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Does vitamin C help with hyperpigmentation?
Yes, it does.
Plus, it prevents discoloration from sun damage in the future.
When you use a vitamin C serum to treat hyperpigmentation, you also benefit from firmer skin.
That’s because vitamin C stimulates collagen production as well.
The best vitamin C serums for hyperpigmentation provide maximum benefits for your skin’s health.
Contents
Vitamin C serum is best for hyperpigmentation if you have sensitive skin.
Otherwise, hydroquinone or retinol might fade discoloration faster.
The former prevents pigment production while the latter increases cellular turnover.
For the fastest results, you might try a serum with as many of these ingredients as possible.
If you don’t have time to read the complete article, here are our top picks.
Melasma is also known as chloasma or the “mask” of pregnancy (1).
It looks like dark patches of skin on the face and other parts of the body.
The patches are generally larger than age and dark spots.
In any case, it’s too much melanin or pigment in the skin.
Hormonal changes like pregnancy and birth control pills cause melasma.
Fortunately, Vitamin C can help reduce melasma, just like it fades other kinds of hyperpigmentation.
While you use a vitamin C serum to fade chloasma, be sure to apply sunscreen.
That’s because exposure to sunlight increases pigmentation and worsens discoloration.
Choose a mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as it reflects the rays (2).
In any case, while you’re treating hyperpigmentation, minimize your time in the sun.
Now, let’s discover the vitamin C serums that will even out and brighten your skin tone.
Without a doubt, the best drugstore vitamin c serum is this one by L’Oreal.
It won’t clog pores, and it doesn’t contain parabens or an artificial fragrance.
Instead, it doesn’t just even out skin tone; it also smooths texture to reduce wrinkles.
Independent clinical test results found that it made a difference in as little as one week.
Also, if you have been struggling with an oily T-zone, this will help balance your skin. Apply it before your moisturizer and makeup.
Finally, there’s something important you should know about vitamin C serums. They need to be protected from exposure to air because they will go wrong.
L’Oreal created this serum without water and packaged it in an air-tight metal tube. It’s made to stay as fresh as possible for as long as possible.
According to some, the best vitamin c serum for sensitive skin is this one from CeraVe.
It contains L-ascorbic acid, which is the best version of vitamin C for skincare (3).
The 10% concentration of L-ascorbic acid is packed with antioxidants to fight free radicals prevent premature aging.
It will brighten your complexion and give you a healthier appearance.
Like other products from CeraVe, the serum contains three essential ceramides that fortify your skin against moisture loss and environmental damage.
It also has hyaluronic acid, which is possibly the best moisturizer available. It can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water.
Happily, the formula is also free of artificial fragrances and parabens.
It may not have the word “serum” in its name, but the Neutrogena Dark Spot Corrector is exactly that. You want to apply it right after you cleanse and before you moisturize.
Interestingly, you can use it as a primer underneath makeup.
The formula features Vitamin C, retinol, and hyaluronic acid.
Retinol helps fade discoloration because it promotes skin renewal. It also erases fine lines and dark spots.
The inclusion of a small amount of mica helps diffuse light and draw attention away from uneven texture and coloring. It gives you an instant improvement in skin tone as soon as you apply it.
Here’s a Vitamin C serum with multiple natural ingredients to fight free radicals, signs of aging, clear up acne, and make your complexion radiant.
Regular use also strengthens your skin against UV rays – but it can’t take the place of wearing sunscreen.
It has niacinamide to reduce inflammation and redness. And it contains retinol and salicylic acid to keep pores clear and firm up the texture.
A glance at the label reveals other components like MSM, rosehip seed oil, tea tree oil, lavender, and Ylang Ylang. In other words, it has several natural ingredients that are known to heal the skin.
Are you tired of looking at those dark circles under your eyes? Then try InstaNatural’s Vitamin C serum. It’s recommended for all skin types.
It’s a dark spot corrector, and it defends against blackheads and acne.
The key ingredients promote healing and prevent signs of aging. They plump up the skin with moisture and diminish puffiness.
Over time, they lessen hyperpigmentation, dark spots and make the complexion look younger.
If you look at the list of what’s in it, you’ll see it has witch hazel, licorice root, tea leaf, ginkgo biloba, algae, argan oil, ferulic acid, carrot seed oil, and much more. There are no parabens listed and no artificial fragrance.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get a natural vitamin C serum with fewer ingredients? It seems like some brands throw in everything they can think of.
Try this one from LilyAna Naturals. It has 20% Vitamin C and 5% hyaluronic acid from botanical sources.
There are a few other components like Vitamin E, aloe, and geranium. Together, they fade acne scars and make fine lines less noticeable.
The Vitamin C serum sinks in quickly and won’t make your skin feel sticky or oily. Just be careful not to get it in your eyes as it will sting.
TruSkin makes two different kinds of vitamin C serum. This first one is milder.
It contains hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E as well as organic and natural ingredients.
Instead of water, the base is a blend of witch hazel, organic deionized herbal infusion, and organic aloe.
It’s made and bottled in the USA and certified cruelty-free.
The company offers a 90-day money-back guarantee.
TruSkin also makes a Super Serum with Vitamin C, retinol, salicylic acid, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid.
It’s fantastic for mature skin as it tackles various issues at the same time. And it’s so potent that you only need to use it two or three times a week.
Not only will it lighten age and dark spots, but it also firms the skin to reduce under-eye bags and wrinkles.
It also prevents acne and gets rid of blackheads.
The formula doesn’t have phthalates, GMOs, parabens, petrolatum, mineral oil, artificial dyes, or fragrances. It’s also pH-balanced.
PURA D’OR puts the maximum concentration of vitamin C in this bottle. For best results, apply it right after cleansing and before moisturizing at bedtime.
It will work overnight at refining your pores, fading hyperpigmentation, and firming the skin.
You can also wear it in the morning underneath makeup to even your skin tone and ward off blemishes.
It has nine anti-aging ingredients like retinol, ce ferulic acid, argan oil, Vitamin E, and white jelly mushroom.
Ferulic acid, like vitamin C, is also handy for making age spots less noticeable. Plus, the mushroom is said to be good for hydrating and conditioning.
The Vitamin C serum is free of parabens, silicone, gluten, and sulfates. It comes with a satisfaction guarantee.
OZNaturals has something called the Biopreserve Complex to keep it fresh. Instead of harmful preservatives, it uses natural ingredients. That’s good news as it’s the first thing to go on your skin in the morning and the last thing at night.
It’s also cold-processed so that the botanical extracts retain their full potency.
Some of those extracts include rose hips, Astaxanthin, chamomile, and tea leaf.
The KLAIRS serum has a delicious name, doesn’t it? It’s made for sensitive skin as it only has a 5% concentration of vitamin C.
It fades brown, dark spots and prevents new hyperpigmentation from forming.
The non-comedogenic formula of this serum also contains anti-aging peptides and a variety of plant based extracts like Centella and grapefruit.
Perhaps the best affordable vitamin c serum is this one from Ebanel.
It has ascorbic acid, the best kind of vitamin C for your skin. It’s easily absorbed and utilized at a cellular level.
There’s also ce ferulic acid that combats free radicals and blemishes.
Next, it has hyaluronic acid and retinol for plenty of moisture and more collagen.
The hypoallergenic serum is vegan-friendly. The manufacturer warns that you should use the bottle within three months after opening it.
Majestic Pure gives this tip if you’ve never used vitamin C serum before. They suggest testing a dab on the inside of your elbow and waiting a day to see how your skin reacts.
Their product features L-ascorbic acid, the gold standard. It’s made in the USA and free of sulfates and parabens.
Regular use can diminish undereye bags and discoloration caused by the sun. Apply it twice a day to enjoy a radiant complexion.
Radha Beauty packages their serum with a glass dropper. That makes application a lot easier.
Some of the highlights of their formula include MSM, aloe, green tea leaf, basil, and to mark.
Unfortunately, they use sodium ascorbyl phosphate as their source of Vitamin C.
Mario Badescu’s serum has 7. 5% ascorbic acid. We don’t know why they chose this exact amount as most brands stick to 5, 10, or 20% concentrations.
At any rate, it’s safe to use on a dry, combination, or oily skin.
Its stated goal is to boost collagen production, reduce discoloration, and brighten skin. It does that with the addition of Vitamin C, and collagen.
If you’re bugged about hyperpigmentation, this is the serum you want. If your skin can handle it, hydroquinone is the most potent solution.
It works on acne scars, melasma, freckles, and more.
Besides vitamin C and hydroquinone, the serum has exfoliators like salicylic and lactic acids. They speed up your skin’s renewal to hurry along the process of shedding the discolored skin.
To prevent problems with irritation, start using this Vitamin C dark spot corrector every other day. Gradually build up to daily use. You can always use one of the other serums in our reviews for alternate days and times.
Asutra’s serum is vegan and packed with organic ingredients. It has bio-active Vitamin C and a 20% concentration. Even the hyaluronic acid comes from plant sources.
Other highlights include Vitamin E, green tea extract, organic jojoba oil, and geranium oil.
We couldn’t resist Mad Hippie’s best vitamin c serum for oily skin. The name alone got our attention. Then we discovered it has a super safe rating of 1 on the Skin Deep Database maintained by the Environmental Working Group.
It has Konjac root powder from a type of potato that grows in Asia. It smooths the skin and creates a protective barrier.
Next, there’s ce ferulic acid that protects against free radicals that cause premature aging.
Please take note that the manufacturer says that their version of Vitamin C is better. They use sodium ascorbyl phosphate instead of L-ascorbic acid. They say that it is less likely to irritate the skin or oxidize and spoil.
Only two drops are all you need each time you apply the serum. That should cover your whole face.
The silky formula contains witch hazel to shrink pores and glycerin and aloe to moisturize the skin.
Alongside vitamin C, you’ll find Vitamin E and organic jojoba oil.
Drunk Elephant designed their vitamin C serum with enzymes from pomegranate and fermented pumpkins. These dissolve dead skin cells on the surface to even out texture.
Then there’s a type of hyaluronic acid polymer that stays active for up to three days. That means your skin continues to be plump and hydrated long after you apply the serum.
There’s no artificial fragrance, and there are no harsh ingredients like drying alcohols, silicones, or dyes.
Stay the course and keep using your new Vitamin C serum for at least a month.
It takes quite a while to resurface your skin and fade discoloration.
If you discovered the best vitamin c serum today that provides the results you desire, let us know about it in the comments below.
Sources:
1. https://www.aocd.org/page/Hyperpigmentation accessed November 20, 2019
2. https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/unmasking-the-causes-and-treatments-of-melasma published October 2018, accessed November 20, 2019
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10980-understanding-the-ingredients-in-skin-care-products accessed November 20, 2019
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