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How many times a week should I put vitamin C on my face?

3-4 times a week While it can be applied daily, start with 3-4 times a week if you like to play it safe and work your way up. Although vitamin C is most commonly used in the morning, there is a place for it in your PM skincare routine too, Hirsch tells us.

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We’re all familiar with taking our daily vitamins and supplements for optimum health and our skincare routines shouldn’t be exempt. A cup of OJ may be your fix when it comes to immunity, but what exactly does vitamin C do for your skin? From a powerhouse antioxidant to blitzing hyperpigmentation, get the true rundown on this well-loved ingredient and why it needs a place in your lineup.

The Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a multi-purpose molecule proven to help protect, brighten, and firm the skin. Known as the gold standard antioxidant, board-certified dermatologist

Dr. Ranella Hirsch

explains that vitamin C helps to neutralize free radicals, which are unstable atoms known to accelerate the aging process. “

Vitamin C stabilizes free radicals, caused by pollution

, UV rays, smoking, sugar, and stress, and in doing so, prevents cell damage.” If its protective prowess wasn’t enough, . Whether you’ve picked up some pesky sun damage over the summer or have post-inflammatory pigmentation from old blemishes, regular vitamin C usage will help diminish them. “It inhibits the skin from producing melanin which helps to lighten areas of hyperpigmentation and evens skin tone,” Dr Hirsch adds.

How and When To Use It

You’ll find vitamin C in everything from cleansers to serums to facial peels. This ingredient comes in different strengths and concentrations meaning that all skin types—even sensitive or problem complexions—can enjoy its benefits. While it can be applied daily, start with 3-4 times a week if you like to play it safe and work your way up. Although vitamin C is most commonly used in the morning, there is a place for it in your PM skincare routine too, Hirsch tells us. “Vitamin C helps with cellular metabolism which happens all the time, but particularly at night.” If you’re looking for a new vitamin C product to bring into your routine, check out our Weekend Glow Daily Brightening Moisturizer, a lightweight, non-comedogenic cream enriched with not one, but two stabilized forms of vitamin C that work deep in the skin to deliver even better glowing and firming results.

When Does It Expire?

Whichever product you choose, Dr. Hirsch says the most important thing is finding one that’s well-formulated. Its most potent form, known as L-Ascorbic Acid, is incredibly unstable as it’s sensitive to light and air, so look for products with airtight, opaque packaging, replace the cap quickly after application, and store away from direct sunlight in a cool, dark place (not your steamy bathroom). Vitamin C doesn’t have a true expiration date, but most serums (depending on the vitamin C it's formulated with) are most effective when used within 3-6 months after opening. A tell-tale sign that it’s time to part ways is if your product has turned dark brown from oxidation (don’t fret—orange is normal). For maximum freshness, try using vitamin C in powder form, such as in Found The Light, which not only ensures that it stays potent for longer but allows you to mix this skin-brightening ingredient into any of your other skincare favorites.

What Can I Use It With?

Vitamin C pairs well with most other ingredients

, but it’s especially effective when combined with:

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Is it better to take vitamin C at night or in the morning?

"Because vitamin C serum helps protect your skin from free radicals, most dermatologists have recommended applying it in the morning to prevent damage during the day," says Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Forget everything you know about vitamin C serum. Well, except for the part where it helps produce collagen, repairs signs of aging, and brightens skin. (If you haven't tried one yet, we love DermaDoctor Kakadu C 20% Vitamin C Serum With Ferulic Acid & Vitamin E.) But the whole must-apply-only-in-the-morning rule? Strike it. There are new rules at play. "Because vitamin C serum helps protect your skin from free radicals, most dermatologists have recommended applying it in the morning to prevent damage during the day," says Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. And chances are the back of your bottle does, too. "But given the newest data, which shows that UV damage continues for hours after you've left the sun, perhaps we should also be using antioxidants, like vitamin C, in the evening to fight post-sun sun damage," he says. And wearing antioxidants at night still helps you fight sun damage the next day. "Your body builds up a storage of antioxidants as you use them," says Zeichner, "so using vitamin C serum at night will help guarantee your body has enough ready to go in the morning when you need them most." No matter when you layer on your vitamin C, make sure to never use it within a few hours of salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinol (yes, that even includes face washes and spot treatments) to avoid burning, stinging, and redness.

For more on nighttime skin routines, watch this:

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