Vitamin C & Hyaluronic Acid: How to Layer Them

Benefits of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in skincare

Known for its brightening abilities, the benefits of vitamin c make it a key ingredient in skincare routines to support dull skin. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C make it ideal for AM application because it can support SPF in protecting the skin against UV ray damage. Plus, vitamin C can promote a more even skin tone by helping to visibly fade discolouration, pigmentation and post-blemish marks.

Considered a hero hydrator, a single molecule of hyaluronic acid can hold up to a thousand times its weight in water, allowing it to encourage a softer, bouncier and plumper appearance. HA also naturally occurs in the skin, so it’s suitable for almost any skin type and especially to nourish dry skin on the face or body.

Using vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together

Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C typically interact well on the skin, and their individual benefits complement each other, making them a powerhouse skincare duo. To get the most out of this ingredient pairing, there’s a few key application tips to master:

• What order to apply vitamin C and hyaluronic acid
• When to apply vitamin C and hyaluronic acid
• How often to use vitamin C and hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C: which comes first?

The order in which to apply skincare products is typically ruled by the formula, starting with the thinnest consistency products and working your way up to thicker textures. When it comes to vitamin C though, other factors come into play – namely, this ingredient should always be applied to clean, dry skin. To make it simple, we created a vitamin C hyaluronic acid serum - Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum for Anti-Ageing to help smooth texture and promote even tone while delivering hydration.

Next, you can move on to moisturiser – and if you really want to double down on hydration, consider a HA enriched formula. In the AM, try Ceramides Moisturising Cream For Dry Skin and in the evening, choose a formula that progressively absorbs through the hours of sleep, like Ceramides PM Facial Moisturising Lotion.

Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C: morning or night?

Both vitamin C and hyaluronic acid can be used in both an AM and PM routine, but the benefits of vitamin C typically serve your skin better when applied in the morning. This is because vitamin C is rich in antioxidants that work to alongside SPF to protect complexions against potential damage caused by UV rays.

On the other hand, hyaluronic acid can be used to support hydration at any time of day, but it’s important to consider other steps within your skincare routine. For example, you might need extra hydration around the eyes. In this case, reach for a HA-enriched eye cream that wears well under makeup, like Ceramides Eye Repair Cream for Dark Circles. But if your morning skincare routine has a lot of steps, or you only prefer to apply eye cream at night, you might decide to apply HA in moisturiser form instead.

Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C: How often to apply?

How frequently to use any skincare ingredient differs for everyone and is often dictated by things like your complexion concerns, your skin type, and sensitivity. Start slow, applying once or twice a week and building up use as tolerance grows.

While most skin types can find support in daily use of hyaluronic acid, you should still choose formulas designed for to your skin type. For oily skin, Ceramides Foaming Oil-Free Cleanser could be the right fit, while dry skin needs a face wash that purifies without robbing skin of natural oils, like Ceramides Hydrating Cleanser for Dry Skin.

Want to learn how to pair other skincare ingredient duos? Now you know how to layer vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, read up on the ingredients you can mix with ceramides in skincare.