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I’ll be honest—I didn’t start using vitamin C every day until I joined the Dr. Monica Scheel Dermatology team. I thought my cleanser-moisturizer-SPF routine was “good enough.” But Dr. Monica called it an “essential” to any skincare routine, so here I am, 3 years late and very grateful for the advice.
A vitamin C serum is a lightweight serum that delivers a concentrated dose of vitamin C straight to your skin. It works on two fronts. First, it’s an antioxidant, which means it shields your skin from the daily onslaught of environmental stress—think UV exposure, pollution, and even blue light. Second, it nudges your skin to make more collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm and smooth. Over time, that combo softens fine lines, brightens dullness, evens out discoloration (including dark spots and redness), and gives your skin that “awake” look.
What is an antioxidant?
Picture your skin like a freshly sliced apple. Leave it out, and it browns. That browning is what’s known as oxidation. Antioxidants are like a squeeze of lemon on the apple: they slow the damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals, helping your skin stay clearer, brighter, and calmer.
So what are free radicals?
They are highly reactive molecules created by things we can’t fully avoid like sunlight, air pollution, smoke, even normal metabolism. They bounce around looking for electrons, and in the process, they chip away at healthy cells, accelerating pigmentation, redness, fine lines, and texture changes. Vitamin C neutralizes these troublemakers before they can do much harm. Think of it as daily damage control.
With daily use in the morning, under sunscreen, I started noticing changes the way I’d notice good hair days: gradually, then all at once.
- First quarter of the bottle: tone looks brighter and more even; makeup goes on smoother because skin looks smoother.
- Half of the bottle: dark spots and post-breakout marks begin to fade; redness looks less angry.
- The entire bottle: fine lines soften as collagen support improves; skin looks firmer and more resilient.
Consistency is the whole game here. Vitamin C works best as a daily habit, not a sometimes treat.
Use your vitamin C in the morning on clean, dry skin, then seal it with moisturizer or a hyaluronic acid serum and always follow up with a sunscreen. That C + SPF pairing is where the real protection shines. If your skin is sensitive, start a few times a week and build up; a mild tingle can be normal at first. And if you’re already using strong actives (like a retinoid), alternate at first.
There are many good versions. If you’ve ever heard of L-ascorbic acid, that’s the purest, most studied form. It works best around 10–20%. Dark, air-tight bottles help keep it potent. If you’re reactive, gentler derivatives exist, just ask us and we’ll match you to the right one.
If you’re curious which formula fits your routine and goals, tell me about your skin. We can help you choose and show you exactly how to incorporate it into your skincare routine.
This is my favorite vitamin C.
This is Dr. Monica’s favorite vitamin C.
Have questions about if this is a good treatment for you? Feel free to email me anytime at mmahoney@drmonicascheel.com or call my direct line at (808) 666-2078. I love talking about skincare, and I’d be happy to help.
Mahalo for reading, and here’s to healthy, glowing skin!