Vitamin C serums are regarded as skin heroes for a reason. A hot favourite in skincare kits, the multifunctional ingredient does it all — from promoting collagen production and strengthening the skin barrier to brightening the skin and evening out rough skin texture. And we've got the right Vitamin C serum pick for you too — it's the Lakmé 9 to 5 Vitamin C+ Facial Serum. Enriched with Kakadu Plum, the richest source of Vitamin C in the world, this magical serum harnesses the power of the potent ingredient. It reduces skin dullness by fighting free radicals and promoting skin health.
But now that you've got your serum sorted do you actually know how to use it? Or, to rephrase that — do you know what not to do while using it? While Vitamin C is great for your skin, there are a few things that can make you go from 'best serum ever' to 'what is happening to my face?' To ensure that doesn't happen, we're listing down the five things to avoid while using Vitamin C serum at all costs. Read on.
- 01. Mixing it with niacinamide or retinol
- 02. Trying to formulate it on your own
- 03. Not storing it right
- 04. Not using sunscreen after application
- 05. Skipping it sometimes
01. Mixing it with niacinamide or retinol
So, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, and retinol is made from vitamin A. The pH levels of these elements don’t interact well with those of Vitamin C. As a result, they cancel each other out and make both products ineffective. Sometimes, the reaction can even cause redness, and we don't want that, do we? Instead, wait 30 minutes between applying the different active ingredients, to avoid any negaive reactions that may otherwise occur.
02. Trying to formulate it on your own
Aah, Pinterest. Our friend and our foe — manages to convince us we can make our own Vitamin C serums. But before you do some irreparable damage to your skin, listen up. Do not, under any circumstances, create your own Vitamin C serum. When dealing with these concentrates, it’s best to leave it to the pros. If you, say, add too much of one ingredient, your skin could become very irritated. And we don't want that, do we?
03. Not storing it right
No, you can't just casually leave your Vitamin C serum out in the sun or even in a warm room. Store it in a cool, dark, dry place to prevent your serum from oxidising. Avoid sunlight exposure at all costs, and keep the lid completely sealed. If you're super worried about being careless, keep the serum in your refrigerator instead — it's probably for the best.
04. Not using sunscreen after application
Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant, so you can rest assured that it will work! But if you're using it without sunscreen, your skin could turn a shade of yellow or orange as the serum will oxidise. Avoid the Oompa Loompa-Esque face by opting for the Lakmé Sun Expert Tinted Sunscreen 50+++ SPF that will block 97% of the harmful sun rays and give you a matte even skin tone.
05. Skipping it sometimes
Listen up, when you've got Vitamin C serum in the picture — none of that 'no strings attached' stuff is going to work! The old adage of 'you have to do it every day to reap the benefits' holds true, especially for your skincare products. So if you're not religiously slapping on the multifunctional ingredient every single day, don't expect to see results anytime soon.
Written by Nishtha Bhalla on Jul 13, 2021
Nishtha is a freelance writer who loves all things beauty, fashion, culture, and lifestyle. With content covering a variety of topics, she brings a holistic, nuanced perspective to her writing. In her free time, she can be found watching reruns of The Office, reading anything she can get her hands on, and experimenting with astrology.