guideVitamin C

How to use Vitamin C in a maintenance routine

Where Vitamin C fits, how often to use it, and what to pair it with for barrier-first consistency.

Where it fits in your routine

Cleanse (gentle) → hydrate → treat (optional) → moisturize → sunscreen (AM).

Vitamin C usually belongs in the “treat” step, but your barrier support is the foundation.

AM is the typical placement: cleanse → hydrate → vitamin C → moisturizer → sunscreen

Start 3 to 4 mornings/week, then increase if your skin stays calm

If you’re sensitive, prefer fragrance-free and lower-strength or derivative formulas

Glycerin and humectants for comfort

Ceramides for barrier reinforcement

Sunscreen in the morning if you’re targeting long-term aging well

Multiple exfoliants at once

Strong acids + strong retinoids in the same routine until you know your tolerance

Fragrance-heavy formulas that make it hard to interpret reactions

This guide is for education only — not medical advice. If your skin is persistently irritated, talk to a dermatologist.