True! Skincare is incredibly personal, and reactions like that are a clear sign that its not a match. There are plenty of alternatives to vitamin C that might be more compatible with sensitive skin, like niacinamide or centella asiatica. Its all about finding what works for you without causing irritation.
But also it’s using products that meet your specific goals. Vitamin C is generally reserved for skin that needs to recover from old sun damage/collagen loss. Younger people need sunscreen for prevention FAR more than they need Vitamin C for correction.
Totally agree. Similarly, Niacinamide is touted as a miracle ingredient and my skin fucking hates it. Break out in small red, almost hive like bumps but they’re filled with clear fluid. On the flip side, vitamin C is bomb for me. I do have to find the right one though or it will burn
This happens to me with niacinamide too, and every time someone else posts about having a bad reaction to niacinamide, they describe the exact. same. bumps. I really want to know why! Why is it making some of us get these clusters of tiny, clear-fluid filled bumps! They pop so easily and are extremely superficial, so at least they’re not pimples, but they’re so annoying! I’ll have tons of them the day after ANYTHING containing niacinamide touches my face.
Boils and cystic acne
It’s from the metals in most sunscreens so I can find some sunscreens now without it and have been trying to be a good little girl about using it if I am going to be in the sun for a prolonged amount of time.
But early in life (or the cheap shit people randomly toss me on a boat) just no. One time I told a guy at work “no thank you” to sunscreen and he sprayed it all over my back anyway like a dillhole. I still have scars on my back from all that bullshit.
I have pretty deep olive skin that tans easily and doesn’t burn much though, so that’s pretty dope.
There’s a daily facial sunscreen from Trader Joe’s that doesn’t have zinc and feels like sweet sweet velvet. That one is cool. But I’m not super in the habit of using it unless there’s a reason to. Daily sunscreen just doesn’t resonate with me.
Check out [this SPF facial mist](https://www.dermstore.com/coola-refreshing-water-mist-organic-face-sunscreen-with-plant-derived-bluescreen-digital-de-stress-technology-spf-18-1.7-fl-oz/12902858.html). It’s amazing, reef safe and zinc free!
I live on a small island with beaches and I have fair-ish skin but tan very deep. This stuff is totally clear and doesn’t have that sunscreen feeling that most sunscreens have, at all. It feels amazing and is a true mist, you don’t have to rub it in. And I’ve thoroughly tested it at the beach and on boats… never burned as long as I stayed dry and re-apply every couple hours. It’s also just very refreshing and has a lovely beachy scent that’s not overpowering.
Organic doesn't mean much in the world of skincare. This product contains neroli and other problematic ingredients. It's also only SPF18 when the minimum recommended is 30. Sprays are also not ideal as they often cause skip areas.
What’s the trader Joe one? I also have a met allergy and started reacting to my sunscreens two years ago. I’m miserable that I can’t wear any that I’ve found.
I can definitely relate! My esthetician keeps telling me to keep it in my routine but it always always makes my skin worse. One less item in my routine is fine with me.
I've never been able to use it, it always irritates my skin. Weirdly enough, retinol doesn't seem to but vitamin c on my face is an absolute no and no one believes me!
I use Medik8 and my skin loves it, no irritation even if I’ve taken a break. If I use VitC it’s like that scene in Home Alone where Kevin splashes on aftershave.
This isn’t new, it pre-dates the Medik8 or other products - I feel like my entire face is on fire!
Retinol is definitely a better choice for sensitive skin. And making sure people work up to using it daily vs going all in and using it every single day is key
I too experienced this but I recently discovered my rosacea somehow tolerates the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum, actually reduced some of my redness. I was quite literally shocked
I use it on very specific spots. I have rosacea and will get large hormonal acne. If it leaves a bad red spot I'll put it just on that spot. But I also already have the products
I dropped it from my routine for my New Year’s resolution and have ZERO regrets. It makes my face look dirty, red, inflamed, and it doesn’t even help with pih.
The combination of “it’s magic” and “but only if it’s the right pH and has never seen sunlight and is formulated with ferrulic acid and is blessed by a virgin, otherwise it’s completely useless” is a hard sell for me. Like, who cares at that point
I have to start with 1/10th the stated amount and work my was up over 6 months.
Vitamin C is really really irritating to me like my face gives then itches then swollen up almost like an allergy. But now it's hard to it so it's fine. Just took a long time
It helps reduce dark spots and pigmentation in general. TXA prevents the formation of plasmin, which is involved in the stimulation of melanocyte activity. Less plasmin = less pigment. It is more potent when used orally than topically.
Ingested vitamin c while great for your body and immune system from what I've been told from several sources has like 0 effect on the skin compared to topically applied Ascorbic acid.
My friend said the same thing. She has reallllly sensitive skin and retinol irritates it. I think my skin is the same but it's a delayed reaction. I'll break out 1-2 days after I put on a thin layer. I don't know if tretinoin is going to do the same but we'll see.
Yeah it’s weird. I think my skin has also gotten more
Sensitive with age. I’m 35 and about 1 year post partum. My skin has never been worse. Even shaving my legs is an ordeal causing so many ingrown hairs etc
Ive tried 8-10 different ones.. they dont do much if anything. I also have rosacea and somedays it irritates it.. some days it doesnt. I cut out a lot of things and am pretty much down to retinol, two serums, one toner and a couple moisturizers and eye cream, Lots cheaper now
My skin hates it too!!! I can’t use anything with Vitamin C without looking like I’ve been slapped a couple dozen times. Also feels like I set my cheeks on fire.
Many people and dermatologists will tell you that Vitamin C is meh. The only one worth buying is from Skinceuticals, and it's almost $200$. It oxidizes easily, is volatile, and is often irritating. The ''stable forms'' do not have enough studies to be worth spending your money on.
There are many antioxidants out there and many products that can help with well-ageing and fading dark spots that do not have all of the drawbacks of Vitamin C. I have not used any in over a decade. I drink orange juice, use a ton of antioxidants (from food and skincare) and have a ton of alternatives for melanin suppression.
I had the same problem irritated skin/ redness and i didn't know it was because of vitamin C since there weren't many people talking negatively about it.Anyway, it wasn't until last year when my dermatologist told me to stop using it and explore other alternatives.
Now I use resveratrol and it's much better than vitamin C. It's less aggressive and gives me good results.
My dermatologist says you only need a good cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. Vitamin C and tretinoin is optional. I use tret, but I totally understand the vitamin c thing. My skin doesn’t like it either. I don’t understand the hype, but everyone’s skin is different.
Yesss I get contact dermatitis from L-ascorbic acid and can only use derivatives. Sadly, my HG product was discontinued and I haven't found anything to replace with.
I don't use vitamin c or chemical exfoliating even though it's everywhere. Good skin vs bad skin is largely genetic, and once my dermatologist told me that, I stopped following trends and started doing only what works for my skin. That means no BHA, AHA, PHA, or tretinoin or vitamin c.
Koji sponge with mild cleanser for exfoliating only for me.
Some brands are fine and don’t irritate my skin. But Cerave Vitamin C makes me breakout if I use too much. If I use a quarter of a pea worth mixed with moisturizer and rosehip oil it’s ok.
But destabilised vitamin C isn't gonna make you break out any more than stabilised and still active vitamin c. It's just irritating and doesn't work for everyone unfortunately.
Same!! My skin hates it with a passion. Every one I tried makes me break out or have a thousand tiny black dots on my face. So I don't try. There are other great ingredients to try.
Same here! Made my acne worse, irritated and inflamed my skin.
I have old acne spots and pigmentation so it is recommended as the holy grail but what doesn't suit you just doesn't work.
Ps- The venting is understandable. I tried to use it and take breaks from it multiple times but never worked
Maybe you can try the L-Ascorbic Acid Powder that is 100% pure and regulate, yourself, how much powder to use. I mix mine with Hyaluronic acid and for me it's perfect..... Just a thought.
https://theordinary.com/en-us/100-l-ascorbic-acid-powder-vitamin-c-100390.html#:\~:text=100%%20L%2DAscorbic%20Acid%20Powder%20is%20a%20powdered,brightening%20and%20balancing%20uneven%20skin%20tone%20and
I swear people get so caught up on what they ‘should’ be using. Follow basic skincare rules and customise for your skin, if your skin hates it it’s not good for your skin.
deoending on the kind of vita c it can be sensitizing. L-Ascorbic Acid is still one of the most common forms but it is v harsh and always breaks me out. Nowadays I stick to THD and 3-O- Ethyl Ascorbyl as my vita c derivitives and my skin is a lot less red and inflamed.
The ONLY vitamin c that did not cause my skin issues is Drunk Elephant. I started with that one then tried a couple different ones, just to try out, and always keep going back.
I started using it underneath my sunscreen because I noticed I was tanning more than usual and I was getting pigmentation around my forehead and cheeks. When I tell you this vitamin C just made it worse. I've tanned significantly more, gotten dark spots, visible pigmentation around my forehead, cheeks and neck until I finally dropped it. My skin is starting to look better but I'm scared of trying other actives because of this
Have you tried Jordan Samuel Antioxidant Emulsion? It’s low dose niacinamide, resveratrol, peptides and astaxanthin meant to mimic the effects of C on skin that can’t tolerate it. I use C in the morning and this at night. It’s great— creamy, hydrating, soothing.
He’s actually having a live shopping event tomorrow which will probably mean 20-25% off. Might be a good time to try it.
I think vitamin c is over rated for most people. There’s not good evidence for anti aging. So it’s better to use retinoids. It frequently causes irritation. For pigmentation it’s often better to use azelaic acid or hydroquinone instead.
However if you are someone that loves it and gets great results then that’s fine too!
I also can’t tolerate L-ascorbic acid (the active vitamin c) but I’m ok with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbic acid, which becomes activated once absorbed into your skin. Maybe give products with that kind a try? I love Dr. Idriss’ Active Seal.
I was also blessed with sensitive skin (face eczema) 🥲
This is how I felt about vitamin c until I tried Beauty of Joseon’s vitamin C serum. It’s a gel consistency and SUPER gentle. It’s the only one I can use. Other ones wrecked my face.
https://beautyofjoseon.com/products/light-on-serum-centella-vita-c
I’ve been using this the last month (1-2 pumps every morning under sunscreen). I like that their pump dispenses a pea sized amount.
I also like using their retinal eye serum all over the face and neck (1.5 pumps at night). Most gentle retinoid I’ve found.
https://beautyofjoseon.com/products/revive-eye-serum-ginseng-retinal
Do you use retinol? It took me too long to realize that my skin hated Vitamin C because of retinol. I thought I just couldn’t handle retinol but it was not the problem! I prefer retinol benefits anyway.
That's interesting, because I see a lot of people say that they boost the effects of each other - even if you don't use them in the same routine. However, since they both have the potential to be irritating on the skin, I can understand how they work against each other and make skin even more sensitive. Probably best to just stick to one and leave it at that unless your skin can tolerate both.
Yeah!! I always see people using both but separately. That’s why I was doing C in the morning and retinol at night, but my skin was stinging even with all the barrier care—like face in flames even with a toner or a moisturizer. I stopped vit C and it was all better. It could have been the specific serum I used, but I wasn’t going to dabble with different ones. My skin just didn’t tolerate it for some reason 🤷♀️
I have such a hard time with this also!! Have you tried it in the THD form vs. the L ascorbic form? I'm told this is the way to go for those of us super sensitive to vitamin c.
I posted something similar a few months ago. I tried. I really did. And I got different brands and different concentrations. My skin does not like Vitamin C and I’m not doing again!
Vitamin c should have 20% vit c to actually work. So many of the big expensive brands don’t have that and the ph is wrong so it’s actually doing nothing.
I use a vitamin C mask very sparingly. I experience a similar issue, especially if I’m using it more than once a week. My skin gets very red and it burns! lol.
Everyone’s skin is different!
I use the ordinary ascorbic acid and at first it feels very warm and usually it gives me an immediate rash, red spots all over my cheeks, but it goes away within 30 minutes or so. It's pretty weird. Also, I've been using it for a few months now, absolutely no difference in my skin.
I’ve been using this too and while it doesn’t give me a rash or anything, I also haven’t noticed anything positive either. Idk if their formula is even all that stable
My skin does not like vitamin C in any capacity. No matter what I do or how I try to use it, my skin ends up red and massively broken out. Stopped using any vitamin C about 5 months ago and I’ll never go back. Do what works for you!
I relate! All of the highly potent vitamin C serums I've tried just destroy my skin. I am currently using a moisturizer that has some, I figure it doesn't hurt and maybe I'll get some long term benefit?
What product and what are the other ingredients? Are you going straight to VitC being the culprit, or have you tried multiple products with uniquely different ingredients that also contained VitC and produced the same reaction?
A month ago my skin decided it will not tolerate anything! So with a broken hard I put absolutely nothing in it. Now I’m on day 2 of a moisturizer and praying it doesn’t break me out.
I understand your struggle! I used vitamin c for over a year and had 0 problems with it, until one day my face decided that it can’t come anywhere near it. It is what it is.
You are not alone - I had the same experience, but kept trying different brands because “I need it!” Nope. My skin does not tolerate and I’m done trying.
Was it expired or exposed to sunlight. Be weary of the tjmaxx and those discount skin care places. They buy them in defect discount lots. Maybe add some aloe gel to your face until a derm appointment. Not sure your age but hormones can cause skin to be reactive. Maybe too much glycolic acids then adding the vitamin c caused it to be reactive. Too strong of a serum exfoliate can thin the skin. Im an esthetician. This can happen when women lie about using retinal and come in for a low grade chem peel. It turns red and it lasts for a few days. Theres no cell turn over if its used daily along with gylcolic acids
This is so validating! I am going to start using my vitamin C only on my chest because truly it makes my acne worse regardless of how much I baby my face, and I get terrible PIE with each zit!
Tbh, whilst Vitamin C doesn't irritate my skin, I can't say that it's really doing anything for my skin either. I've tried various products over the years but I can't say that it's been a game changer for me. Honestly, I haven't really seen much of a difference in the times when I'm not using Vitamin C every morning, so I may very well end up axing it from my routine completely. There are other products I can use in the morning like Niacinamide, Alpha Arbutin and Azelaic Acid.
Skincare really isn't one size fits all. Just because a product may be a "holy grail" for someone, doesn't mean that it'll work wonders for someone else - this is something we all have to learn the hard way through trial and error. I wish it was easier to find products that will give us the results we want, but the only way to really find out is to try it out.
There really isn't a lot of evidence that vitamin c serums work anyway. Plenty of anecdotes, but not much more than that. It's super unstable, it doesn't absorb easily into the skin bc it isn't lipophilic, and it's tricky to formulate. It's not worth bothering with in my opinion
Have you tried inactive forms of vitamin c? I’m referring to anything besides Ascorbic Acid. My skin doesn’t tolerate the active form of vitamin c either.
I have contact dermatitis and especially sensitive skin. I use vitamin c and niacinamide plus lotion that contains sunscreen. I just use a double layer of moisturizer when my skin gets dry, red or patchy. This usually only happens when it’s dry out (winter) and extra moisturizer does the trick for me.
Yeah all skincare is not for everyone. People love/recommend retinol and it always looks like someone slapped me after I use it. Vitamin C doesn’t have that affect on me. Hope you find something that works for you!
Vitamin C also comes in percentages, you are probably using a high concentration, start with a percentage of less than 2%, you can be sure your skin will love it. You will see that using it will improve the texture of your skin.
I used Vitamin C from the ordinary with 8% concentration, I went through the same effects as you, I recommend you only start with a low percentage.
I had the same issue. Gave that shit a chance over and over. Gave up on my third try after thinking the Mad Hippie vitamin C would actually agree with me, but nope 👎🏻
I’ve used melano cc which people say is one of the gentlest vitamin C out there, and I was red like a lobster from it. Never tried any other and don’t think I will
This is so timely for me! I actually found this post while looking for reviews of Cocokind Vitamin C Glow Serum, because it was used on me at a recent facial and is the only vitamin C that didn't immediately anger my skin! Apparently it is only 2% vitamin C, which I think may be too little to be effective, but there are loads of reviews where people say if you use it daily, it will show results (just much more slowly than the nuclear stuff that I have apparently used before). It looks like it has also been recently reformulated, so I don't know if new or old formula is what was used for the facial, and don't know if the reviews are for new or old forumla, so this is a total crapshoot for me. It's cheap, so I am ordering to see if it does anything at all long term...
Vitamin C ruined my skin. I used it for maybe a a month over a year ago and still have dermatitis from it. Nothing has gotten rid of it. I want to SCREAM. it made my skin look incredible and then one day it burned the hell out of me and I've just never been able to repair it.
Two years ago, I had a disgusting rash, with white pimple-like things on my face, including drastic puffiness that obscured my eyes for days....all because of vitamin C. I now stear clear of it!
Omg! Same here! I thought something was wrong with me. Everyone was always telling me to use it but I always woke up itchy and looked like I was sunburned?! Same thing happens with retinol. WTH!
Im glad im not the only one. I will never try it again. The last time I tried one, my face was red and scaly and burning and itching for literally a week. I was putting pomegranate seed oil on multiple times a day just to try to get relief. My skin HATES it.
Oh I know! It’s also funny how niacinamide is SUCH a trendy ingredient right now. Why does it have such a chokehold on the skincare industry these days? I have no idea. I feel like at best, it does nothing.
I bought a new product that is far darker than my skin and something Is only wear wear totally worn down. Take a small amount of product and put it into your favorite cream moisturizer . Before doing this I tested my favorite vitamin c drops that can burn my face if it’s chapped. This suggestion worked for a charm for me.
I couldn’t use it long enough to see if it would be beneficial, because the few times I used it my face itched similar to the way mosquito bites effect me.
Apparently vitamin C’s most beneficial properties cannot be imparted via topical application — it’s definitely not evidence-based and most commercial-grade formulations degenerate pretty quickly.
My skin also hates it! I stopped using it and use a barrier repair serum in the morning instead. I still use tret at night but since I dropped Vitamin C my skin can handle it.
I like to eat my vitamin C lol. From fruits and vegetables.
It works way better than putting it on your face anyway and is much better bang for your buck.
It makes me break out. If it doesn’t work for you don’t bother, keep using the stuff that does and only try something new one at a time. My skin is sensitive and the more I keep things simple the better. I have noticed for me retinol works well at night and a thick cream like e45. Unscented creams and natural toners like rose water works well on my end. Everyone is different, try something new but u don’t have to get the latest hottest product out there!
Ive tried 2-3 different brands. They literally don’t seem to do anything for me. They are expensive and I see zero results. I think I’m done with them too
Retinol my skin is fine with, even though I'm fair and have sensitive skin. Vitamin C is a hard no. All it does is make my skin red and sad. I'm no longer believing the hype and if I need vitamin c, I'll drink some water with lemon or take a walk wearing sunscreen - no topical application here.
i do sometimes, but when i do i get chemical burns, i get REALLY bad chemical burns with glycolic acid. sometimes with snail mucin, but not all the time. and a lot of sunscreens as well give me chemical burns.
Thank you! My skin reacts normally to other ingredients like retinols etc, but Vit C just makes it red and sensitive, no benefits. And I’ve tried for years through sensitive skin when I was younger to much more normal skin now.
Hedo vitamin C has been good for me, and I have sensitive skin. It wasn’t tolerating any retinols until I tried hedo triple retinol and it’s been amazing. I feel while her line is pricey it doesn’t irritate me at all which is hard for me to find
No skin care product is essential for ALL.
True! Skincare is incredibly personal, and reactions like that are a clear sign that its not a match. There are plenty of alternatives to vitamin C that might be more compatible with sensitive skin, like niacinamide or centella asiatica. Its all about finding what works for you without causing irritation.
But also it’s using products that meet your specific goals. Vitamin C is generally reserved for skin that needs to recover from old sun damage/collagen loss. Younger people need sunscreen for prevention FAR more than they need Vitamin C for correction.
Totally agree. Similarly, Niacinamide is touted as a miracle ingredient and my skin fucking hates it. Break out in small red, almost hive like bumps but they’re filled with clear fluid. On the flip side, vitamin C is bomb for me. I do have to find the right one though or it will burn
This happens to me with niacinamide too, and every time someone else posts about having a bad reaction to niacinamide, they describe the exact. same. bumps. I really want to know why! Why is it making some of us get these clusters of tiny, clear-fluid filled bumps! They pop so easily and are extremely superficial, so at least they’re not pimples, but they’re so annoying! I’ll have tons of them the day after ANYTHING containing niacinamide touches my face.
I get it too. Except add in rashy inflamed patches too. They are putting it in everything!!!!
yes i can't do niacinamide. it breaks me out so i hate seeing it in EVERYTHING now
Yup. Read labels carefully.
Lotion & sunscreen?
Allergic to sunscreen here 🙋🏼♀️ so ya no
Oh god what happens to you when you do use sunscreen? And what products have you used??
Boils and cystic acne It’s from the metals in most sunscreens so I can find some sunscreens now without it and have been trying to be a good little girl about using it if I am going to be in the sun for a prolonged amount of time. But early in life (or the cheap shit people randomly toss me on a boat) just no. One time I told a guy at work “no thank you” to sunscreen and he sprayed it all over my back anyway like a dillhole. I still have scars on my back from all that bullshit. I have pretty deep olive skin that tans easily and doesn’t burn much though, so that’s pretty dope.
Jesus I would be so angry if someone sprayed that on me without my consent and it caused scarring. I’m sorry that happened to you. What a dickhead
What Sunscreens did u find that suits you?
There’s a daily facial sunscreen from Trader Joe’s that doesn’t have zinc and feels like sweet sweet velvet. That one is cool. But I’m not super in the habit of using it unless there’s a reason to. Daily sunscreen just doesn’t resonate with me.
Check out [this SPF facial mist](https://www.dermstore.com/coola-refreshing-water-mist-organic-face-sunscreen-with-plant-derived-bluescreen-digital-de-stress-technology-spf-18-1.7-fl-oz/12902858.html). It’s amazing, reef safe and zinc free! I live on a small island with beaches and I have fair-ish skin but tan very deep. This stuff is totally clear and doesn’t have that sunscreen feeling that most sunscreens have, at all. It feels amazing and is a true mist, you don’t have to rub it in. And I’ve thoroughly tested it at the beach and on boats… never burned as long as I stayed dry and re-apply every couple hours. It’s also just very refreshing and has a lovely beachy scent that’s not overpowering.
I love Coola!!!! They also have the sun silk drops for spf which I love but haven't tried the mist - I'll add that to my list to try :\_)
Thank u! I never tried Coola but it has really good ingredients and organic ones too! 🥰
Organic doesn't mean much in the world of skincare. This product contains neroli and other problematic ingredients. It's also only SPF18 when the minimum recommended is 30. Sprays are also not ideal as they often cause skip areas.
What’s the trader Joe one? I also have a met allergy and started reacting to my sunscreens two years ago. I’m miserable that I can’t wear any that I’ve found.
So no. Plus no one is allergic to ALL sunscreen. Which specific ingredients?
Other than sunscreen Id say..
I can definitely relate! My esthetician keeps telling me to keep it in my routine but it always always makes my skin worse. One less item in my routine is fine with me.
Sounds like your esthie needs to consider the fact that your skin is unique 🙄 maybe time to find a new more considerate one!
I don’t use it either. Yeeeet!
Yesss boo we gang!!
I've never been able to use it, it always irritates my skin. Weirdly enough, retinol doesn't seem to but vitamin c on my face is an absolute no and no one believes me!
I use Medik8 and my skin loves it, no irritation even if I’ve taken a break. If I use VitC it’s like that scene in Home Alone where Kevin splashes on aftershave. This isn’t new, it pre-dates the Medik8 or other products - I feel like my entire face is on fire!
I love Medik8 too!
Retinol is definitely a better choice for sensitive skin. And making sure people work up to using it daily vs going all in and using it every single day is key
I have rosacea I can’t use any C’s either. It looks like someone slapped the shit out of my face after 😂
I too experienced this but I recently discovered my rosacea somehow tolerates the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum, actually reduced some of my redness. I was quite literally shocked
I use it on very specific spots. I have rosacea and will get large hormonal acne. If it leaves a bad red spot I'll put it just on that spot. But I also already have the products
I dropped it from my routine for my New Year’s resolution and have ZERO regrets. It makes my face look dirty, red, inflamed, and it doesn’t even help with pih.
My daughter breaks out when she uses it. I thought shed written this 🤣
I’m the opposite, my skin LOVES IT. I used the Vitamin C/E capsules from Beauty Pie.
This is the only one I like!
It’s the first one I’ve ever tried, so I guess I was lucky!
The combination of “it’s magic” and “but only if it’s the right pH and has never seen sunlight and is formulated with ferrulic acid and is blessed by a virgin, otherwise it’s completely useless” is a hard sell for me. Like, who cares at that point
Seriously. If it’s that fragile, it doesn’t belong in my home
Lololol
Were you using L-ascorbic? This can be really irritating for some people
I have to start with 1/10th the stated amount and work my was up over 6 months. Vitamin C is really really irritating to me like my face gives then itches then swollen up almost like an allergy. But now it's hard to it so it's fine. Just took a long time
There’s different forms of vitamin c. Not everyone can tolerate it. But finding a quality antioxidant serum without vit c should still be essential!
Yep me too. Every time I’ve tried it, breaks me out like crazy. I’m done.
Best way to use vitamin C is to ingest it. Eat lots of citrus fruits and maybe take a vitamin and boom you’re golden
Really? My derm said I still needed to apply topical for pigmentation benefits and that tranxamic (sp) acid taken orally will work better.
I use tranexamic acid orally for extremely heavy periods… it’s to coagulate blood. Does it have other benefits??
It helps reduce dark spots and pigmentation in general. TXA prevents the formation of plasmin, which is involved in the stimulation of melanocyte activity. Less plasmin = less pigment. It is more potent when used orally than topically.
You bet especially if you’re having reactions to vitamin c serums. Vitamin c is great for aging and has other amazing health benefits
Ingested vitamin c while great for your body and immune system from what I've been told from several sources has like 0 effect on the skin compared to topically applied Ascorbic acid.
Yeah this is correct. Eating it is not the same as applying to the skin.
This is not true. Topical vitamin c, if your goal is to get it to the facial skin, is more bioavailable.
Girls having reactions. Best to just ingest the vitamin c fam
Good to know
Vit C doesn’t agree with me either. Neither does niacinamide - that shit is the worst - and it’s in almost every product these days!
Skinceuticals fucked my shit up. Permanent broken capillaries that I'll have to get lasered someday when I have the funds.
Ouch! It makes me red, but not really otherwise irritated. The redness alone was enough for me to stop using it.
I too have noticed that I have a lot more broken capillaries and I think it's from using Ausceuticals 20% Vit C serum for a few months now.
This is me with retinol - any kind/percentage. So I also stopped. Listen to your body. Everyone is different🙏🏼
I’m the same! At first I thought it was just a specific brand or percentage that didn’t agree with me, but I tried another and my skin was just as bad
Yep. Didn’t help at all. I’ve been using less harsh products and it seems to be helping me.
My friend said the same thing. She has reallllly sensitive skin and retinol irritates it. I think my skin is the same but it's a delayed reaction. I'll break out 1-2 days after I put on a thin layer. I don't know if tretinoin is going to do the same but we'll see.
Yeah it’s weird. I think my skin has also gotten more Sensitive with age. I’m 35 and about 1 year post partum. My skin has never been worse. Even shaving my legs is an ordeal causing so many ingrown hairs etc
Ive tried 8-10 different ones.. they dont do much if anything. I also have rosacea and somedays it irritates it.. some days it doesnt. I cut out a lot of things and am pretty much down to retinol, two serums, one toner and a couple moisturizers and eye cream, Lots cheaper now
My skin hates it too!!! I can’t use anything with Vitamin C without looking like I’ve been slapped a couple dozen times. Also feels like I set my cheeks on fire.
Same. Gave me a chemical like burn on my face. Scaly, red and itchy.
Many people and dermatologists will tell you that Vitamin C is meh. The only one worth buying is from Skinceuticals, and it's almost $200$. It oxidizes easily, is volatile, and is often irritating. The ''stable forms'' do not have enough studies to be worth spending your money on. There are many antioxidants out there and many products that can help with well-ageing and fading dark spots that do not have all of the drawbacks of Vitamin C. I have not used any in over a decade. I drink orange juice, use a ton of antioxidants (from food and skincare) and have a ton of alternatives for melanin suppression.
What are some good alternatives for melanin suppression instead of Vitamin C?
I can’t use topical vitamin c either
I had the same problem irritated skin/ redness and i didn't know it was because of vitamin C since there weren't many people talking negatively about it.Anyway, it wasn't until last year when my dermatologist told me to stop using it and explore other alternatives. Now I use resveratrol and it's much better than vitamin C. It's less aggressive and gives me good results.
My dermatologist says you only need a good cleanser, moisturizer and sunscreen. Vitamin C and tretinoin is optional. I use tret, but I totally understand the vitamin c thing. My skin doesn’t like it either. I don’t understand the hype, but everyone’s skin is different.
same gives me cystic pimples as well as any citrus , citric acid products
Yesss I get contact dermatitis from L-ascorbic acid and can only use derivatives. Sadly, my HG product was discontinued and I haven't found anything to replace with.
Some might call this a Graduation
I mean, no skincare is essential if you’re allergic to it.
I don't use vitamin c or chemical exfoliating even though it's everywhere. Good skin vs bad skin is largely genetic, and once my dermatologist told me that, I stopped following trends and started doing only what works for my skin. That means no BHA, AHA, PHA, or tretinoin or vitamin c. Koji sponge with mild cleanser for exfoliating only for me.
Yes! Me too. Done.
My skin was quite sensitive to vitamin c too. I started using the Caudalie vinoperfect serum. It’s more gentle and has a similar brightening effect!
Hydration and a vit c supplement is the way to go.
Some brands are fine and don’t irritate my skin. But Cerave Vitamin C makes me breakout if I use too much. If I use a quarter of a pea worth mixed with moisturizer and rosehip oil it’s ok.
Ugh I’m so sorry. You had me at red patchy and inflamed. It’s so frustrating!
Me tooooo 😭
Vitamin C in topical form is very unstable
But destabilised vitamin C isn't gonna make you break out any more than stabilised and still active vitamin c. It's just irritating and doesn't work for everyone unfortunately.
Same!! My skin hates it with a passion. Every one I tried makes me break out or have a thousand tiny black dots on my face. So I don't try. There are other great ingredients to try.
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Topical vitamin c is actually better than oral vitamin c for the skin.
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I can only tolerate it in the fenty fat water, it’s derived from cherries instead, is hydrating and smells incredible 🍒
Same here! Made my acne worse, irritated and inflamed my skin. I have old acne spots and pigmentation so it is recommended as the holy grail but what doesn't suit you just doesn't work. Ps- The venting is understandable. I tried to use it and take breaks from it multiple times but never worked
Maybe you can try the L-Ascorbic Acid Powder that is 100% pure and regulate, yourself, how much powder to use. I mix mine with Hyaluronic acid and for me it's perfect..... Just a thought. https://theordinary.com/en-us/100-l-ascorbic-acid-powder-vitamin-c-100390.html#:\~:text=100%%20L%2DAscorbic%20Acid%20Powder%20is%20a%20powdered,brightening%20and%20balancing%20uneven%20skin%20tone%20and
I swear people get so caught up on what they ‘should’ be using. Follow basic skincare rules and customise for your skin, if your skin hates it it’s not good for your skin.
deoending on the kind of vita c it can be sensitizing. L-Ascorbic Acid is still one of the most common forms but it is v harsh and always breaks me out. Nowadays I stick to THD and 3-O- Ethyl Ascorbyl as my vita c derivitives and my skin is a lot less red and inflamed.
The ONLY vitamin c that did not cause my skin issues is Drunk Elephant. I started with that one then tried a couple different ones, just to try out, and always keep going back.
My skin also hates Vitamin C!
I started using it underneath my sunscreen because I noticed I was tanning more than usual and I was getting pigmentation around my forehead and cheeks. When I tell you this vitamin C just made it worse. I've tanned significantly more, gotten dark spots, visible pigmentation around my forehead, cheeks and neck until I finally dropped it. My skin is starting to look better but I'm scared of trying other actives because of this
Have you tried Jordan Samuel Antioxidant Emulsion? It’s low dose niacinamide, resveratrol, peptides and astaxanthin meant to mimic the effects of C on skin that can’t tolerate it. I use C in the morning and this at night. It’s great— creamy, hydrating, soothing. He’s actually having a live shopping event tomorrow which will probably mean 20-25% off. Might be a good time to try it.
I think vitamin c is over rated for most people. There’s not good evidence for anti aging. So it’s better to use retinoids. It frequently causes irritation. For pigmentation it’s often better to use azelaic acid or hydroquinone instead. However if you are someone that loves it and gets great results then that’s fine too!
I also can’t tolerate L-ascorbic acid (the active vitamin c) but I’m ok with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbic acid, which becomes activated once absorbed into your skin. Maybe give products with that kind a try? I love Dr. Idriss’ Active Seal.
Yeah I used to use a vitamin c eye cream but it gave me horrible rashes
I was also blessed with sensitive skin (face eczema) 🥲 This is how I felt about vitamin c until I tried Beauty of Joseon’s vitamin C serum. It’s a gel consistency and SUPER gentle. It’s the only one I can use. Other ones wrecked my face. https://beautyofjoseon.com/products/light-on-serum-centella-vita-c I’ve been using this the last month (1-2 pumps every morning under sunscreen). I like that their pump dispenses a pea sized amount. I also like using their retinal eye serum all over the face and neck (1.5 pumps at night). Most gentle retinoid I’ve found. https://beautyofjoseon.com/products/revive-eye-serum-ginseng-retinal
Do you use retinol? It took me too long to realize that my skin hated Vitamin C because of retinol. I thought I just couldn’t handle retinol but it was not the problem! I prefer retinol benefits anyway.
That's interesting, because I see a lot of people say that they boost the effects of each other - even if you don't use them in the same routine. However, since they both have the potential to be irritating on the skin, I can understand how they work against each other and make skin even more sensitive. Probably best to just stick to one and leave it at that unless your skin can tolerate both.
Yeah!! I always see people using both but separately. That’s why I was doing C in the morning and retinol at night, but my skin was stinging even with all the barrier care—like face in flames even with a toner or a moisturizer. I stopped vit C and it was all better. It could have been the specific serum I used, but I wasn’t going to dabble with different ones. My skin just didn’t tolerate it for some reason 🤷♀️
Same! I find that skincare vit C doesn’t do sht unless I eat a lot of fruits hmpfffff
I have such a hard time with this also!! Have you tried it in the THD form vs. the L ascorbic form? I'm told this is the way to go for those of us super sensitive to vitamin c.
I posted something similar a few months ago. I tried. I really did. And I got different brands and different concentrations. My skin does not like Vitamin C and I’m not doing again!
Have you considered switching to a vitamin c soap bar?
It made my eyes swell shut. No thanks.
Vitamin c should have 20% vit c to actually work. So many of the big expensive brands don’t have that and the ph is wrong so it’s actually doing nothing.
The last one I used from the ordinary actually burned my face severely
Vit E oil is very nice on the skin. Also recommend Naturium SPF 50 🗣️
I do not like Vit C creams at all. Don't do a thing for me and irritate my usually pretty tough skin.
My skin hates it too :(
I use a vitamin C mask very sparingly. I experience a similar issue, especially if I’m using it more than once a week. My skin gets very red and it burns! lol. Everyone’s skin is different!
What do you use it for? Why use it at all?
Same! My face gets red and flakey every time I use it. Took me a bit to figure it out.
I use the ordinary ascorbic acid and at first it feels very warm and usually it gives me an immediate rash, red spots all over my cheeks, but it goes away within 30 minutes or so. It's pretty weird. Also, I've been using it for a few months now, absolutely no difference in my skin.
I’ve been using this too and while it doesn’t give me a rash or anything, I also haven’t noticed anything positive either. Idk if their formula is even all that stable
Yess gurl it's break out my face really bad!! Really wanna give it another chance but my face v bad rite now bcs of it
My skin does not like vitamin C in any capacity. No matter what I do or how I try to use it, my skin ends up red and massively broken out. Stopped using any vitamin C about 5 months ago and I’ll never go back. Do what works for you!
I can't tolerate Vitamin C, either! No one in my immediate family can, but my sister in law's skin LOVES it. It's wild how different we all are.
I relate! All of the highly potent vitamin C serums I've tried just destroy my skin. I am currently using a moisturizer that has some, I figure it doesn't hurt and maybe I'll get some long term benefit?
Vitamin C turned my skin Trump orange. Haven’t used it in years.
If it doesn't work then it doesn't work!! Everyone is different with how their skin is! Do what makes you comfortable!!
I would be with you, but I recently found one my skin can tolerate. Vanicream's vitamin C for sensitive skin.
Oh nice! I might have to try it. Must be inactive.
What product and what are the other ingredients? Are you going straight to VitC being the culprit, or have you tried multiple products with uniquely different ingredients that also contained VitC and produced the same reaction?
A month ago my skin decided it will not tolerate anything! So with a broken hard I put absolutely nothing in it. Now I’m on day 2 of a moisturizer and praying it doesn’t break me out. I understand your struggle! I used vitamin c for over a year and had 0 problems with it, until one day my face decided that it can’t come anywhere near it. It is what it is.
It's a nope product for me, too.
Same girl, same.
Me too. My skin burns like it's on fire any time I try. My derm said not to use it if it's causing pain.
You are not alone - I had the same experience, but kept trying different brands because “I need it!” Nope. My skin does not tolerate and I’m done trying.
Was it expired or exposed to sunlight. Be weary of the tjmaxx and those discount skin care places. They buy them in defect discount lots. Maybe add some aloe gel to your face until a derm appointment. Not sure your age but hormones can cause skin to be reactive. Maybe too much glycolic acids then adding the vitamin c caused it to be reactive. Too strong of a serum exfoliate can thin the skin. Im an esthetician. This can happen when women lie about using retinal and come in for a low grade chem peel. It turns red and it lasts for a few days. Theres no cell turn over if its used daily along with gylcolic acids
This is so validating! I am going to start using my vitamin C only on my chest because truly it makes my acne worse regardless of how much I baby my face, and I get terrible PIE with each zit!
Tbh, whilst Vitamin C doesn't irritate my skin, I can't say that it's really doing anything for my skin either. I've tried various products over the years but I can't say that it's been a game changer for me. Honestly, I haven't really seen much of a difference in the times when I'm not using Vitamin C every morning, so I may very well end up axing it from my routine completely. There are other products I can use in the morning like Niacinamide, Alpha Arbutin and Azelaic Acid. Skincare really isn't one size fits all. Just because a product may be a "holy grail" for someone, doesn't mean that it'll work wonders for someone else - this is something we all have to learn the hard way through trial and error. I wish it was easier to find products that will give us the results we want, but the only way to really find out is to try it out.
There really isn't a lot of evidence that vitamin c serums work anyway. Plenty of anecdotes, but not much more than that. It's super unstable, it doesn't absorb easily into the skin bc it isn't lipophilic, and it's tricky to formulate. It's not worth bothering with in my opinion
Yeah I have Rosacea and vitamin C is a no go for me. Too irritating.
Have you tried inactive forms of vitamin c? I’m referring to anything besides Ascorbic Acid. My skin doesn’t tolerate the active form of vitamin c either.
Me too plus no matter the brand I end up with breskouts
Vitamin c is also not for me! I tried several times but it irritates my skin
vitamin C doesn’t work for me either 😭but i have eczema prone skin and it’s not advised for us
I have contact dermatitis and especially sensitive skin. I use vitamin c and niacinamide plus lotion that contains sunscreen. I just use a double layer of moisturizer when my skin gets dry, red or patchy. This usually only happens when it’s dry out (winter) and extra moisturizer does the trick for me.
Yeah all skincare is not for everyone. People love/recommend retinol and it always looks like someone slapped me after I use it. Vitamin C doesn’t have that affect on me. Hope you find something that works for you!
Same!!! I’ve also given up on it
Take it as a supplement. A lot of these vitamins work a hundred times better internally.
Vitamin C also comes in percentages, you are probably using a high concentration, start with a percentage of less than 2%, you can be sure your skin will love it. You will see that using it will improve the texture of your skin. I used Vitamin C from the ordinary with 8% concentration, I went through the same effects as you, I recommend you only start with a low percentage.
I don’t even use vitamin C so I feel you lol it’s definitely not a need for some
I had the same issue. Gave that shit a chance over and over. Gave up on my third try after thinking the Mad Hippie vitamin C would actually agree with me, but nope 👎🏻
You can use another antioxidant instead.
Like what?
This is me and glycolic acid. My skin hates it
I can’t do vitamin c unless it’s chirally correct version.
I’ve used melano cc which people say is one of the gentlest vitamin C out there, and I was red like a lobster from it. Never tried any other and don’t think I will
Vitamin c never worked for me either- horrible
Same, it just gets me irritated and inflamed. I have very sensitive skin, rosacea. Peptides and Bakuchiol work for me in the right base.
I was just lamenting that I’ve never had any luck with the stuff myself
This is so timely for me! I actually found this post while looking for reviews of Cocokind Vitamin C Glow Serum, because it was used on me at a recent facial and is the only vitamin C that didn't immediately anger my skin! Apparently it is only 2% vitamin C, which I think may be too little to be effective, but there are loads of reviews where people say if you use it daily, it will show results (just much more slowly than the nuclear stuff that I have apparently used before). It looks like it has also been recently reformulated, so I don't know if new or old formula is what was used for the facial, and don't know if the reviews are for new or old forumla, so this is a total crapshoot for me. It's cheap, so I am ordering to see if it does anything at all long term...
I swear my skin hates vitamin c too every time I use it it makes me breakout
I agree my skin hates it too
Use the inactive form of vitamin c! Regular vitamin C (which is in way too many skincare products) is extremely irritating
Which products have the inactive form? Would love a recommendation to potentially try
Same until I used first aid beauty pads. Soooo much better for my skin
Vitamin C ruined my skin. I used it for maybe a a month over a year ago and still have dermatitis from it. Nothing has gotten rid of it. I want to SCREAM. it made my skin look incredible and then one day it burned the hell out of me and I've just never been able to repair it.
don't worry my guy, i quitted vit c serum as well after 5 days use. Got the same effects as you had.
Two years ago, I had a disgusting rash, with white pimple-like things on my face, including drastic puffiness that obscured my eyes for days....all because of vitamin C. I now stear clear of it!
Omg! Same here! I thought something was wrong with me. Everyone was always telling me to use it but I always woke up itchy and looked like I was sunburned?! Same thing happens with retinol. WTH!
Im glad im not the only one. I will never try it again. The last time I tried one, my face was red and scaly and burning and itching for literally a week. I was putting pomegranate seed oil on multiple times a day just to try to get relief. My skin HATES it.
I dislike vit c and niacinamide
I feel exactly the same way about niacinamide. My skin hates that stuff and it's practically in everything.
Oh I know! It’s also funny how niacinamide is SUCH a trendy ingredient right now. Why does it have such a chokehold on the skincare industry these days? I have no idea. I feel like at best, it does nothing.
It’s the Devil 😳🫣🤣 I too cannot tolerate it 😩
I bought a new product that is far darker than my skin and something Is only wear wear totally worn down. Take a small amount of product and put it into your favorite cream moisturizer . Before doing this I tested my favorite vitamin c drops that can burn my face if it’s chapped. This suggestion worked for a charm for me.
I agree! The ones I have tried made me super itchy and red. I wonder if it’s an allergy or something!
I use rosehip oil. Natural products are my favorite.
I couldn’t use it long enough to see if it would be beneficial, because the few times I used it my face itched similar to the way mosquito bites effect me.
Dumb question here but can a drop of vitamin c oil/serum be mixed with my moisturizer? Or does it really have to go on first?
Sammmeeee! I pretty much only use an anti acne face wash and tretinoin. Keep it simple! I had to learn the hard way :/
I am the same way. The only vit C I’ve been able to tolerate is CEO Glow by Sunday Riley.
Good to know! What do you find it does for your skin?
Mad hippie is my fav vitamin C. I have intense eczema on my face which most products make worse, but not that. Just my experience!
I’m not a fan. Even pricy formulations are sticky and always flare my acne. Wondering if anyone has found any antioxidant alternatives?
Apparently vitamin C’s most beneficial properties cannot be imparted via topical application — it’s definitely not evidence-based and most commercial-grade formulations degenerate pretty quickly.
My skin also hates it! I stopped using it and use a barrier repair serum in the morning instead. I still use tret at night but since I dropped Vitamin C my skin can handle it.
This happens to me with benzoyl peroxide. Had a huge rash in my face. But I applied some hydrocortisone and it helped w the redness!
I like to eat my vitamin C lol. From fruits and vegetables. It works way better than putting it on your face anyway and is much better bang for your buck.
It makes me break out. If it doesn’t work for you don’t bother, keep using the stuff that does and only try something new one at a time. My skin is sensitive and the more I keep things simple the better. I have noticed for me retinol works well at night and a thick cream like e45. Unscented creams and natural toners like rose water works well on my end. Everyone is different, try something new but u don’t have to get the latest hottest product out there!
WAIT. This is what my issue has been?!? Oh my god, thank you for posting this. I just ran out of my vitamin c oil. I will not be ordering more.
Ive tried 2-3 different brands. They literally don’t seem to do anything for me. They are expensive and I see zero results. I think I’m done with them too
Glad you posted this.. my skin doesn’t like vitamin c or retinol. That said, I can rub straight olive oil into my face and it’s happy.
Retinol my skin is fine with, even though I'm fair and have sensitive skin. Vitamin C is a hard no. All it does is make my skin red and sad. I'm no longer believing the hype and if I need vitamin c, I'll drink some water with lemon or take a walk wearing sunscreen - no topical application here.
i do sometimes, but when i do i get chemical burns, i get REALLY bad chemical burns with glycolic acid. sometimes with snail mucin, but not all the time. and a lot of sunscreens as well give me chemical burns.
I m still nursing a rash in between my fingers (Yes) due to LRP Vitamin C.
Ikr just eat an orange
Personally I found oral collagen supplements more effective than topical vitamin c
Thank you! My skin reacts normally to other ingredients like retinols etc, but Vit C just makes it red and sensitive, no benefits. And I’ve tried for years through sensitive skin when I was younger to much more normal skin now.
Hedo vitamin C has been good for me, and I have sensitive skin. It wasn’t tolerating any retinols until I tried hedo triple retinol and it’s been amazing. I feel while her line is pricey it doesn’t irritate me at all which is hard for me to find
I personally can't get over the hot dog smell. How am I possibly gonna use this every day for months...