All About Skin Lightening: Picking The Right Vitamin C Serum

Monday, November 23, 2009

Picking The Right Vitamin C Serum

I talk so frequently about Vitamin C serums, it would only make sense that there should be a blog post focusing on the best Vitamin C products out there. I have found great success in using Vitamin C on my skin, and achieving various skin lightening goals (overall brightness, luminosity, even tone, fading of acne marks, plumper skin, radiance etc.). I believe it is the ultimate topical antioxidant that can lighten skin, as well as improve and maintain its health (moreso than copper peptides or topical green tea serums).

The benefits of wearing a Vitamin C serum are vast. It prevents cellular free radical damage, and when worn underneath sunscreen during the day, actually strengthens the defense against UVA damage (the rays that darken pigment).The unique thing about Vitamin C serums are that they are powerful at improving the skin, but are very unstable. The form used by the skin (L-ascorbic acid) can oxidize quickly when excessively exposed to air and light. Fortunatley, skin care companies have designed products that will remain fresh and stable with smart packaging. I should also note, that Vitamin C should never be mixed with copper, benzoyl peroxide (that is a pro-oxidant), or a retinoid. Those all three destroy the vitamin C.

A lot of people message me about which Vitamin C serums are the best, and which ones are right for them. Well, this post is all about that. I've reviewed/mentioned several fantastic Vitamin C products throughout this blog, and I will cover the best of the best, as well as the ones tailored to specific skin types below. No particular order:

SkinMedica Vitamin C Complex
Best Suitable For: Normal, Oily, Combination,
Comments: Excellent Vitamin C product, silicone-based, 15% concentration
Link: http://www.skinmedica.com/products/anti-aging/vitamin-c-complex

Neostata 20% Skin Brightener
Best Suitable For: Normal, Combination, Oily, Acne-Prone
Comments: See my review
Link: http://www.pharmacymix.com/Product.aspx?ProductID=4645&&amp&&

Vichy Bi White Advanced Corrective Care
Best Suitable: Dry, Normal
Comments: See my review
Link: http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Vichy-Bi-White-Advanced-Intensive-Whitening-Corrective_W0QQitemZ200399734494QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_216?hash=item2ea8c146de

Vichy Bi White Reveal Whitening Essence
Best Suitable: Dry, Normal, Combination, Oily, Acne-Prone
Comments: See my review
Link: http://www.biwhitereveal.com.sg/

DHC Acerola 100
Best Suitable: Dry, Normal, Combination, Oily, Acne-Prone
Comments: See my review
Link: http://www.dhccare.com/DHC/ProductDetail.aspx?Catalog=dhc%20usa&ProductID=77

DHC Acerola Gel
Best Suitable: Dry, Normal, Combination, Acne-Prone, Oily
Comments: Oil-Free, gentle yet potent acerola berry content, very good at brightening, layered on top of DHC Acerola 100 Lotion
Link: http://www.dhccare.com/DHC/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=100&Catalog=dhc+usa

Bioderma White Objective Lightening Night Serum
Best Suitable: Dry, Normal, Combination, Oily
Comments: see my recommendation
Link: http://www.leguidesante.com/white-objective-lightening-serum-night-30ml/products_4211.html

Skinceuticals AOX Serum 10%, 15%, 20%
Best Suitable: Oily, Acne-Prone, Normal, Combination
Comments: Fantastic water based Vitamin C serum, comes in 3 strengths, lightens, brightens and works well under sunscreen
Link: http://www.drugstore.com/qxp69016_333181_sespider/skinceuticals/serum_15_aox.htm

Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate
Best Suitable:Normal, Dry
Comments: Contains 10.5% Vitamin C, great for mature and drier skin types
Link: http://www.folica.com/Kiehl_s_Powerfu_d3034.html

MyChelle's Perfect C Serum
Best Suitable: Dry
Comments:Contains 17% Vitamin C, has essential oils so it's good for dry skin types.
Link: http://www.amazon.com/MyChelle-Perfect-Serum-5-Ounce-Bottle/dp/B000MAOWP2

La Roche Posay Active C Normal To Combination Version
Best Suitable: Dry, Normal, Combination
Comments: has 5% Vitamin C, Silicone based, moisturizing, good for dry and normal skin types
Link: http://www.skin-etc.com/laroacclifas.html

Also, feel free to check out my blog posts' on how to create your own Vitamin C serum as well as the Do-It-Yourself Vitamin C Lightening Mask
=D

Labels: antioxidant, hyperpigmentation, recommendations, skin lightening

28 Comments:

Nikkicute said...: Ahhh Vitamin C.
My first experience with this product is a tragic tale, a tale that began on ebay. It came in a little brown bottle and had the consistency of molasses and just as sticky!! I don't remember it coming with directions so I had to figure it out for myself, I put a drop or two in the palm of my hand and added a little bit of water. Much better and made it more spreadable but when it dried I could feel it on my face like a mask and the stickiness came back. That serum probably had more glycerin than Vitamin C. I was so mad I tried to pour it down the sink. Good grief couldn't even do that it was so thick!! Had to run warm water in the bottle to get rid of it. Awful, just awful. Well that's my story. And I'm back for another try. I can't give up right? Skinceuticals AOX Serum looks promising to me because you said it was water based. No more sticky C for me!!; March 16, 2010 at 6:18 AM
Mileena said...: Hey Nikki!

Yeah I know what you mean. I've definitley tried some Vitamin C serums that had high concentrations of glycerin in them.

Water based and silicone based (the most superiror since they don't oxidize as fast and have longer shelf-life) are the way to go. AOX is great, I love it. People who are using it seem to comment that it gives them a yellow undertone. Hmmm, I didn't experience that with it, I just experienced some intense skin brightening and lightening of freckles. My skin looked really healthy and firm too (increased collagen).

;); March 16, 2010 at 9:29 AM
Anonymous said...: hey mileena! thanks for the wonderful post! can u recommend a high concentration vit c serum found in sephora or any department store?; March 30, 2010 at 4:46 AM
Mileena said...: Hi,

I don't usually shop at department stores and such for skin lighteners or Vitamin C products.

From what I've seen most of the products are usually Vitamin C derivatives (which aren't bad at all, but not as potent as L-ascorbic acid) like Shiseido and the Ole Henrisken one.

I think Sephora carries Cellex-C. I believe Cellex-C contains high potency Vitamin C (5%, 10% and 20% L-ascorbic acid). The price is a bit much though.

There is however a Kinerase product - the Kinerase Photofacial that seems like a promising skin lightener. It has sepiwhite in it (an ingredient that is also in the skin lightener I currently am using - the Environ Evenescence Clarifying Lotion). Here is the link

http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P241909

;); March 30, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Omega said...: In 130 countries around the world, each piece of Omega was sold by first-class dealers is the young generation's ideal; May 26, 2010 at 2:25 AM
Mileena said...: ...?! Ad, much?; May 26, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Anonymous said...: can i add vitamin c to my daily face cleanser?; October 25, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Mileena said...: Do not add it directly to the facial cleanser. You can mix the vitamin c crystals/powder with your cleanser on your palms though.

It won't do much in terms of getting results. Vitamin C needs to travel into the lower levels of the skin and that is usually done through leave-on treatments.; October 26, 2010 at 7:07 PM
Anonymous said...: regardless of price, whats the best vitamin c serum that you know of?; December 11, 2010 at 7:07 PM
Mileena said...: If you posted this comment 3-4 months ago I would say UNT's Clarity but I think the Skinceuticals AOX 15 is amazing.

If you have dry skin OR non-acne prone skin I would say the C+E Ferulic. Both brilliant vitamin c serums.; December 11, 2010 at 8:38 PM
Anonymous said...: cool, then i shall get that indeed, ^___^
i also read a tad about B5, is that sort of like a soothing agent?; December 11, 2010 at 8:43 PM
Mileena said...: Yes it's a wonderful soothing agent. It's also been proven in several studies (and personally I've experienced it myself) to improve barrier function in the skin so it can cut down on redness or increase your skin's tolerance to strong agents. :); December 12, 2010 at 8:08 PM
wickedkewl said...: i also heard that its a moisturizer. but i have oily skin. so im guessing i dont need a moisturizer. is there something else i can use instead? or can i use this?; December 13, 2010 at 12:15 PM
wickedkewl said...: also, what is the best vit. c serum for brightening your skin?; December 13, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Mileena said...: B5 is a moisturizer as well it's basically...a soothing/barrier enhancing moisturizer lol. That's the best way to put it :)

A lot of people with rosacea or very sensitive skin prefer it. I use moisturizer on my skin now that it's winter. Whenever my skin *feels* dry I apply moisturizer on that area. I never apply for the sake of applying because in the summer my natural oils are enough and moisturizer was designed to mimic skin oil (lubricate/protect the skin).

Using a B5 gel is great. Skinceuticals has a great one.; December 14, 2010 at 11:54 AM
Mileena said...: Skinceuticals C+E Ferulic is the ultimate antioxidant powerhouse product. But not all sensitive skin types can tolerate vitamin E (me included).

So Skinceuticals AOX comes in a close second and then UNT's C Clarity is third. :); December 14, 2010 at 11:55 AM
wickedkewl said...: so i was looking into sample sizes for the skinceuticals, and idk. do you trust them? like the vendors that sell em? is there a way to know that the package is factory sealed?; December 14, 2010 at 7:27 PM
Mileena said...: They're perfectly safe. I used to use the samples for YEARS with no issues or problems. If the user has a good rating/history or they are well known vendors that go for it. Trust me it's the most economical way to get a hold of Skinceuticals products since they can be pricey if you are trying to not break the bank, lol.; December 16, 2010 at 5:30 PM
wickedkewl said...: so i bought the vit.c samples and the package itself was not new. it didnt have the little foam strip and the bottles were sort of dirty with little white particles. the vit.c also had a light yellow color. could it be that it was not new?; January 8, 2011 at 7:34 PM
Mileena said...: @wickedkewl Are you referring to the vitamin c samples off ebay? The ones by Skinceuticals?

They should be fine. Vitamin C serums are usually never 'white' in color and have a slight yellow hue. I'm sure it's fine, I remember when I used to get samples for vitamin c serums they were never in mint condition. Sample bottles perhaps aren't handled as well as full size bottles =S; January 9, 2011 at 11:02 AM
wickedkewl said...: hmmmmmm -_____-; January 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Mileena said...: Hopefully all is well. Did you get a chance to try it? Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that it isn't completely brand new. As long as the white particles aren't inside the vitamin c solution you're good. :); January 10, 2011 at 8:59 AM
wickedkewl said...: yeah, rolf. it didnt irritate my skin, which i found weird.; January 11, 2011 at 6:31 PM
Mileena said...: That's a good thing! Not all vitamin c serums irritate or sting people. It really depends on your skin. Which % is it? =D; January 11, 2011 at 8:32 PM
wickedkewl said...: oooh it irritated a tad tad bit today. i got the 15%. i find it weird how there were a lot of reviews that mentioned how they got irritation using 20%. but not so many using 10% or even 15%.; January 12, 2011 at 3:33 PM
Mileena said...: 15% is strong but highly effective. Go slow, and remember every other day or even every 2 days of application is good enough. :); January 12, 2011 at 4:32 PM
wickedkewl said...: totally, i apply every other day. the pnj has vit. c too. so i'm like okay, lol.; January 12, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Mileena said...: Yeah it's best not to over do it and get irritation. :); January 13, 2011 at 11:33 AM

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Monday, November 23, 2009

Picking The Right Vitamin C Serum

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