The Single Most Important Skincare Ingredient Is One That You're Not Using
by Marissa Pomerance
It’s Vitamin C!
Are you particularly surprised? When every derm and aesthetician and skincare fanatic extol its benefits on a near-daily basis?
And yet. No matter how many times we’ve heard this vague advice to “use Vitamin C,” we usually…don’t do it. Vitamin C products can be sticky. Or they smell too much like oranges (seems impossible, I know, but they do). Or they irritate and cause breakouts. We know—it’s a finnicky ingredient.
Plus, every marketing buzzword about them is confusing. Encapsulated? Stabilized? OXIDIZED? What in the fuck?
But hear us out! Because we’re not just going to extol its benefits, we’re also going to tell you exactly how to use it, and give you a few incredible product recs along the way. From an expert.
Remind me again why Vitamin C is important?
Here’s why you should reconsider Vitamin C; it does everything.
This potent, multi-tasking ingredient is, along with SPF, our greatest line of defense against those dreaded free-radicals. Which, to put it mildly, are hideous, unstable atoms that cause oxidative stress, break down our cells, and cause aging and wrinkles.
According to our favorite skincare specialist slash glowing human, Candace Marino, Vitamin C fights these free radicals by “coating and protecting the cells to prevent damage, pigmentation, collagen breakdown and (god forbid) skin cancer.” Kind of amazing, right?
Plus, Vitamin C brightens dark spots, evens out texture, fades hyperpigmentation, fights acne, hydrates, and wards off wrinkles.
Is there anything it doesn’t do?
Alright I’ll use it! But how? And what?
Candace specifically prefers Vitamin C in serum form because of the potency. Bonus if the brand has clinical trials backing said potency.
According to Candace, “Vitamin C serums during the day time are my most highly recommended product, after SPF. It’s the ‘insurance policy’ on your sunscreen. Because no matter what, we are being blasted with UV rays, blue light, free radicals and pollution during the day, and Vitamin C helps to protect against all of that.”
For that, Candace recommends Klur’s Brilliant Light serum. According to the brand, this clean Vitamin C is “formulated to absorb on contact and leave behind no oily or sticky, or excess residue on the surface of the skin.”
Not only is this serum gorgeous (that packaging thoooo), but it’s chock-full of antioxidants and rosehip oil to protect, brighten, hydrate, and soften. We recommend applying after cleansing/toning/spritzing and before moisturizer/SPF. Candace swears this will perk up your skin virtually overnight. And who doesn’t love instant gratification?
For those of us who can’t be bothered to apply serums during the day (or just prefer a slightly more budget-friendly option), there’s Maelove’s The Glowmaker, an affordable Vitamin C serum with a cult following. For $28, you’ll get Vitamin C, ferulic acid, and hyaluronic acid, plus no nasties (dyes, fragrance, etc).
This one is slightly…stickier, so we recommend using it at night. Still after cleansing/toning/spritzing and before moisturizer. It is shockingly glow-inducing. You’ve been warned.
See? Vitamin C is truly magical. And not nearly as intimidating as it seems.
Marissa Pomerance is the Managing Editor of The Candidly. She’s a Los Angeles native and lover of all things food, style, beauty, and wellness. You can find more of her articles here.
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