People with acne-prone skin know that trying new skincare products can often lead to breakouts and irritation. We found that this product actually helped improve the appearance of our oily skin overall. The formula contains L-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C for powerful antioxidant protection, as well as hyaluronic acid for an added boost of hydration. This vitamin C serum has our stamp of approval for all skin types, skin tones, and ages, and our go-to for anyone looking to firm and smooth their skin. On top of whether or not it works, decomposed ascorbic acid can also just be plain annoying because it stains your skin. Who makes it: Drunk Elephant is a highly popular brand from the United States, known for its strong social media presence and high-quality products, as well as using highly concentrated active ingredients for maximum results. There are plenty of vitamin C products on the market at a variety of price points. Here are some things to look for:

concentration: Seek out a serum that’s not too weak or too strong. Under 10% ascorbic acid won’t convey the benefits you’re looking for, but anything higher than 20% risks seriously irritating your skin. A lot of things that could theoreticallywork really well don’t actually work when you put them on a complex system like a human body. If everything that theoretically worked did actually work, we would have cured cancer thousands of times over.It takes about three months to really see the effects, so be patient,” Dr. Piliang advises. “I suggest taking a picture of yourself with no makeup or anything on your face, and then photograph yourself once a month to see the effects.” It’s a myth that you can’t use niacinamide with ascorbic acid ( Kind of Stephen has debunked this thoroughly on his blog). Ascorbic acid interferes with the production of melanin, the brown pigment in skin. The exact way it does this is still isn’t entirely confirmed, but so far it looks like it interferes with the enzyme tyrosinase and stops it from doing its job. These days, vitamin C — also known as ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid — often comes in serum form, though it can also be found in creams and lotions, all of which help your skin to easily absorb it.

The biggest problem with these is that the ascorbic acid isn’t dissolved yet, and they usually don’t have any pH adjusters in them. So when the little bits of ascorbic acid do dissolve, you end up with tiny, low pH puddles of very concentrated ascorbic acid on your skin. And some people are fine with this, but a lot of people (including me) get stinging and irritation.I’d recommend being careful with other irritating ingredients like hydroxy acid exfoliants and retinoids. You can use them together, but if you’re not really careful you’ll probably burn your face off. As for the results after the testing period, we were really pleased with them. Post-acne marks were noticeably lightened, and our complexions looked radiant.

Pinnell SR, Yang H, Omar M, et al, Topical L-ascorbic acid: percutaneous absorption studies, Dermatol Surg 2001, 27, 137-142. DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2001.00264.x Who makes it: Kiehl’s is a long-standing, and well-trusted brand that was founded by John Kiehl in New York over 165 years ago. They take pride in providing products based on a unique mixture of herbal, cosmetic, medicinal, and pharmaceutical knowledge. This knowledge has been worked on and updated throughout generations to keep Kiehl’s products at their best.There are also some fruit extracts are very high in ascorbic acid. For example, around 12% of dried weight of kakadu plum is ascorbic acid. However, extracts are usually used which have varying concentrations of fruit, so you can’t easily work out percentage in the final product. So if you want something more reliable, I’d recommend looking for a product with actual ascorbic acid. Layering

Our skin is under constant assault from outside enemies like air pollution and sun exposure, along with standard aging. These things can all rob our skin of its luster by creating free radicals, unstable molecules that steal electrons from your cells and cause damage. After the ascorbic acid breaks down a few times, it turns into a chemical called erythrulose, which is actually a component of fake tan. That means your vitamin C product can stain your fingers and face for days, along with temporary skin staining and vivid nail staining from the other yellow/orange/brown decomposition products. Heber GK et al., An immunohistological study of anhydrous topical ascorbic acid compositions on ex vivo human skin, J Cosmet Dermatol 2006, 5, 150-156. DOI: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2006.00242.x What’s it made of: The Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is full of active ingredients, which means you’re more likely to see results! Konjac root, ferulic acid, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid are some of the main ingredients in this serum. Konjac root is derived from an ancient Japanese plant that helps skin retain moisture and works to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Ferulic acid helps enhance the effects of other skincare ingredients, making them more powerful and effective, helping reduce skin inflammation and evening skin tone. Harmoniously blended, all of the ingredients work to smooth, tighten, and brighten skin. Not only can vitamin C help to prevent further hyperpigmentation or brown spots from appearing, but it also inhibits melanin production to lighten the existing signs of sun damage.This isn’t harmful, but it’s not designed to be a fake tan product, so it doesn’t go on very evenly. It also smells a bit like metallic soy sauce (which won’t be a surprise if you’ve ever used fake tan). This product can help reduce hypepigmentation and even out the skin tone because it contains the following effective ingredients: retinol. What’s it made of: A blend of botanically sourced Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Retinol (Vitamin A), and, of course, vitamin C, makes up TruSkin Vitamin C+ Super Serum, as well as a few other naturally derived ingredients like aloe and lavender. All of these effective components promote youthful and healthy skin. Retinol is proven to help reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and assists with resurfacing skin to give skin a smoother texture. Niacinamide also aids in decreasing the appearance of hyperpigmentation and redness in the skin while increasing elasticity and hydration levels.