If you could sing a lyric of a song that best describes oily skin, the first thing that comes to mind would be ‘shine bright like a diamond’. Yes- it feels like your face is literally shining, and you’re pretty sure others can use your shiny forehead as a mirror. Makeup doesn’t stay on either, as it keeps sliding off your face a few hours after application. In other words, the struggle is real with oily skin.
But don’t worry, pressing vitamin C in serum form can make a world of difference.
Is Vitamin C Good For Oily Skin?
Our bodies cannot make vitamin C on their own, and while we include vitamin C-containing foods in our diet, our skin only gets a small fraction of the benefits. That’s why applying it directly into the skin allows the skin to absorb more of it efficiently.
But is vitamin C serum safe and effective? Thankfully, vitamin C serum is safe for oily skin and all types of skin. It is said that not using vitamin C serum in oily skin means depriving yourself an array of benefits.
When you have oily skin, it’s perfectly normal to view it as a mess that needs to be sorted out as soon as possible. While oily skin has some benefits, the drawbacks are too hard to ignore, such as shine, makeup melt, more frequent washes, breakouts, and more.
The main culprit for these struggles is excess natural oil, something you would like to get rid of. But in lieu of trying to eliminate extra natural oil, try working with your skin to find a balance. Let’s establish that first. Insufficient hydration prompts the skin to produce more oil to make up for the scarcity of moisture. This is where pressing vitamin C in serum form comes very handy as it effectively maintains the skin’s lipid barrier and increases moisture retention.
That said, vitamin C serum can be an ideal option for eliminating oily skin. Besides, it’s easy to absorb and is not heavy on the skin.
Vitamin C serum offers an array of other skin benefits, such as:
- It reduces the appearance of dark circles.
- It helps in the fast healing of acne scars, blemishes, and sunburns.
- It helps even out skin tone.
- It protects the skin from free radical and sun damage.
- It boosts collagen levels in your skin, which helps reduce signs of aging.
How to Apply Vitamin C Serum?
Apply vitamin C serum on the skin in the morning.
There’s certainly no problem with using vitamin C serum at night, but you may get maximum advantages from using it in the morning. Besides, UV radiation can damage your skin, so it’s only practical to use vitamin C serum before heading out for the day. In addition, give the serum time to absorb your skin before heading out since the vitamin becomes less effective when exposed to light. No law says you should wait for a specific amount of time with vitamin E, as long as it’s absorbed well.
Always wash your face with a mild cleanser before taking a few drops of the vitamin C serum and applying it to your skin.
What’s The Right Way To Use Vitamin C for Oily Skin?
Don’t use it alongside benzoyl peroxide.
The one ingredient that you should keep an eye out for when using vitamin C serum is benzoyl peroxide. This topical medication tends to oxidize vitamin C, making it less potent. You can still use both products, just not at the same time. For example, you incorporate vitamin C serum in your daytime skincare routine and the benzoyl peroxide in your nighttime skincare routine.
The same rule applies to retinol.
Again, you can still use vitamin C serum and retinol, just not at the same time. This is because using them in the same part of your routine makes both less effective. Use vitamin C serum in the morning and use retinol at night.
Use only a water-based serum.
You have two options- oil-based vitamin C serum or water-based vitamin C serum. While water-based is easier to absorb, it has a short shelf life than the other because it oxidizes quickly. It’s also heavier than the water-based serum. Therefore, the best option is the water-based serum because it is much lighter and gives fast results.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself persistently fighting the oiliness, it’s best to check in with your healthcare provider to make sure everything is okay on the health front.
Your persistent oily skin could be caused by factors you have no control over, such as genes, hormonal changes, and certain medications.
In fact, persistent oily skin is a common side effect of oral contraceptives and hormone replacement medication; so speak to your healthcare provider about your options.