Can i use vitamin c serum and hyaluronic acid together

A massive skin boost: This is why it’s totally OK to use hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums together. What the benefits are for your skin. Plus: The best vitamin C serum to use with hyaluronic acid.

Can you use hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums together? Of course, their individual skin benefits complement each other really well.

Should you use vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together? Read on and you’re probably going to want to. Here’s all your info about vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, why it’s OK to use them together, all the skin benefits, and how to do it. Plus: The best hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums to use for brighter, smoother, healthier, glowing skin.

First, the basics: What are vitamin C and hyaluronic acid again?

ABOUT VITAMIN C

Possibly the best-known vitamin of all. Vitamin C in its lipid-soluble form (known as ascorbic acid) is an amazing antioxidant that protects your skin from damage. It also boosts new collagen formation and fibroblast activity, strengthens your skin barrier, and smooths and brightens your skin.

WHAT DOES HYALURONIC ACID DO AGAIN?

Hyaluronic acid (HA for short) is a compound with remarkable water-binding abilities. It can bind to over 1000 times its own weight in water molecules. Your body naturally manufactures it to keep your cells and skin properly hydrated.

Hyaluronic acid is vital for normal skin function, as it plumps and leaves skin hydrated and healthy. Only thing is, with age and damage to your skin cells, your body’s hyaluronic acid production slows down. So you end up with dehydrated skin.

Fortunately, we’ve discovered that you can give your body a hydration boost by applying hyaluronic acid topically. In fact, applying the best hyaluronic acid serums will even kickstart your body’s own HA production again.

CAN YOU USE HYALURONIC ACID AND VITAMIN C TOGETHER?

A resounding yes. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums together complement each other’s benefits. And it’s not only in skincare. Studies have shown these two compounds together are beneficial for everything from osteoarthritis to fillers, implants, and, of course, aging.

In fact, it’s not uncommon to find skin products that contain both HA and ascorbic acid together as ingredients. Although, for the best results, you probably want to combine two of the top serums you already know and trust.

VITAMIN C AND HYALURONIC ACID BENEFITS

Both contribute to skin health and help keep skin youthful. We know that vitamin C is anti-aging because it contains cell-protecting antioxidants that make the skin more UV resistant. It also boosts collagen, cell function, and healing, while improving skin texture, smoothness, and brightening the skin.

Vitamin C’s action in enhancing lipid formation in the skin barrier goes hand-in-hand with the age-preventing and max hydrating qualities of hyaluronic acid. HA traps and delivers moisture in the skin, plumping and forming it for optimal health. Together, they’re a formidable combination that acts on all the elements you need for healthy skin.

HOW DO YOU USE THEM TOGETHER?

For the best possible results for skin, it makes sense to apply both vitamin C and hyaluronic acid directly to the skin. Which is exactly what serums are designed to do.

You always apply serums just before your moisturizer and SPF. So, after cleansing your skin, apply the hyaluronic acid serum to hydrate and plump the skin. Then, apply the vitamin C serum. It will smooth and brighten your skin.. Follow up with your normal moisturizer or cream and sun protection. You should be able to do this both in the morning and/or in the evening before bed.

THE BEST HYALURONIC ACID + VITAMIN C SERUMS TO USE TOGETHER

And, since you’re looking to get maximum results, look toward using two of the most advanced serums available today:

LAMELLE RESEARCH LABORATORIES CORRECTIVES HA PLUS (WITH DEEP MOISTURE CONCENTRATE)

Lamelle’s newly updated Correctives HA Plus is a highly advanced hyaluronic acid serum. It delivers various forms of hyaluronic acid for maximum hydration. It also uses special, skin-healing HAFi fragments to boost your body’s own natural HA production. For the first time in the skincare industry, it protects the hyaluronic acid that’s already inside your body by inhibiting hyaluronidase (the stuff that would break down HA) in your skin.

“With 5 forms of HA in one product, I can confidently say that all layers of the skin will be more than adequately Hydrated. The real ace up its sleeve is the ability to block the breakdown of this new hydration complex within the skin. This allows the active ingredients to remain active in the skin significantly longer than ever before.

Another Lamelle first!”


Just how nuanced is skincare, apart from selecting serums, cleansers and sunscreens suited for your skin, there’s an art to layering each of these products in a way that enables your skin to leverage each of their benefits. What if we tell you that your serums can boost your skincare routine if you apply them in a certain order? Yes, it’s not all that random.

We suggest you incorporate two serums into your skincare routine. Don’t overwhelm your skin with excessive formulas. Think about it; if you’ve smeared your face with multiple layers of just serums, how’s the last one supposed to manoeuvre all that product, and penetrate your skin? You’re rendering your entire regimen ineffective by overindulging.  

We’re sure there’s a Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serum tucked into your skincare repository. After all, they’re multipurpose, and not exclusive to a certain skin type.  If you’ve been layering them just randomly, you’re not doing your skin any favours.

What goes first?

Can i use vitamin c serum and hyaluronic acid together

Let’s cut to the chase. Vitamin C beats hyaluronic acid. Once exposed to air, light, or water, vitamin C loses its potency and to what extent can an ineffective serum help? Apply the serum after washing your face, but ensure that your skin is absolutely dry. Let it sit on your skin for a few minutes before you proceed. Other products might deactivate the serum if you don’t let it absorb.

Hyaluronic acid comes in as the second layer of defence. Even if your skin isn’t quite damp, hyaluronic acid can draw moisture from your surroundings. But if you do want to layer your skin with some moisture, you can spritz your face with a water-based toner only after the Vitamin C serum is completely absorbed into the skin. Once you’re done, seal in the serums with a moisturiser to lock in the moisture.

Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Acid

Can i use vitamin c serum and hyaluronic acid together

Both these ingredients are associated with vastly different purposes, and when put together, you might just end up with a more potent formula. According to dermatologists, the two boost each other’s efficacy when combined. Since both of them are linked to anti-ageing, a combination results in their unique properties — Vitamin C protects and rejuvenates while hyaluronic acid brightens and plumps — restoring your skin to its youthful glory. Even then, try using them separately since both ingredients deliver optimum performances at different pHs. Be careful to not mix any ingredients without doing your research. One wrong pair-up is all it takes to sabotage your skin.

Tips on getting it right

Can i use vitamin c serum and hyaluronic acid together

Here are some tips that will help you make the most of your serums.

  • Less is more

You don’t need to bathe your skin in hyaluronic acid to reap its benefits. A little goes a long way. This applies to Vitamin C as well — 2-4 drops is all you need.

  • Pick the right time for application

Hyaluronic acid isn’t reserved for a specific time of the day. You can use it in the morning to give your skin a dose of moisture,  and in the evening to replenish your skin’s lost moisture. If you’re just incorporating hyaluronic acid into your routine, select either one of the options. Once you’re sure your skin isn’t reacting (poorly) to the serum, you can work it into your morning and evening routines.
Since Vitamin C’s effects last for over 24 hours, you can use it in the morning, just once every day.

  • Find a serum that contains both the ingredients

Instead of applying both the serums separately, you can invest in one that includes both the ingredients. These serums are a little more stable than the combination you’d prepare at home.

How do you use vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid?

If you are applying a Vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid separately, it's suggested that you apply the Vitamin C first, and then add the hyaluronic acid afterward in order to help fortify the skin barrier and lock in the moisture.

Is vitamin C and hyaluronic acid good together?

Combining the two makes for a great all-in-one skin care step. “Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are commonly used together because they complement each other to hydrate, protect, and repair aging skin,” says Zeichner.

How long should I wait between vitamin C serum and hyaluronic acid?

Goldenberg's go-to recommendation for timing between serums and moisturizers is about one minute. This wait has the same reasoning: Sixty seconds — give or take — gives each product a moment to delve into your pores.