When to Use Vitamin C in Skincare Routine | Complete Guide 2025

Vitamin C is one of the 13 essential nutrients your body needs to work properly. Also known as ascorbic acid, it helps your body absorb iron and supports your immune system. It plays an important role in your skincare routines.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that brightens your skin, fades dark spots, and boosts collagen, making it an essential part of your daily routine. When used correctly, it can also protect your skin from environmental stressors and help you get a glowing complexion.

This guide will help you explain the best time to use Vitamin C ( ascorbic acid ), how to add it to your routine, and its benefits for your skin.

When To Use Vitamin C in Skincare Routine

The best time to use a vitamin C serum is in the morning, right after cleansing and toning your skin, and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. If your skin is not very sensitive, and you want to maximize the benefits of vitamin C, you can use it both in the morning and at night. Some people prefer using vitamin C at night to allow the skin to absorb the active ingredients without external exposure, but most dermatologists suggest using it in the morning.

Consistency is the key to getting results whether you choose morning or night. However, it’s essential to pair vitamin C with a good sunscreen when you use it in the morning, for maximum protection. It’s also important to plan a good skincare routine that works for you and the products you choose might be different.

Here’s a simple step-by-step routine to use vitamin C in your skincare routine.

Step-by-Step Guide To Use Vitamin C in Skincare Routine

1. Cleanse Your Face

You can start by washing your face with a gentle cleanser like our Exclusive Vitamin C Exfoliating Soap to remove dirt and oil. This soap cleanses your skin while helping to get a brighter complexion with Vitamin C.

2. Apply Toner (Optional)

If you use a toner, apply it after cleansing. It helps balance your skin’s pH and prepares it for the next steps.

3. Use a Skincare Product Containing Vitamin C

After your face gets dry, apply a product containing Vitamin C in it like a cream, serum, or moisturizing lotion. Gently apply that product to your skin, focusing on areas where you have dark spots, dullness, or uneven skin tone. Wait for the product to get fully absorbed into your skin before moving to the next step.

4. Follow up with a Moisturize

Then use a moisturizer to retain hydration. This helps keep your skin smooth and prevents dryness. You can also check out our Exclusive Vitamin C Body Lotion Power C, a high-performance moisturizing lotion with vitamin C that has antioxidating and regenerating properties that help to unify your skin.

5. Apply Sunscreen (Morning)

If you’re using Vitamin C in the morning, always finish with the sunscreen.

6. Repeat Regularly

Use Vitamin C daily, either in the morning or at night, for best results.

How to Use Vitamin C With Other Ingredients?

Ascorbic acid or vitamin C can work well when paired with other beneficial ingredients like Niacinamide and Glutathione, but it’s important to know how to use them together.

How To Use Vitamin C and Niacinamide

You can use vitamin C and Niacinamide by first applying a product containing vitamin C in the morning after cleaning your face. Once the product containing vitamin C is completely absorbed, apply niacinamide. Niacinamide helps calm the skin, control oil, and keep it hydrated, making it a great follow-up to vitamin C.

How To Use Vitamin C and Glutathione

Vitamin C supports glutathione production and enhances its effects, so they are often used together for better results. To use vitamin C and glutathione in your skincare routine, start with vitamin C in the morning. After washing your face, apply vitamin C in any form like vitamin C serum, vitamin C cream, or vitamin C lotion, and let it absorb. Then apply a product containing glutathione in the evening after cleansing the face. Glutathione and vitamin C can enhance each other’s effects and provide a more comprehensive approach to skin health.

We always recommend consulting with a skincare expert or a dermatologist before adding any new ingredients to your skincare routine.

Our Recommended Best Vitamin C Products

1. Fair & White Exclusive Vitamin C Premium Brightening Cream

This brightening boost vitamin C cream is designed to improve skin clarity, fade dark spots, reduce minor facial imperfections, and help refresh the skin. This vitamin C cream helps to diminish pigmentation and unify the complexion. It also helps to increase the skin firmness.

2. Fair & White Original Glutathione Brightening Cream

This high-performance cream not only contains vitamin C but also includes different skincare ingredients like Niacinamide, Shea Butter, and Glutathione that can help to protect the skin and strengthen the skin.

It helps to fade dark spots and brings comfort to sensitive skin. You can apply it either in the morning or it can be used as a night moisturiser.

3. Fair & White Exclusive Brightening Body Lotion

This Exclusive Brightening Lotion is the perfect care product to recover a unified complexion and fight against dry and oily skin. This formula contains vitamin C, well known for its antioxidating and regenerating properties.

This brightening boost vitamin C body milk helps to reduce melanin production to unify your complexion and give softness to your skin.

4. Fair & White Original Glutathione Extra Brightening Lotion

This unique body lotion is among the best F&W skincare products that contain Glutathione, a detoxifying agent, combined with the stimulating benefits of Vitamin C.

It is designed to brighten the complexion and tone down pigmentation spots. It doesn’t cause any skin irritation to sensitive skin. You can use it in your morning routine of skincare as well.

5. Fair & White Exclusive Vitamin C Brightening Serum

This vitamin C brightening care product illuminates your complexion, softens your skin, fades pigmentation, and refines your skin texture. You can apply it to a dry cleansed face but avoid applying it to acne-prone and sensitive skin.

6. Fair & White Original Glutathione Anti-Dark Spot Extra Serum

This unique dark spot-correcting glow serum targets and reduces dark spots. It contains Glutathione, a detoxifying agent, combined with the Vitamin C. It also helps in reducing acne marks and pigmentation.

7. Fair & White Exclusive Vitamin C Glycerin

This vitamin C-rich care product contains antioxidating and regenerating properties that help in achieving softer and more radiant skin. Glycerine’s moisturizing active ingredients make your skin cleansed and supple. It also helps the skin to get rid of hyperpigmentation.

8. Fair & White Original Glutathione Brightening Glycerine Oil

This ideal glycerin complex contains Glutathione, a detoxifying agent, Vitamin C, known for its energizing benefits, and Niacinamide ideal for unifying and bringing glow. It provides multiple benefits with incomparable comfort. This vitamin C Glycerine Oil helps to nourish, protect, and unify your skin.

What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Skin?

Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that helps keep your skin healthy. It protects your skin from damage caused by free radicals, which can make you look older and cause skin problems. It also brightens up your dull complexion and fades dark spots by reducing melanin production. Additionally, Vitamin C can reduce hyperpigmentation and help in getting brighter skin.

Benefits

• Vitamin C boosts collagen production, improving skin elasticity and reducing fine lines.
• Vitamin C protects the skin from damage caused by environmental stressors.
• Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties that can help in reducing pigmentation.
• Vitamin C enhances hydration levels in dry skin making it soft and healthy.
• Vitamin C helps to inhibit the discoloration.

Who Should Use Vitamin C?

• Vitamin C can be helpful for a wide range of people, especially those who want to brighten their skin, fade dark spots, and protect against early aging.
• People who are noticing signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, can get benefits from vitamin C as it helps produce collagen, making the skin firmer and younger-looking.
• Those with sun-damaged and sensitive skin can also find relief with vitamin C, as it helps reduce dark spots and protects the skin from further damage.
• Additionally, people with oily skin or skin with hyperpigmentation can use Vitamin C to reduce redness and fade acne scars.
• Overall, anyone who wants brighter, smoother skin, and healthier skin can benefit from Vitamin C.

FAQs

When should you apply vitamin C to your skincare routine?

Apply Vitamin C in the morning after cleansing and before moisturizing to protect your skin throughout the day.

Should I use vitamin C at night or morning serum?

It’s best to use Vitamin C, ascorbic acid, in the morning, as it helps protect your skin from daily environmental stressors.

How do I fit vitamin C into my skincare routine?

According to an expert guide, apply Vitamin C after cleansing and toning. Apply it before your moisturizer and sunscreen.

Do you use vitamin C serum or hyaluronic acid first?

Apply Vitamin C serum first, followed by hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and enhance hydration.

Conclusion

In conclusion, adding vitamin C to your skincare routine can greatly improve your skin’s health and look. You can use it in the morning to protect against daily damage or at night to brighten and repair. Vitamin C works well for many skin types and, with regular use, can even out skin tone, boost radiance, and protect against early signs of aging. To maximize the benefits of vitamin C, it’s essential to learn how to use it properly. Start by incorporating it gradually into your routine to see how your skin responds. By learning when and how to use it, you can get the most out of vitamin C and enjoy healthier, glowing skin.