any further damage. There is a lot more information about ascorbic and L-ascorbic acid over on our dedicated guide to the skincare benefits of vitamin C.  

Can vitamin C serum cause pimples?

It can indeed! If you are finding your skin to be suffering from any form of pimples and blemishes, from blackheads to spots, vitamin C can help combat them. The exfoliating benefits help to keep the pores clear of any bacteria, build-up of product or debris which keeps blackheads and whiteheads at bay. With more active and larger spots vitamin C is able to reduce any inflammation and speed up the healing process of broken skin caused from unhelpful spot picking. You will also find that if you give into temptation and squeeze your blemishes then vitamin C will also help correct the skin tone and even out any pigmentation or dark spots.

As for vitamin C being considered to cause pimples and breakouts this is merely a half truth, this is due to the fact that if you find you suffer from a breakout or spots, this could be the result of the other ingredients blended into the formula of the serum.

When looking for a product it is best to take into consideration your skin type and make a note of which ingredients will help your skin to thrive and not cause any imbalance or breakouts. For example, oily skin types should avoid shea butter, whilst dry skin types need to avoid salicylic acid.

When should I apply vitamin C serum to my face?

When it comes to applying your skincare products, the order of how things go can become a bit confusing. I have previously mentioned this in our blog before, but the easiest way to remember, is thinnest to thickest. Which results in serums having to be applied to the skin after using an acid toner or chemical exfoliant and before a moisturiser. This will allow the active ingredients enriched in the serum to absorb into the skin without having to compete with a barrier caused by the moisturiser.

Many skin experts feel that applying a vitamin C serum during your morning routine is the best way of awakening and brightening the skin allowing the luminosity that comes from using vitamin C to be clearly visible throughout the day. There are others who also feel that vitamin C serums are more potent in the evening as there is no interference from daily aggressors meaning the antioxidant benefits can get to work quicker showing better results.

Does vitamin C help dark spots?

Vitamin C is praised for its ability to help reduce the appearance of dark spots on the skin. Because the damage is in the lower layers of the skin, dark pigmentation is one of the most difficult skin concerns to combat. Luckily, with the help of the exfoliation and protective properties of ascorbic acid you will find a marked improvement on the overall look of your complexion in 4-6 weeks. Though the damaged that creates dark spots cannot be completely reversed, you are able to make the dark spots less noticeable. For example, if you were to picture a white tablecloth with a single peppercorn on it, it would become a lot less noticeable if you crushed the peppercorn into a powder. If you picture this, then you will understand how vitamin C reduces the appearance of dark spots, but does not get rid of them completely.

What are the side effects of vitamin C serum?

Some say they experience a tingling or slight stinging sensation when they first apply a vitamin C serum to their skin, this is considered to be a normal reaction and should not last longer than 2-3 seconds. If you find any of the following reactions then it is advisable to not use vitamin C on your skin as it is too potent.

  • Rashes
  • Flaking
  • Redness
  • Itching
  • Tightness to the skin
  • Severe dryness

As we regularly suggest when it comes to using new skincare products, it is always best to consult your doctor, dermatologist or skincare professional to ensure the ingredients and formulation are safe to use on your skin. If you are wanting to try another AHA for chemical exfoliation then you can always find out more about what AHAs and BHAs are and how they benefit the skin over on our website.

Don't miss out on more skincare tips and expert advice over on our YouTube channel! Come and find us on The Green Sofa by hitting the subscribe button, you won't regret it! 


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