Is Vitamin C Serum Safe for Sensitive Skin?

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Can Vitamin C serum be safe for sensitive skin? The answer may surprise you…

You keep hearing about how amazing Vitamin C is for reducing discolorations and sun damage, possibly even treating melasma, and reducing the signs of premature aging…

But you have sensitive skin and the thought of putting vitamin C, which has often heeded the warning of redness and irritation for those of us with sensitive skin, stops you quickly in your tracks. 

The reason Vitamin C has been known to irritate and cause redness in sensitive skin types is due to the higher levels of L-Ascorbic Acid, which is the pure form of vitamin C.

Did you know people with sensitive skin can avoid sensitivity or irritation with vitamin C levels up to 10% potency?!

Maybe you’re thinking, I heard that anything below 15% potency doesn’t work…

That’s apparently not true. Scientists have found that at the 3% potency mark, there are already signs of L-Ascorbic Acid starting to improve signs of premature aging and sun damage. 

You may get those results you’re looking for a bit slower than someone who can go bananas with Vitamin C… but you’ll still get results, and that’s pretty much the point isn’t it?

So, what does that mean for which vitamin C products will work for sensitive skin? There are 2 options we can take at this point…

2 types of vitamin C serum that may work for sensitive skin

• Look for a vitamin C serum with lower levels of L-Ascorbic Acid.  — or
• Find a product using Vitamin C derivatives

Vitamin C derivative options

• Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate- SAP is a water soluble derivative, possibly the most stable derivative version (meaning it  and ph friendly for faces
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate- the most widely studied form of Vitamin C. This derivative of vitamin C has a neutral PH. 
• Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate- this is an oil-soluble form that gets deeper than the other derivative types—even the pure form of vitamin C itself. Also, it is stable at a PH less than 5. This is what Beautycounter uses!

While there are many different options that fall under either of these umbrellas, I’m going to focus on Beautycounter’s All Bright Vitamin C Serum, because that’s what I know and what I love. But you can find other great options on this post.

Beautycounter’s All Bright Vitamin C serum uses a unique blend of two ultra-stable forms of vitamin C. We deliver a supercharged 10% potency. Remember, with sensitive skin, most people are fine with going up to 10% in potency—however… 

I tell all of my clients who are trying anything new on their skin, but ESPECIALLY someone with sensitive skin—

• Always patch-test a small amount on the underside of your jaw line and see how it responds, and
• Go slow! You may love the way your skin looks and feels after one use, but don’t jump into using it every day. Try 2-3 times a week for a while {to start} and see how your skin likes it.

Shop now: All Bright Vitamin C Serum

Read more: Beautycounter’s Vitamin C Serum Review

Or try some before you buy—request a sample. 

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