If you are looking for a face serum that gets the job done, Shiseido delivers. This hydrating serum not only strengthens the skin’s inner defenses but also provides antioxidants and helps with damage recovery.

It’s also best to use an active like retinol before bed and a vitamin C serum during the day — paired with a good facial moisturizer and topped off with broad-spectrum SPF, of course! Active ingredients:Vitamin C, vitamin E, sodium ascorbyl phosphate | Additional benefits:Improves skin elasticity, texture smoothing | Consistency:Oil | Cruelty-free: Yes For those who don’t know, ‘lucent’ means to glow or give off light, like a radiant makeover for dull skin. A lightweight serum, Vitamin C and B3 help balance, replenish and soothe most skin types. To get the most out of your vitamin C serum, you should apply it daily as part of your morning skin care routine,” Palm says. “Applying vitamin C in the morning allows us to optimize its ability to reduce free radicals during the day from UV exposure.” What percentage of vitamin C is best for the face? If you want to get technical, face serums are topical products that contain active ingredients. They are like the cherry on top of a skincare sundae. Except that this cherry is pretty potent, formulated with precision and care, filled with natural, nourishing ingredients, and can boost your skin in ways other typical skincare products can’t. The Benefits of Face SerumThese derivatives are used to create Vitamin C serum, and while they may not be 100% pure sources of Vitamin C, like the examples above are, they’re still capable of pretty powerful, almost mind-blowing stuff. Besides stimulating collagen production, Vitamin C is great for fighting fine lines and wrinkles and it also brightens your skin complexion. Water, emollients (oils), and humectants (ingredients that draw moisture into the skin) are only found in low levels in the typical serum, meaning they can work a lot harder to deliver the nutritive benefits of their other ingredients, without causing discomfort or heaviness.

While vitamin C serums help with a variety of skin conditions, it's important to target a product that fits your specific skin care needs. For example, some serums may contain ingredients that irritate the skin, so if you have sensitive skin, consult your dermatologist to determine the best vitamin C serum for you. Common medical knowledge has recommended vitamin C serum for use in the morning to ward off damage during the day, because it helps to protect the skin from free radicals,” says Dr. Somenek. But newer data, he explains, shows that UV damage remains for hours after a person is no longer exposed to the sun.

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Antioxidants can do this by supplying an electron to a free radical without destabilizing themselves. The result is a neutralized free radical that is less able to cause damage. UV light and air pollution can create free radicals in the skin that are far from desirable. They can our skin look dull and potentially lead to the formation of lines and wrinkles.

Free-radical fighting serums: These serums are usually filled with antioxidants to help fight free radicals, which can damage skin and its appearance. This formulation features 10% pure vitamin C in conjunction with hydrating hyaluronic acid. Together, they work to reduce wrinkles, even skin tone and make dark spots and pores less noticeable. While some serums leave behind a greasy feel, this one has a powdery finish, which is similar to that of a primer. The lower vitamin C concentration compared to some competitors’ formulas makes this an ideal option for new users or those with sensitive skin; however, more experienced users may seek out a more potent product. Stamford NPJ. (2012). Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives. The serum stimulates collagen production in your skin, and collagen keeps your skin full and plump, rather than deflated and sallow. Take Anton Ego, the hard-to-please food critic from Ratatouille, for example. There’s a guy who could use some Vitamin C serum.Though it sits at a similarly high price point to SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, Dr. Saedi explains that many of her clients gravitate toward Revision C+ Correcting Complex because it is fragrance free and is more of a lotion in consistency, making it “less irritating.” Advanced skincare doesn’t need to be expensive. This ridiculously affordable sheet mask contains Vitamin C, Yuzu and assorted plant extracts. It smells great, goes on easily and leaves skin feeling smoother and looking brighter – and it’s plastic free. Make it a frequent treat.