5 Skincare Ingredients You Should Mix With Vitamin C & 4 to Absolutely Avoid

The 411 on Mixing Skincare Ingredients With Vitamin C

Mixing skincare ingredients with vitamin C is more of an art form than it may seem. You can’t just grab just any skincare products from your medicine cabinet and hope they work with vitamin C—that could be a one-way ticket to unnecessary irritation. Even worse, it could erase the effectiveness of your vitamin C products if paired with the wrong ingredient. In this economy, who has time to waste expensive skincare products? Not us. You want to protect your skin against free radical damage, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and so on—in order for vitamin C to do that, you have to pair it with the right ingredients and also ensure you’re using the right form of vitamin C for your skin.

Skin expert Hallie Font notes that a vitamin C serum offers maximum benefits. She prefers a formula that contains “tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (THD)—a lipid-soluble form of vitamin C that penetrates the skin deeper and more effectively than other common forms. THD is much less irritating to the skin due to its superior absorption.” The DR. BRANDT SKINCARE C Scription is formulated with 20% THD ascorbate, which means it’s less irritating and more powerful. Dark spots, fine lines, and free radicals are no match for this potent vitamin C serum.

Esthetician Kyoko Getz prefers L-ascorbic acid, otherwise known as pure vitamin C. Getz shares that while the formula is potent, “it requires low pH formulations (normally less than pH 3.5, which can cause irritation).” This means that those with sensitive skin types can benefit from “starting with a lower-concentration formulation.” We love the BEAUTYSTAT Universal C Skin Refiner because the stabilized L-ascorbic acid gives us the brightest complexion and helps even skin tone to make us all the more radiant.

Ultimately, we all have varying skin concerns and skin types, so uncovering the best vitamin C product to start with may require a little bit of research and some trial and error. But once you’ve found your holy grail, you can mix in other skincare ingredients for a powerful skincare routine. “Mixing incompatible ingredients can lead to decreased effectiveness, increased sensitivity, or even damage to the skin barrier,” says Font. So let’s dive right in.

5 Skincare Ingredients to Use With Vitamin C

1. Vitamin E

Seeking double the antioxidants to fight sun damage? Swipe right on a vitamin E serum and pair it with your vitamin C serum immediately. Gwen Salakaia and Ani de Sadeleer, co-founders of SENSELF, share that “both work to counteract free radical damage from UV exposure.” While vitamins C and E can work together to protect your skin from UV damage, you should still use sunscreen when using these products to provide the necessary SPF protection. Think of vitamins C and E as an extra layer of sun protection from the sun that sunscreen alone can’t provide.

The ODACITÉ Brightening Serum, Vitamin C and E + Hyaluronic Acid comes with a host of big benefits. Say goodbye to bright spots and discoloration thanks to the blend of active ingredients in this serum.

2. Ferulic Acid

Ferulic acid and vitamin C are basically the skincare equivalent of PB&J—they’re an unstoppable duo, especially if you’re looking for anti-aging powers. “These two antioxidants amplify each other’s anti-aging benefits and ability to fight free radical damage,” share Salakaia and de Sadeleer. The beauty founders also note that ferulic acid is often combined with vitamin C “to make it more shelf-stable (vitamin C degrades quickly, especially when exposed to sunlight).”

The HIGHER EDUCATION SKINCARE GPA Vitamin C Serum already combines these two active ingredients for you so you don’t need to incorporate separate products. We use this serum to the last drop every single time.

3. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is adored by the masses for its hydration and moisturizing benefits while also plumping the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As luck would have it, the ingredient combination of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid offers some yummy skin benefits too. The acid works to boost vitamin C’s antioxidant properties and helps reduce signs of aging. “When mixed together, hyaluronic acid and vitamin C offer a balance of hydration, sun protection, and reduced hyperpigmentation,” says Salakai and de Sadeleer.

We love that the LYS BEAUTY Think Bright Glow + Hydrate Serum with Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid combines these two powerhouses for a serum that brightens and hydrates all in one.

4. Peptides

Peptides are a rising star in the skincare world, mainly for their anti-aging properties. Peptides help boost the production of collagen in your skin, which promotes elasticity and a plumper, firmer complexion. When used with vitamin C, peptides can help smooth your skin texture.

The DERMA E Advanced Peptides & Collagen Serum not only blends vitamin C and peptides, but it also mixes in vitamin E to help promote collagen growth and leave your skin looking dewy.

5. Bakuchiol

Retinols/retinoids and vitamin C don’t mix (more on that below), but you know what does? Bakuchiol, which is a natural alternative to retinol. “Bakuchiol is a great ingredient for stimulating collagen production and is an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial,” says Getz. And when bakuchiol and retinol are paired together? Get ready for the glow of your life with this skin-brightening team.

Whether you want to give bakuchiol a try or have been using it for years, our go-to is the NEOGEN DERMALOGY Real Bakuchiol Firming Serum. The firmness we get from this product leaves us feeling glowy all day long.

4 Skincare Ingredients to Avoid Mixing With Vitamin C

1. Retinol

Retinol and retinoids should not be mixed with vitamin C for a number of reasons. They are day and night—vitamin C works best during the day to protect your skin from free radicals and retinol is best used at night because it makes the skin photosensitive. Translation? You may be increasing your risk of sun damage by using retinol during the day. Plus, retinol is known to help boost collagen production and increase skin cell turnover, which many claim happens more efficiently in the evening.

Besides that, mixing these two active ingredients together can cause redness and irritation. Salakai and de Sadeleer share, “Vitamin C and retinol work in different pH environments, which means that they don’t work well together. It's best to avoid combining retinol with vitamin C together as there is a risk of skin irritation and redness, especially for those with sensitive skin.”

2. Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Better known as AHAs, glycolic acid and lactic acid are just a couple of the exfoliating acids you’re likely using in your skincare routine. But why don’t AHAs mix with vitamin C? Essentially, they neutralize the effectiveness of vitamin C and can cause irritation. Mixing two acids doesn’t make a right, that’s why it’s best to “use vitamin C in the morning and an exfoliating formula in the evening,” notes Font.

3. Beta Hydroxy Acids

Similar to the points made about AHAs, beta hydroxy acids (or BHAs) “will destabilize vitamin C, making the active ingredients nearly useless,” share Salakai and de Sadeleer. So that salicylic acid of yours should not be mixed with your vitamin C serum. It won’t be able to help you with discoloration, collagen production, or protect you from UV rays. Additionally, combining the two can cause irritation and dryness.

4. Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide can help you banish breakouts, but it’s not the best match with vitamin C. This is because benzoyl peroxide can oxidize vitamin C, making it ineffective. This is yet another case in which you’d likely want to use vitamin C in the morning and wait to use benzoyl peroxide products in the evening so you don’t cause skin irritation, and so your products can work their magic as intended.

Some Final Words of Wisdom From the Experts

Should you accidentally mix vitamin C with an ingredient it shouldn’t be used with, don’t panic. “Simply rinse off the product(s) with water or a gentle cleanser and reapply correctly,” says Font. “If you are experiencing irritation, keep your skin hydrated and avoid active ingredients until your skin returns to normal.” And don’t forget to visit your dermatologist if things aren’t getting better.

But what if you use a vitamin C serum with a product it shouldn’t be mixed with and you don’t experience irritation or notice the serum isn’t as effective? That’s totally fine. “Everybody’s skin is different, so some people can use retinoids/retinol and vitamin C together, and some would have redness and irritations,” says Getz. She mentions that if it’s working for you, keep the same skincare routine. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

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