Article Overview
- In the world of skincare, some ingredients seem destined to be together. Take hyaluronic acid and vitamin C — these two ingredients each work wonders individually, but in combination they work even more effectively to offer enhanced benefits. Vitamin C offers antioxidant protection, promotes collagen production, brightens skin, and enhances protection from UV rays. Hyaluronic acid hydrates skin, strengthens the moisture barrier, and improves the appearance of fine lines. When combined, they can maximise each other’s benefits to promote healthy-looking skin for various skin types. Read on to learn more about these two potent active ingredients, how they benefit the different skin types, and how to layer them in your skincare routine.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C FOR SKIN?
Vitamin C is an important and widely used skincare ingredient. Multiple benefits of vitamin C have been highlighted in numerous scientific studies, revealing its profound impact on the skin's condition and potential for skin brightening, anti-ageing and protection against environmental aggressors. The main benefits of vitamin C for the skin include:
- Antioxidant properties: Neutralises harmful free radicals in the environment, preventing premature skin ageing.
- Promotes collagen production: Plays a role in promoting collagen production to improve skin’s elasticity, for visibly firmer, less wrinkled skin.
- Brightens skin: Targets the factors that contribute to uneven skin tone to visibly fade dark spots and promote a more radiant complexion.
- Reduces redness: Minimises visible redness and irritation that contributes to breakouts. Comforts the skin to support a more even complexion.
- Enhances UV protection: When combined with a daily, broad-spectrum, high SPF sunscreen, vitamin C can enhance protection from UV rays.
- Improves hydration: Helps in strengthening and maintaining the skin’s protective moisture barrier, improving the skin’s condition and overall appearance. Strengthens skin's moisture barrier.
A range of different forms of vitamin C, including sodium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbate, or ascorbyl palmitate, differ slightly in some of their physical properties. Read our guide to the different types of vitamin C for skin to learn more.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring large carbohydrate molecule found throughout the body and especially in skin. As we age, the levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin drop, resulting in increased dryness. Products featuring this ingredient at higher concentrations tend to be mainly for providing hydration and anti-ageing support. Key benefits of hyaluronic acid for skin include:
- Skin hydration: Hyaluronic acid attracts large amounts of water molecules (around 1,000 times its weight in water!) and seals them into the skin. This is essential in maintaining skin hydration and keeping the skin soft and plump.
- Strengthens the skin moisture barrier function: Because of its ability to attract and hold water, hyaluronic acid plays a role in strengthening the protective skin moisture barrier.
- Visibly improves fine lines and wrinkles: Hyaluronic acid's water-binding properties help with visible signs of ageing by filling in gaps between fine lines and wrinkles, while softening and re-plumping the skin.
- Comforts dry skin: Dry skin is characterised by a lack of moisture, tightness and itching sensations. Hyaluronic acid can help alleviate this by restoring moisture levels and keeping the skin soft.
- Versatile and suitable for all skin types: Hyaluronic acid is well tolerated by all skin types and plays well with many other active ingredients. This makes it incredibly versatile and is found in almost any kind of skincare product.
CAN YOU USE HYALURONIC ACID AND VITAMIN C TOGETHER IN YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE?
Absolutely! Combining these two skincare ingredients can maximise the benefits of each. When used together, these two ingredients protect against harmful free radicals that irritate the skin and contribute to photoageing. The power of vitamin C to brighten and even out the skin also complements hyaluronic acid’s ability to keep the skin soft and plump, for overall healthy-looking skin.
BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID & VITAMIN C FOR DIFFERENT SKIN CONCERNS & SKIN TYPES
Dry skin
Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are beneficial in helping dry skin concerns like irritation, a lack of moisture and redness. Hyaluronic acid keeps dry skin hydrated and nourished, while vitamin C protects dry skin from free radicals that can compromise the skin moisture barrier and increase irritation and redness.
Oily skin
Oily skin can utilise these two ingredients to manage excess oil production, improve skin tone and texture and reduce breakouts caused by pores clogged with irritants. Hyaluronic acid is a lightweight humectant that hydrates the skin without being too heavy, while vitamin C can brighten a dull, lacklustre complexion. Antioxidant protection can also manage the production of excess sebum in response to a compromised skin moisture barrier.
Combination skin
Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C are beneficial for keeping combination skin types balanced. Hyaluronic acid is a lightweight ingredient that hydrates the skin without clogging pores around the T-zone. Vitamin C then protects the skin against free radicals to prevent dry areas of the skin from worsening. Skin-brightening properties also help address uneven skin tone and redness in combination skin.
Sensitive skin
Sensitive skin types may be hesitant to introduce new products to their routine, but, in the right formula, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are both beneficial for this skin type. Vitamin C is especially beneficial for protecting against free radicals that can irritate already sensitive skin. When combined with hyaluronic acid, these ingredients can also reduce visible redness and discomfort by keeping skin hydrated.
Mature skin
Because hyaluronic acid levels decline with age, mature skin should incorporate products with higher concentrations of hyaluronic acid to address moisture retention that declines as we age. This in turn helps visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin firmness, and re-plump the skin. Vitamin C can then help even out skin tone and protect against free radical damage that can contribute to premature ageing.
Blemish-prone skin
Vitamin C is a great ingredient to address blemishes as it can help with skin cell turnover to prevent a buildup of dead skin cells and excess oil that cause breakouts, while protecting against environmental aggressors that irritate the skin. Combine both vitamin C with hyaluronic acid to strengthen the skin moisture barrier and manage excess oil production that clogs the pores.
HOW TO LAYER HYALURONIC ACID AND VITAMIN C FOR AN EFFECTIVE SKINCARE ROUTINE
- Cleanse Your Skin: Always start with a clean face. Choose a gentle foaming cleanser to prep the skin for your serums.
- Layer Vitamin C Serum: After cleansing, apply your vitamin C serum evenly over the face and neck.
- For normal to dry skin we recommend SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, a high potency serum containing a combination of powerful antioxidants; pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), vitamin E (alpha tocopherol), and ferulic acid, which work in combination to protect against premature signs of ageing caused by free radical damage.
- For oily skin and blemish-prone skin,Silymarin CF is our breakthrough oil-free vitamin C serum that combines silymarin (milk thistle extract), pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), ferulic acid and salicylic acid. Together, these hero ingredients help prevent oil oxidation that can lead to breakouts, as well as targeting visible signs of ageing.
- Wait a Few Minutes: Allow the vitamin C serum to fully absorb into your skin.
- Apply Hyaluronic Acid: Once the vitamin C has been absorbed, apply HA intensifier hyaluronic acid serum, a corrective hyaluronic acid serum for the face. This serum's unique formula combines pure hyaluronic acid with botanical extracts and Proxylane™ to support and hydrate skin.
- Seal with a Moisturiser: Finish off with a moisturiser to seal in both serums and provide an extra layer of hydration. Make sure to choose a moisturiser that suits your skin type and skin goals.
- Apply a high- SPF broad spectrum sunscreen: Always include sunscreen at the end of your morning routine to protect against UV damage.
SkinCeuticals Vitamin C Serums
C E Ferulic Vitamin C Serum
A vitamin C serum for fine lines and wrinkles.
Silymarin CF Vitamin C Serum for Oily Skin
Vitamin C serum for oily skin and blemish-prone skin types
Phloretin CF Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C serum for discolouration
Silymarin CF Vitamin C Serum for Oily Skin
Vitamin C serum for oily skin and blemish-prone skin types
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Serums
Hydrating B5 Serum
A hydrating, hyaluronic acid serum that replenishes moisture and restores radiance for a smoother complexion. The oil-free formula also contains vitamin B5 for acne-prone skin.
Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan
A Hyaluronic Acid Volumising and Plumping Serum.
Phyto Corrective Gel Soothing Serum
Hydrating and comforting gel serum with cucumber, thyme, eucalyptus, olive leaf extract and mulberry extract to soothe, soften and brighten skin.
Retexturing Activator Exfoliating Serum
This oil-free serum is formulated to simultaneously exfoliate skin and replenish moisture for a smooth, radiant looking complexion.
