Vitamin C Season: How to Brighten Post-Winter Skin

After months of cold, dry weather, skin can appear dull, uneven, and tired-looking. Vitamin C is a well-researched antioxidant, known for its ability to brighten and balance the look of uneven skin tone, while offering protection from environmental stressors. It’s an ideal ingredient for anyone looking to boost radiance and renew their spring skincare routine.

This guide explores The Ordinary vitamin C formulations, how to use vitamin C in your skincare regimen, and tips for maintaining brighter-looking skin all spring long.

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Why Vitamin C Matters in Spring.

Spring brings sunshine, warmer weather, and more time outdoors. This also means increased exposure to UV radiation and pollution, environmental stressors that can lead to dullness, dryness, loss of elasticity, and more.

Antioxidant support from vitamin C helps protect against the effects of oxidative stress to visibly brighten skin and help reduce signs of aging, making it an important addition to any spring skincare regimen.

Complement Your Antioxidant Skincare Benefits

Vitamin C and sunscreen make a powerful pair, working together to provide a 2-layer defense against oxidative stress. Vitamin C helps guard your skin from harmful free radicals while broad-spectrum SPF protects against damaging the effects of UV radiation. Apply vitamin C first for more thorough daily protection.

The Ordinary Vitamin C Options.

Our vitamin C skincare formulations are available in a range of strengths and offer varying levels of hydration. Get the most from this powerful ingredient by choosing the right product for your skin type, experience level, and unique concerns.

Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%

This gentle, water-based formulation brightens and balances uneven skin tone. It contains a vitamin C derivative with less potential for irritation, making it ideal for beginners. It can be used twice daily.

Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F

This oil-based serum offers lightweight hydration while brightening and targeting uneven tone. It also contains Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids to help support your skin barrier. This formulation is gentle enough to be used twice daily.

Vitamin C 23% Suspension + HA Spheres 2%

This potent formulation uses direct vitamin C to brighten skin, balance uneven tone, and visibly reduce signs of aging. The addition of hyaluronic acid supports hydration. Once daily use is recommended due to its higher strength.

Multi-Antioxidant Radiance Serum

This daily antioxidant serum combines 8 technologies, including vitamin C, to protect against environmental damage and visibly brighten skin. Use twice daily for continued antioxidant support at night and a radiance boost during the day.

How to Use Vitamin C in Your Skincare Regimen.

Vitamin C can be added to your AM or PM regimen, after cleansing and before moisturizer or SPF. To use this ingredient effectively, it’s important to consider the following:

Start low and slow.

For those new to vitamin C skincare, we recommend starting with a lower concentration and applying a few times a week. Gradually increase strength and frequency as your skin builds tolerance. Our Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% offers a gentle introduction for beginners.

Follow with SPF.

If you use vitamin C in the morning, always follow with a broad-spectrum SPF to protect your skin from the damaging effects of UV radiation. When paired, sunscreen and vitamin C provide excellent defence against environmental stressors.

Know your ingredient conflicts.

Direct vitamin C, like our Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, should not be used in the same regimen as the following ingredients:

  • Niacinamide: When layered together, direct vitamin C and niacinamide can form a salt complex that may compromise both ingredients.

  • Peptides: Direct vitamin C can break down peptides and reduce their effectiveness.

  • Direct acids and strong retinoids: Use caution when combining these ingredients with direct vitamin C as it may increase the chances of skin sensitivity. We recommend using them in separate AM or PM regimens.

Add barrier support.

Like sunscreen, a strong skin barrier complements vitamin C's antioxidant benefits. Layer a barrier supportive formulation, like our Soothing & Barrier Support Serum, with vitamin C can provide further protection against a wide range of environmental stressors.

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The Ordinary Sérum Filtres UV SPF 45

Sérum Filtres UV SPF 45

Protection à large spectre

$0.00 CAD
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The Ordinary Sérum Apaisant & Protecteur de la Barrière Cutanée

Sérum Apaisant & Protecteur de la Barrière Cutanée

Barrière Réparatrice et Apaise

$25.80 CAD
The Ordinary Essence Multi-Active

Essence Multi-Active

Lisse, adoucit, hydrate

$15.90 CAD
Tips for Maintaining Radiance Through Spring.

There are several ways to optimize the benefits of vitamin C and keep your skin looking radiant this spring.

  1. Store formulations containing direct vitamin C in a cool, dark place. Light and heat can degrade direct vitamin C, impacting its potency and effectiveness.

  2. Follow vitamin C with a broad-spectrum SPF to optimize your daily protection and to complement the antioxidant benefits.

  3. Combine vitamin C with barrier-supportive formulations to help promote more resilient, healthier-looking skin.

  4. For the best results, stay consistent. Improvements typically become visible with regular, continued use.

Vitamin C FAQs

Vitamin C helps protect against environmental stressors that can damage the skin and lead to dullness. Skin appears brighter and more-even looking.

Vitamin C derivatives, such as ascorbyl glucoside and ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, are more stable than direct forms of vitamin C. This makes them gentler and better suited to beginners. Our Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% is ideal for those new to vitamin C.

Yes, vitamin C can be used with other active ingredients. However, direct vitamin C should not be used in the same regimen as niacinamide, direct acids, or strong retinoids. We recommend using these ingredients in separate AM or PM regimens.

Depending on the formulation, you can apply vitamin C serums once or twice daily. Follow the usage instructions specific to each formulation for the best results.

All formulations in The Ordinary’s range of vitamin C help brighten skin and even tone. Direct forms of vitamin C are stronger and may produce more noticeable results. However, they are best for experienced users of vitamin C and may not be suitable for sensitive skin. It’s important to choose the right vitamin C for your skin type, experience level, and concerns.

Vitamin C protects against oxidative stress, which can damage the skin. It does not help block or absorb UV radiation or protect the skin from its effects like broad-spectrum SPF. When paired, vitamin C and sunscreen offer excellent protection against environmental stressors.

The Ordinary Vitamin C For Spring.

Spring is the season to embrace brighter, healthier-looking skin. With gentle water-soluble derivatives, higher-strength suspensions, and multi-antioxidant serums, the Ordinary’s range of vitamin C can help you boost radiance, balance uneven skin tone, and enhance daily protection as you transition into spring.

Find the right vitamin C for your skin with our Regimen Builder and achieve brighter-looking skin this season and beyond.