5 Things Not to Mix with Vitamin C for Skin Care
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for skin health, and healthy skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C to protect the skin from damage.
Eating vitamin C-rich foods, like bell peppers, broccoli, and strawberries, and vitamin C supplements support skin health. Additionally, topical vitamin C is growing in popularity as a natural skin care ingredient, but you can't just mix vitamin C into your skin care routine without reading this article.
Keep reading as we uncover what not to mix with vitamin C to optimize your skin care routine. We'll cover:
- Vitamin C and skin health
- What not to mix with vitamin C - our top 5
- Liposomal vitamin C supplements
Let's jump right in!
Why is Vitamin C Important for the Skin
The skin contains concentrated stores of vitamin C, which are critical for:
- Antioxidant action, protecting skin cells from sun damage and oxidative stress
- Collagen - vitamin C is an essential nutrient in collagen production, which gives skin its structure
- Wound healing
- Even skin tone - vitamin C blocks melanin production and can prevent or support dark spots (Source 1)
In short, vitamin C helps the skin appear younger, healthy, glowing, and radiant!
"In short, vitamin C helps the skin appear younger, healthy, glowing, and radiant!"
What Not to Mix with Vitamin C for Effective Skin Care?
Topical skin products with vitamin C are an effective strategy for targeting vitamin C in the skin. Let's review some best practices and what not to mix with vitamin C when using it topically.
Retinol
Retinol is a form of vitamin A and a popular anti-aging skincare ingredient. Retinol irritates the skin, causing redness, dryness, and scaling, especially when first using it. (Source 2)
Using vitamin C and retinol together can increase the potential for irritation while decreasing product effectiveness. To resolve this issue, use vitamin C in the morning and retinol products in the evening. (Source 3)
Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical acne treatment. (Source 4)
Most skin care experts recommend not using benzoyl peroxide products and vitamin C skin care simultaneously because together, they become destabilized and less effective. However, you can use them at different times of day. (Source 5)
Niacinamide
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin) found in skincare products. It's known for its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory benefits and support for healthy pigmentation. (Source 6)
The use of niacinamide and vitamin C together may be controversial. While some recommend separating these ingredients for best practices, one study shows the combination promoted positive effects for skin pigmentation and elasticity. (Source 7)
Copper Peptides
Copper peptides are short amino acid (protein) chains with the mineral copper. In skincare, these peptides support skin healing, firmness, and elasticity and can minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. (Source 8)
Chemical interactions between vitamin C and copper can lead to skin irritation and discomfort and reduce the capacity of each ingredient to do its job. However, you can separate products with these ingredients for the best results.
Exfoliating Scrubs
Exfoliating scrubs utilize physical exfoliants that help remove dead skin cells and promote skin cell turnover. Chemical exfoliants have the same effect by using alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Too much exfoliation (of either type) can lead to skin irritation and decreased skin barrier function.
Typically, experts recommend using topical vitamin C in the morning and exfoliants at night (or only some nights, depending on your skin's sensitivity). (Source 3)
What is Recommended to Combine with Vitamin C?
Since we've covered what not to use with topical vitamin C (like a serum), here are some skincare ingredients and products you can use with vitamin C:
- Vitamin E
- Hyaluronic acid
- Sunscreen
- Rosehip oil
- Jojoba oil
- Aloe vera
- Moisturizer
Topical Vitamin C Vs. Vitamin C Supplements
When it comes to vitamin C and skin health, you don't have to choose between a topical vitamin C product and vitamin C supplements; you can use both!
"When it comes to vitamin C and skin health, you don't have to choose between a topical vitamin C product and vitamin C supplements; you can use both!"
You may be familiar with vitamin C supplements to support the immune system when sick, but regular use has other benefits, including skin health. Vitamin C supplements provide essential antioxidants that accumulate in the skin and promote collagen production. (Source 9)
Liposomal Vitamin C
Vitamin C supplements are typically well-tolerated. However, high doses may trigger gastrointestinal upset in some people. Liposomal vitamin C mitigates the adverse effects of supplementation and improves nutrient absorption.
"Vitamin C supplements are typically well-tolerated. However, high doses may trigger gastrointestinal upset in some people. Liposomal vitamin C mitigates the adverse effects of supplementation and improves nutrient absorption."
Liposomes are phospholipid spheres that resemble the body's cell membranes, allowing for efficient absorption and bioavailability of vitamin C. Additionally, liposomal vitamin C may allow for greater benefits at lower dosages.
Core Med Science offers liposomal vitamin C in three forms to fit your needs:
- Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C - Softgels
- Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C - Sunflower Formula
- Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C - Capsules
Mixing vitamin C and certain skincare ingredients can reduce the efficacy of the products and cause skin irritation or damage. Understanding these interactions can help you get the most out of your skincare routine. Generally, use a vitamin C serum in the morning and other products in the evening, and supplement with Core Med Science Liposomal Vitamin C for optimal skin health.
References:
- Pullar, J. M., Carr, A. C., & Vissers, M. C. M. (2017). The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients, 9(8), 866. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
- Quan T. (2023). Human Skin Aging and the Anti-Aging Properties of Retinol. Biomolecules, 13(11), 1614. Full text: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38002296/
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/beauty/skin-care-mixing
- Yang, Z., Zhang, Y., Lazic Mosler, E., Hu, J., Li, H., Zhang, Y., Liu, J., & Zhang, Q. (2020). Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 3(3), CD011154. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7077870/
- https://www.sciencebecomesher.com/benzoyl-peroxide-and-vitamin-c/
- Marques, C., Hadjab, F., Porcello, A., Lourenço, K., Scaletta, C., Abdel-Sayed, P., Hirt-Burri, N., Applegate, L. A., & Laurent, A. (2024). Mechanistic Insights into the Multiple Functions of Niacinamide: Therapeutic Implications and Cosmeceutical Applications in Functional Skincare Products. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 13(4), 425. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11047333/
- Kim, H. M., Byun, K. A., Oh, S., Yang, J. Y., Park, H. J., Chung, M. S., Son, K. H., & Byun, K. (2022). A Mixture of Topical Forms of Polydeoxyribonucleotide, Vitamin C, and Niacinamide Attenuated Skin Pigmentation and Increased Skin Elasticity by Modulating Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-like 2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 27(4), 1276. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8879610/
- Pickart, L., Vasquez-Soltero, J. M., & Margolina, A. (2015). GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. BioMed research international, 2015, 648108. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4508379/
- Januszewski, J., Forma, A., Zembala, J., Flieger, M., Tyczyńska, M., Dring, J. C., Dudek, I., Świątek, K., & Baj, J. (2023). Nutritional Supplements for Skin Health-A Review of What Should Be Chosen and Why. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 60(1), 68. Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10820017/