Dermalogica Vitamin C Powder

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Vitamin C is one of those miracle ingredients that every skincare specialist is adamant should be your number one priority, but a lot of people aren't really sure exactly what it is and why it's so good for their skin.

In fact, 'What does vitamin C do for your skin?' was the most googled beauty search term of 2020, with over a million people wondering how this sought-after skincare ingredient will give them a youthful, glowing complexion.

Turns out the answer is 'quite a lot'. Searches for the skin-brightening antioxidant have risen by 204% year-on-year, likely due to it's extraordinary ability to fight free radicals, stop inflammation in its tracks, protect the skin barrier and fade pigment patches, without the need for harsh chemical peels. We've been using vitamin C for a while and it's made a real difference to the tone, brightness and texture of our skin.

The great thing about vitamin C is that it can be tailored to different skin issues. Oily skin with acne-scarring? There's a formulation for that. Dry, dull looking skin? Hyperpigmentation? Fine lines? Sun damage? Vitamin C works for that, too.

So, what do you need to know before buying vitamin C skincare?

Well, vitamin C can be easily added to your skincare regime without much hassle. In fact, you could strip it back to a vitamin C moisturiser and SPF and that would do the job. Just make sure the formula contains the potent elements you require, as like with many skincare ingredients, vitamin C comes in many forms, some better than others. We'd recommend products with a 10-15% potency for results. That said, if you're new to vitamin C serums and skincare then start with a lightweight formula and build from there, because it can irritate skin.

It's also important to note that vitamin C is notoriously unstable – it will quickly spoil on contact with air, light or water – so look for formulations with added ingredients, such as vitamin E, L-ascorbic acid and Ferulic acid, packaged in an airtight, opaque container to ensure it lasts longer.

How to use vitamin C skincare

Vitamin C is the perfect antioxidant weapon to combat the effects of daily pollution on the skin, so give your skin a much-needed boost and penetrate the skin's tough outer layer with this key anti-ageing ingredient, either in the form of a powerful shot of concentrated serum or moisturiser. If you opt for a vitamin C serum, then follow with your favourite face cream for the best results.

Use in the morning as part of your daily routine, leaving you fresh and ready to face the day.

Now you know what you're looking for, shop our edit of the best vitamin C skincare below...

Best vitamin C skincare for beginners

Medik8 C-Tetra Serum 30ml

Medik8 lookfantastic.com

£26.25

If you're new to using vitamin C then Medik8's affordable serum is a great place to start.

Lightweight and easily-absorbed, the formula contains stabilised vitamin C and vitamin E to minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, whilst shielding skin from the damaging effects of pollution and environmental aggressors. Powerful without any harshness.

Best luxury vitamin C skincare

SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Antioxidant Vitamin C Serum for Normal/Dry Skin 30ml

SkinCeuticals lookfantastic.com

£126.00

This may be the priciest product on our list, but trust us, this vitamin C, E and ferulic acid super serum is worth every penny in terms of results.

A concentrated formula with 15% pure vitamin C with 1% vitamin E – a combination that's been proven effective and made even more so by antioxidant ferulic acid.

Whenever we use this underneath our regular skincare, we notice the difference. Especially when we team it with Skinceuticals' incredible Hydrating B5 moisturiser. The perfect combination.

Best vitamin C mask

Murad Vita-C Triple Exfoliating Facial

Murad lookfantastic.com

£67.00

Serums and moisturisers are great for every day, but when skin is looking dull and lacklustre a mask can make all the difference. And you can rely on skincare genius Dr Murad to create a colour-changing formula that's seriously effective.

This brightly-coloured bottle contains a triple threat of physical, chemical and enzymatic exfoliants to resurface your skin and target dullness, along with a big shot of stablised vitamin C for a healthier-looking surface and a more even tone when applied for 10 minutes, two to three times a week. The mask goes on orange and turns white to indicate an even application, so you know it's doing its thing!

Just make sure you apply a decent facial SPF afterwards because chemical exfoliants make skin more prone to sun damage.

Best all-round vitamin C skincare

Ole Henriksen Banana Bright™ Vitamin C Serum 30ml

ole henriksen boots.com

£53.00

Banana powder-inspired pigments create an immediate glow, while vitamin C, backed up by polyhydroxy acid (think gentle exfoliation with hydrating benefits), provides the longer term illuminating, dark spot-fading magic.

Best long-lasting vitamin C skincare

C15 Super Booster

Paula's Choice paulaschoice.co.uk

£39.10

Paula's Choice is one of our favourite skincare brands for creating products that really work. This vitamin C formula also contains vitamin E and ferulic acid in an completely opaque container. That means this product will last and last.

Best vitamin C skincare for oily skin

C-Firma Day Serum

Drunk Elephant cultbeauty.co.uk

£66.00

Oily skin has met its match with this vitamin C serum from cult beauty brand Drunk Elephant. Not only does it promise to brighten, plump and hydrate but the formula contains fruit enzymes that help brighten and buff the skin's texture, lifting away oil, dirt and debris.

Best vitamin C skincare for sensitive skin

La Roche-Posay Pure Vitamin C 10 Serum 30ml

la roche posay boots.com

La Roche-Posay is a French pharmacy favourite that's known for it's innovative yet affordable results-driven skincare. This lightweight formula is packed with skin-boosting benefits (hydrating hyaluronic acid, clearing salicylic acid and calming thermal water), absorbs without stickiness, and has been tested on sensitive skin. Just be aware that it has a shorter shelf life.

8 Murad Vita-C Glycolic Brightening Serum

BUY NOW £72, Cult Beauty

Murad was one of the first brands to use acids in skincare, so they know a thing or two about blending effective formulas.

In this new serum, resurfacing glycolic acid and phyto-luminesent extracts (which transform UV into a source of light that radiates for a 'lit from within' look) are added to stabilised vitamin C to immediately brighten dull, tired skin. A plethora of five star reviews - including from our Beauty Editor - show it works.

Best innovative vitamin C skincare

Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum

If you're after a lightweight serum that sinks in quickly then this is for you. Plus it's seriously smart, formulated with advanced technology to deliver more Vitamin C into skin than other products and, in turn, brighten and firm.

Best budget vitamin C skincare

The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension Cream 30% in Silicone 30ml

The Ordinary lookfantastic.com

£5.85

An amazingly effective antioxidant of Vitamin C suspended in Silicone from our favourite budget beauty brand. Simply mix it with moisturiser to prevent the tingling sensation that occurs if you use the concentrate on it's own!

Best vitamin C skincare for dry skin

REN Clean Skincare Radiance Perfection Serum

An all-natural (but still very potent) radiance-boosting serum.

Enriched with a special blend of bio extracts, this intensely hydrating serum plumps up the skin, leaving it looking healthy. Regular use will also reduce the appearance of sun damage and hyperpigmentation, giving you younger looking skin.

Best vitamin C skincare for acne-scarring

Clinique Fresh Pressed™ 7-Day System with Pure Vitamin C

Clinique lookfantastic.com

£25.00

This 7-day complete system from Clinique uses a combination of their highly successful fresh pressed powder cleanser and a daily booster, containing pure vitamin C derivative, to target acne scarring, fine lines and age spots.

Best vitamin C skincare for ageing skin

VICHY Normaderm Anti-Imperfection Moisturiser

A brilliant solution for skin that's fighting the dual dilemmas of age spots and wrinkles, Vichy's derm-trusted skincare experts have blended the brightening and plumping powers of Vitamin C with gently exfoliating glycolic acid, to keep skin clear and smooth.

Best vitamin C skincare for dark spots

Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution Serum 30ml

Kiehl's feelunique.com

£42.00

Delivering a more even skin tone in just eight weeks, Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution is another super serum that seems to measure up to the medical standard.

Its active vitamin C content has been tailored to be a smaller, more useful molecule, so it absorbs easier and helps tackle uneven pigmentation much faster than ever before.

Best vitamin C skincare for adding to moisturiser

Philosophy Turbo Booster Vitamin C Powder, 7ml

Philosophy johnlewis.com

£457.14

We love the vintage 'chemist counter' appeal of this little vial but more than that, we love that this powdered ascorbic acid (vitamin C) can be mixed into any of our favourite day moisturisers and serums to instantly turbo-charge their antioxidant and glow-boosting powers.

Best organic vitamin C skincare

JASON C-Effects Hyper-C Serum 30ml

JASON lookfantastic.com

£26.99

We love organic beauty products and Jason's skincare is a great range with no added nasties. The vitamin C serum also contains vitamin E (another great antioxidant) and inflammation-fighting green tea for calmer, clearer skin.

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Dermalogica Vitamin C Powder

Source: https://www.redonline.co.uk/beauty/product-reviews/g504131/vitamin-c-skincare/

Dermalogica Vitamin C Powder