When it comes to skincare, vitamin c and hyaluronic acid are known as 'star' ingredients that help you achieve smooth, blemish-free, youthful-looking skin. 

While vitamin C is known to be a powerful antioxidant that fights skin inflammation and boosts collagen, hyaluronic acid is sought after for its hydrating properties. Each of these skin nutrients, on their own, have specific skin health benefits.

Many people wonder if these ingredients can be used together and which one should be used first in the skincare routine. 

An important point to remember is that choosing high-quality, science-backed, and safe skincare products is key to enjoying the maximum benefits and avoiding harsh side effects. 

Before talking about how to use hyaluronic acid and vitamin C together, it's important to look at each of these skin nutrients individually and how they boost skin health.

Table of Contents:

• What is vitamin C?
• What is vitamin C good for?
• Fades hyperpigmentation
• Reduces skin inflammation and redness
• Protects against sun damage
• Boosts collagen
• Is vitamin C serum better in the morning or night?
• What is hyaluronic acid?
• The benefits of hyaluronic acid
• Skin hydration
• Anti-aging
• Smooth texture
• Wound healing
• Can I use hyaluronic acid every day?
• Can I use hyaluronic acid and vitamin C together?
• What goes first, vitamin C or hyaluronic acid?
• How to use hyaluronic acid with vitamin C?

What is vitamin C?

Vitamin C, also called 'L-ascorbic acid,' is one of the many important vitamins our body needs every day to maintain optimal health. While the human body produces and stores some vitamins (such as vitamin D), it cannot synthesize or store vitamin C.

Many foods contain vitamin C naturally, while fortified foods and dietary supplements are the other sources. The levels of vitamin C in the body tend to go down when there is an injury, illness, or skin inflammation.

What is vitamin C good for?

If you are an avid follower of skincare products, you are likely to be familiar with vitamin C serums, creams, and lotions.

Best known for being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C fights 'oxidative stress' - a term that refers to the cycle of destruction that free radicals (unstable oxygen electrons) in the body cause. 

Many factors ranging from UV exposure, illnesses, environmental pollution to smoking can produce 'free radicals.' These radicals 'steal' electrons from other cells and, in this process, damage healthy cells, leading to premature aging and chronic illnesses. 

Vitamin C neutralizes these radicals as an antioxidant and combats their harmful effects to prevent chronic illnesses and the harsh signs of aging.

The vitamin also plays an important role in healing wounds, controlling infections, production of hormones, and absorbing iron from foods. 

It is also the base for the body to make collagen, a type of protein that maintains the skin's structure, integrity, and volume.

Fades hyperpigmentation

Melanin is a skin pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their natural color. In some people, melanin is overproduced, causing hyperpigmentation of the skin that includes age spots, melasma, and sunspots.

By blocking melanin production, vitamin C helps fade hyperpigmentation.

Reduces skin inflammation and redness

If you are prone to skin conditions such as acne, skin rashes, and allergies, vitamin C serums may be the perfect antidote.

Skin inflammation symptoms range from itching, redness, swelling, and sensitivity. While the causes vary, a weak immune system, skin infection, sun exposure, or autoimmune conditions such as psoriasis can trigger skin inflammation. 

Vitamin C levels tend to be low in people who have skin inflammation. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, vitamin C effectively reduces skin inflammation, redness, and puffiness. The vitamin strengthens the immune system to combat inflammation.

Removal of dark spots, skin irritation, and redness ensures a smooth, even, and glowing skin tone.

Protects against sun damage

Excessive exposure to the sun's UV rays is one of the key causes of oxidant stress. Antioxidants present in Vitamin C serum add a protective skin barrier to shield skin cells from UV damage.

Boosts collagen

Collagen levels in the skin deplete over time, causing wrinkles, fine lines, and folds. Vitamin C is known for its collagen-boosting action that helps boost skin volume and reduce wrinkles. The vitamin is the key 'cofactor' for making the enzymes needed to synthesize collagen.

According to a 2017 review, applying a topical vitamin C serum helps step up collagen production, which has a skin tightening effect.

Is vitamin C serum better in the morning or night?

Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that fights free radicals from UV radiation and environmental pollution. 

Much like sunscreen, using vitamin C serum in the daytime is recommended by dermatologists to get maximum benefits of vitamin C. 

However, there is no rule against using the serum at night. Vitamin C serum helps repair UV damage and rebuild collagen while you sleep. 

In many studies, vitamin c and hyaluronic acid have been used twice a day with good results.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally-occurring substance widely used in health, cosmetic, and biomedical fields. 

Also called hyaluronate or hyaluronan, HA is a type of complex sugar (polysaccharide) that is made in the 'plasma membrane' of cells. The plasma membrane is what separates the insides of the cell from its external environment.

While HA is present in all fluids and tissues in our body, including the lung, heart valves, skeletal tissues, joints, and eyes, almost 50 percent of the body's HA is found in the skin.

The benefits of hyaluronic acid

HA has several important functions thanks to its unique properties. The most important of these, in the context of skincare, is its ability to bind water. 

Best of all, hyaluronic acid is non-toxic and biocompatible. These are the reasons why hyaluronic acid is the 'star' in many skincare products, whether it is for treating dry skin, wrinkles, boosting collagen, or achieving skin hydration. 

Here are its multiple benefits:

Skin hydration

Dry skin is not only a minor inconvenience but can result in rashes, redness, cracking, and bleeding. Dry skin is also vulnerable to skin infections and allergies. 

Hyaluronic acid-based skin formulas enhance skin moisture and prevent the harsh consequences of excessively dry skin. 

Dermatologists assert that hyaluronic acid attracts water molecules and binds them like a sponge to increase the skin's moisture content. In fact, HA can hold a thousand times its own weight in water.

A 2014 study showed that hyaluronic-acid-based cream, lotion, and serum enhanced skin hydration by 96 percent after eight weeks of application. 

The hydrating effect of HA was observed on all skin types. Topical hyaluronic acid has been shown to boost skin hydration by 55 percent when applied in serum formulation.

Anti-aging

While youthful skin contains plenty of hyaluronic acids, the levels of this skincare ingredient go down with age. Other reasons for HA depletion include UV exposure, pollution, smoking, and chronic illnesses. 

When this happens, the skin loses its texture and volume, leading to the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. The anti-aging benefits of topical HA have been demonstrated in many studies. 

In one study, seventy-six women between the ages of 30 and 60 who had facial wrinkles applied a skincare formula with hyaluronic acid twice a day for two months. They found that HA significantly reduced wrinkles while improving skin hydration and elasticity.

When you apply an HA-based skin formula such as Coconut Water Full Cream With Hyaluronic Acid, the formula gets to work to hydrate and plump up the skin.

Smooth texture

Hyaluronic acid is equally effective in reducing skin roughness and improving skin elasticity and smoothness. Skincare products that contain the right formula of hyaluronic acid can effectively penetrate the outer layer of skin to bring a smoothening effect. Researchers have found that HA has "film-forming capabilities" that smoothen skin surface.

One of the most important benefits of hyaluronic acid is that it is suitable for all skin types. In a study, HA-based facial serum was used on people with different skin types who had signs of photoaging. 

Apart from hydration, plumping, wrinkles, fine lines, and smoothness, the researchers also evaluated product tolerability. They found that HA-based serums were well-tolerated by all skin types.

Wound healing

HA-based pills and injections are also used to speed up wound healing and to treat joint problems such as arthritis. HA binds to water creating a jelly-like fluid that lubricates the joints while acting as a shock absorber in the joint.

Can I use hyaluronic acid every day?

Yes! In fact, in many studies, the participants applied hyaluronic-acid-based topical creams or lotions twice a day without experiencing any side effects.

Scientists have found that hyaluronic acid continues to improve skin hydration long after the study period. 

This is because the topical formulas replenish the levels of hyaluronic acid in the outer skin layers. As the levels of HA increase, the skin improvements continue over time.

Can I use hyaluronic acid and vitamin C together?

Combining vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together is a great way of achieving optimal skin health. According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are commonly used together as they complement each other. Combined, they protect, hydrate, and repair skin damage.

Hyaluronic acid helps prevent any skin dryness that can be caused by too much vitamin C in some people with sensitive skin types, according to dermatologists. As hyaluronic acid creates a protective hydrating barrier, it allows vitamin C to do what it does best, boost collagen and fight wrinkles.

What goes first, vitamin C or hyaluronic acid?

Skincare product manufacturers have made it easy for you by adding both vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in a single formula such as Wow Vitamin C Face Cream. Apart from vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, the face cream also features skin nourishing shea and cocoa butter, hydrating Moroccan argan oil, almond, and jojoba oils that deeply nourish the skin.

If you want to use vitamin c and hyaluronic acid products separately, skincare experts recommend using the thinnest one first, followed by the thicker cream or serum.

How to use hyaluronic acid with vitamin C?

Follow these steps to use vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together:

Cleanse - Cleansing your face is the first step to any skincare routine. Wash your face with a specific face wash formula with ingredients tailored to achieve gentle yet deep cleansing.

Apply a serum with vitamin C - Applying a vitamin C serum before hyaluronic acid may be a good idea. Vitamin C tends to have a drying effect that hyaluronic acid rectifies. Dermatologists also recommend applying a vitamin C serum immediately after cleansing your face to boost the penetration of vitamin C.

A perfect choice is Wow vitamin C serum with vitamin C and other skin nutrients such as witch hazel extract and ferulic acid.

Layer with HA-based serum - Wait for a few minutes to let the vitamin C serum get absorbed fully into the skin. Layer with a hyaluronic acid serum by massaging the serum using upward stroking motion. The WOW Coconut Water Full Cream With Hyaluronic Acid is enriched with skin superfoods such as hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, antioxidants such as vitamin E, and minerals.

Treat your skin to Wow's science-backed and plant-powered range of skincare products right from face wash, face creams, serums to body butter and lotions, tailored to give your skin the nourishment it needs.