The Best Serums For Face & Body Contain Both Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid. When To Drop It Into Your Daily Routine?
If you’re anything like me, you might meet the morning with a long glance in the mirror and immediately start to pick out imperfections. Blotchiness, uneven skin tone, dark circles, wrinkles and fine lines - it’s such a downer. After all, you cleanse, tone and moisturize daily, just like you should…
So what’s missing? There might just be a simple solution for firmer, brighter, younger-looking skin you never knew you needed. And it starts with 2 wonder ingredients that have taken the world of skincare by storm.
The Ingredients - With A Little BackgroundHyaluronic Acid.
First discovered in 1934 and synthesized in 1964, it’s actually a natural component of our bodies. 50% of what humans produce on average is found in our skin, and it’s renewed every day. However, the rate of renewal decreases with age.
What about its function? Put simply, it plays a vital role in the chemical composition of our skin when it comes to retaining water. The older you get, the less this natural acid regenerates, and thereby the less moisture your skin is capable of holding onto.
Vitamin C.
Also known as ascorbic acid, it was discovered in 1912 and was the first ever vitamin to be synthesized in 1933. When it was discovered that Vitamin C aids the production of white blood cells (the body’s main offence when it comes to fighting off infections) it was quickly utilized for medicine and supplements.
It’s famous for treating scurvy, promoting the healthy function of enzymes, collagen production and maintaining a high-functioning immune system. It’s even on the WHO’s (or World Health Organization) List of Essential Medicines. You’ll find it in citrus fruits, and lots of animals like are able to synthesize it naturally. However, humans cannot.
Key Benefits For Your Skin - And Why You Want ThemSo these two ingredients do great things for our bodies, but what about our skin? Let’s look at some of the specific plus-sides when it comes to using a hyaluronic acid and vitamin C facial serum.
- Hydration : By helping your skin to retain moisture, hyaluronic acid keeps your skin firm and plump.
- Anti-Aging : It also protects the skin’s surface against toxins and free radicals, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This improves your skin’s natural elasticity, too.
- Brightening : Vitamin C brightens your skin tone and evens texture, combatting dark spots and blemishes.
- Anti-Inflammatory : Not all serums have this benefit, but I recommend finding one that does. This will typically be through the addition of plant stem cells to reduce redness and repair existing imperfections.
As with all skincare, it’s always a good idea to test a small area first to see if you are allergic to any of the ingredients - particularly if you have sensitive skin. I’d always recommend going for an ethical brand that uses natural ingredients (or as many as possible) such as the Scentuals Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C Facial Serum. Test a small, inconspicuous area and give it 48 hours to be sure doesn’t cause any redness, itching or irritation.
HOW to use it?
Here’s some great news for your wallet. Many serums on the market use concentrated formulas, and that’s why you don’t need to use much at all. One to two drops per use should do the trick.
Squeeze a couple of drops into your palm and press your hands together, warming the oil a little. Then, gently massage into your face, concentrating on your problem areas. Most commonly around the eyes, forehead and cheeks.
WHEN to use it?
Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid Serum should be applied after cleanser and toner but before your moisturizer. This is because the components act as a protective barrier and locks in moisture. You don’t want this until your skin is clean and free of excess sebum / make-up / dirt.
Many people like to use face serums of this type both day and evening for some overnight repair. Again, try it out and see how it feels before doing this regularly. Luckily, lots of serums on the market aren’t too heavy, so they shouldn’t clog your pores.
Beat Breakouts & Acne - Long Term
Acne is not just for teenagers. If you have been blessed with oily skin, you’ll know that the dreaded T-Zone is capable of causing unwelcome acne breakouts much later on in life.
But you guessed it, Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid can help with this. Here’s how:
- Vit C is an antioxidant - meaning it helps to fight the toxins and make-up products that trigger inflammation in your skin. So spots, redness and scars should recede with repeated use of Vitamin C.
- Hyaluronic Acid is here to hydrate - meaning it provides a barrier to harmful free radicals. By making sure you use it at the right time - i.e just after cleansing (and toning if you’re into that), you give yourself a healthy moisture barrier. This blocks out bacteria and prevents the build-up of dead skin cells, which are both common causes of breakouts.
With regular use, you should see a visibly healthy improvement to acne-prone skin with a face serum like this. Bear in mind, there are several causes for spots not listed here, so this isn’t a guaranteed fix. But it certainly helps to cover several bases.
Again, using dermatologically tested products with natural ingredients like the Scentuals range improve your chances of seeing results that last.
Say Hello To Ravishing, Radiant Skin
To wrap things up, I hope you have a little more insight into the basics, benefits, and best bits of this powerful pairing - as well as a good idea of how to make the best use of it. If you’re not currently loving the skin you’re in, my wish is that this article can get you a little closer to that feeling. Now go and be fabulous.