It's no secret that most of us want to achieve clear, smooth, healthy skin. How do we get that? Well, implementing good-for-you ingredients and products into your daily life will assist in achieving the glowing skin you want! More specifically, vitamin C.
Vitamin C is a fantastic natural and synthetically sourced ingredient, most known for boosting collagen production and protecting your skin's barrier from pollutants. Opting for natural vitamin C is essential because not only is it ethically and morally beneficial, but vegan vitamin C does not result in redness or irritation.
Below, we will review vitamin C serum vs. moisturizer, what they are, which products are best, and ingredients that work well with vitamin C.
What is a serum?
A serum is a skincare product that is lightweight and contains high concentrations of active ingredients. Serums have a thinner and silky texture, penetrating the skin more deeply. Additionally, serums target specific skin concerns such as wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, or textured skin.
Due to the active ingredients in serums, they deliver high percentages of nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants. These elements brighten, hydrate, and repair damaged skin cells. Further, certain serums target specific skin concerns and conditions, including aging signs, free radical damage, redness, and acne.
When looking for a suitable serum for you and your skin type, it is vital to consider the ethics of how the product is manufactured. In the past, it was customary for the cosmetics industry to use animal by-products or test on animals before launching their products. Nowadays, it is essential to look for vegan and cruelty-free products.
Moreover, implementing cruelty-free and vegan products helps support brands that uphold ethical standards in their products and services.
Luckily, Flora & Noor is vegan, cruelty-free, halal-certified, and Leaping Bunny Certified. Flora & Noor is the first and only halal-certified skincare brand in the United States, making them both ethically innovative and inclusive to everyone and anyone!
What is a moisturizer?
A moisturizer is a lotion or cream that contains hydrating elements and emollients. Emollients include squalene and fatty acids that help fix your skin barrier. In addition, moisturizers act as a physical barrier to assist in keeping the skin hydrated, as well as locking in the nutrients from previous skincare steps.
Moreover, moisturizers contain heavier and thicker ingredients in comparison to serums. Due to the dense components and molecules, moisturizers do not penetrate as deeply into the skin. The primary purpose of moisturizers is to lock in nourishing and essential elements into the skin and prevent the evaporation of moisture.
Which do you apply first?
Generally, apply serums first before a moisturizer. As stated above, serums contain antioxidants that work to repair skin cells and combat free radicals (environmental pollutants).
Depending on your skin concerns, you may apply serums in the morning or night to treat them more effectively. In addition, making certain antioxidants in your serums further protects your skin from external damage.
For those with oilier skin, applying serums alone is effective in helping balance sebum production. Everyone's skin type is different. Thus, using a moisturizer over the top of a serum may be optional for oilier skin. It is a good idea to apply moisturizer after serums during dry or winter months for extra hydration – especially for those with dry, flaky skin.
Furthermore, moist or damp skin is more permeable than dry skin. This means that wet skin allows the cells to absorb more effectively. Applying serums to damp skin will ensure the essential and hydrating ingredients penetrate your skin cells directly.
Which Vitamin C serum is best?
As stated above, vegan and cruelty-free products and ingredients are always best to apply to your skin. Especially for those with skin sensitivities (like those with eczema-prone skin), it is vital to soothe and protect your skin. If you are looking for skincare for sensitive skin, Flora & Noor is the best option. Flora & Noor carries the best nourishing and botanical-packed products for all skin types.
Flora & Noor's Bright Side Vitamin C Serum, contains the highest form of active vitamin C! Vitamin C protects the skin from free radicals like UV rays and smoke and is a hyperpigmentation corrector.
In addition, this nourishing vitamin C contains cassia angustifolia seed, a vegan hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid assists the skin in retaining hydration and moisture while working to reduce aging signs such as wrinkles, fine lines, and crepey skin.
Furthermore, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid form an anti-aging power duo because both ingredients promote collagen production. By stimulating collagen production through speeding up cellular turnover, wrinkles, and fine lines do not have a chance of setting into the skin for long periods.
The Bright Side Vitamin C Serum also reduces and prevents acne and pores, improving the texture of your skin! Skin cell renewal also leaves the skin feeling supple, bouncy, and smooth, providing a perfect base for makeup application.
Which Vitamin C moisturizer is best?
Flora & Noor's Super Glow Gel Moisturizer is best for fading hyperpigmentation, locking in moisture, and minimizing pores and acne. As stated, this moisturizer is 100% vegan, halal-certified, cruelty-free, and leaping bunny certified.
The Super Glow Gel Moisturizer also contains the highest form of vitamin C and cassia angustifolia seed – working to renew skin cell turnover. In addition to rejuvenating nutrients, this moisturizer contains niacinamide, tamanu, and licorice root.
Niacinamide is amazing in fading sunspots and sun damage and reducing wrinkles. Niacinamide is a form B3 that controls sebum production. Vitamin B3 improves the skin's barrier and prevents water loss. Additionally, it is anti-inflammatory and helps brighten the skin's complexion.
Furthermore, tamanu is a fatty oil that nourishes, hydrates, and heals the skin. Tamanu is an essential fatty acid that assists in maintaining moisture in the skin. In addition, it contains antioxidants that help fight free radical damage and is antibacterial. Tamanu's antibacterial properties prevent and fight bacteria on the skin, perfect for acne, infections, and eczema!
Moreover, licorice root is exceptionally beneficial in brightening hyperpigmentation and dark spots. It also reduces the appearance of acne scars and controls excess oil production, thus reducing blemishes and acne. Licorice root soothes inflammation, irritation, and swelling, treating conditions such as atopic dermatitis and eczema.
Additional products that work alongside Vitamin C serum and moisturizer
A simple cleanser, serum, and moisturizer will be effective when building a skincare routine. But, if you want to penetrate and combat certain skin conditions or concerns, it is best to implement additional products.
The number one "rule" is to always cleanse your face before applying any skincare product to your face. Washing your face will remove dirt, bacteria, and impurities on your skin, leaving a clean and clear base for active skincare elements.
Flora & Noor's Boost & Brighten Vitamin C Cleanser is perfect for cleansing the skin without drying out or stripping the skin's barrier. It contains anti-aging and antioxidant benefits through vitamin C and aloe vera ingredients. In addition, horsetail combats free radical damage, and gotu kola and reishi mushroom promotes cellular hydration and helps fade discoloration.
The following product and step in the perfect skincare routine is toner. The Vitamin C Resurfacing Toner hydrates, treats hyperpigmentation, promotes elasticity, and calms redness and irritation. Like the above products, the Resurfacing Toner contains aloe vera, gotu kola, licorice root, and Vitamin C!
Flora & Noor's Vitamin C Resurfacing Toner contains pomegranate extract, which decreases redness. Further, pomegranate extract improves the appearance of scars and aging signs and promotes a brighter and clearer complexion!
Key Takeaways
- Face serums work to target specific skin concerns. The active ingredients provide vitamins and minerals to skin cells, penetrating the skin deeper.
- Depending on your skin type, it may be necessary to apply serum and moisturizer, while those with oily skin can apply a serum. Research which products, ingredients, and how to use their work for you and your skin is essential and highly recommended.
- Additionally, researching if the products you use are ethically sourced and do not contain animal by-products is essential. Those with sensitivities benefit from 100% vegan and botanically packed products due to the natural vitamins and minerals in those products. Flora & Noor is an excellent option for utilizing and implementing vegan, cruelty-free, halal-certified, and leaping bunny-certified products and ingredients!
- Vitamin C is essential for those who want to target aging signs, acne and dealing with eczema prone skin. Flora & Noor's Vitamin C Collection is crucial, especially the Bright Side Vitamin C Serum and the Super Glow Gel Moisturizer. These products work to prevent and treat wrinkles, acne, and hyperpigmentation!
- Lastly, adding ingredients and products to your regimen will work significantly in your favor alongside serum and moisturizer. Cleansing the skin of impurities and applying a toner to clear pores and promote elasticity does not hurt when aiming for supple, rejuvenated skin!