Is Vitamin C Suitable for Teenage Skin?

Vitamin C Benefits for Teenage Skin

It is never too early to start taking care of your skin, in fact nailing a good skincare routine in your teenage years is probably one of the most beneficial things you can do for your skin!

Vitamin C is a dermatologist-favourite ingredient that may help slow early skin ageing, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne scarring.

Whilst ageing and wrinkles are not a top priority for teenage skin concerns, some of the benefits of introducing a Vitamin C serum into a teenage skincare routine are:

Safe for all skin types

Vitamin C is one of those ingredients that can be used by nearly all skin types, especially when in lower concentration levels (less than 20%). Using a Vitamin C serum after cleansing and toning the skin, will help the skin absorb the serum most efficiently!

Dry skin types will see a brighter complexion with use, whilst oily skin types will see a decrease in breakouts, due to the vitamin C’s anti-inflammatory properties, helping to reduce breakouts.

Vitamin C serum is a great product for those suffering from acne or trying to heal scarring from acne breakouts, as the anti-inflammatory properties help speed up wound healing as it encourages skin cell turnover to speed up.

Hydrating 

Vitamin C in skincare is known to hydrate skin due to research showing that Vitamin C decreases Transepidermal Water Loss, meaning that skin retains moisture better. Skincare is ALL about “the glow” right now, so what an amazing ingredient to add into your skincare routine for healthy, glowing skin!

Helps reduce acne and scarring

Vitamin C can help fade pigmentation and smooth the skin’s surface to reduce dullness. This gives skin a youthful glow. Vitamin C use has been shown to treat acne scars by increasing the synthesis of collagen, a protein responsible for your skin’s structure and vital for rebuilding healthy skin. As a result, Vitamin C may accelerate the healing of acne wounds.

Precautions to Take Using Vitamin C on Teenage Skin

Vitamin C serum has an excellent safety profile, so there aren’t too many precautions to take when introducing Vitamin C into a teenage skincare routine. What we do advise is to always start slowly; introduce any new product into your skincare routine gradually and then build it up so your skin’s barrier is never impaired.

Vitamin C should be avoided if using products such as AHA or BHA products such as Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid or Lactic Acid. This is because Vitamin C is essentially an acid (also known as Ascorbic Acid) and is unstable, so any acids you layer it with will destabilize the skin’s pH balance. If using these products in your skincare routine, make sure to alternate use.

Any teenage skin that is using a retinol based product should also be cautious when mixing Vitamin C and Retinol products together, perhaps alternate on the nights you want to use these products so as not to damage the skin barrier.

How Teens Can Use Vitamin C

Cleanse skin thoroughly (using a double cleanse at night to ensure all make-up and dirt has been thoroughly removed from the skin) Choose a cleanser that best suits your skin type and concern, so for example, if you have oily and breakout-prone skin we would recommend you use our Purifying Cleansing Gel as this product helps to reduce excess sebum and calm and clear breakouts. If the skin type was normal/dry we would recommend our Revitalising Cleanser as this milky cleanser gently removes dirt etc. whilst being super gentle on even the most sensitive skin types.

Follow your cleanser with a Toner or Hydrating mist, again suitable for the skin type or concern being treated. This step adds hydration back into the skin and also can help with reducing excess sebum and preventing breakouts in products such as our Purifying Toner.

Next step will depend on the type of Vitamin C serum you are choosing to use. For example, if using the Vitamin C Elixir from SKINICIAN in your am routine, we recommend using the product after toning and before applying your daily SKINICIAN moisturiser, as this Elixir is an oil based product it means that any SPF product applied before the Elixir will find itself useless. If applying the Vitamin C Elixir in the evening, we recommend applying the product after your evening moisturiser. We have included a useful infographic below that you can save for the perfect skincare routine.

Vitamin C Products Suitable for Teenage Skin

Purifying Toner

A soothing and refreshing spray toner that reduces breakouts, redness and excess oil production. Its concentrated formula also contains nourishing amino acids that work to reduce any pigmentation caused by acne scars, while brightening Vitamin C helps to reduce blemishes by 30%, by battling acne-causing bacteria. A few simple spritzes are enough to give your skin everything it needs to stay healthy and happy, while keeping breakouts at bay. Skin is left looking and feeling calm, with shine and redness reduced – and if you use this consistently over time, you’ll start to see fewer breakouts too.

Vitamin C Elixir

If your skin is looking a little dull and lacklustre, this multi-tasking Vitamin C Elixir will infuse it with a new lease of life. Delivered via a non-greasy oil that immediately sinks into the skin, it stars brightening Vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that speeds up cell turnover to diminish pigmentation and acne scars, while boosting collagen production to leave skin plumper. It can also ‘supercharge’ any SPF product you layer on top of it, helping to repair and protect skin from free radical damage caused by UV rays.

This hero brightening antioxidant is complemented by nourishing avocado oil rich in vitamins A & D, grapeseed oil and vitamin E the perfect recipe for a radiant, post-facial glow. Perfect to apply every morning as part of your routine, this has all the key vitamins your skin needs to look and feel at its best. Wear it on its own and simply apply SPF on top – it’s your one-stop shop for healthy radiant skin.

For more articles on Vitamin C and young skincare routines read:

• Can You Use Vitamin C Serum Under Your Eyes?
• How and When to Use Vitamin C
• Skincare In Your Twenties