Vitamin C products darkens my skin?? Am I the only one? :(
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free skin care · Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:11 am

Hi ladies, this might sound really strange, considering how many people rave about vit c helping them reduce pigmentation. For me on the other hand, its the reverse. It somehow makes my skin darker. Its true! I noticed it a while ago and wanted to give it one last test before I post a thread on EDS.
I have been using other products 'Cetaphil,Dr H' for 1 month. No Vitamin c products what so ever. Then last night, I used Ultra Ceuticals vitamin c cream, I was pretty sure by that stage that i will wake up with a darker face, and i did!!!! Bingo!
So , heres the question- am I the only one HERE that has this kind of reaction?? And can anyone explain why? The only reason I can think of is that somehow my skin thinks vitamin c is too strong- hence it 'disturbed or woke up' the pigments in my skin, and made it darker?? I find that vit c creams really does rejuvenate and firms my skin, however I dont want to look darker/ orangey at the same time..Hmm...im lost... Crying or Very sad

Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:22 am

I think what you're describing is the staining of the skin by vitamin C as it oxidises. I never had this problem with my face but I remember that if I didn't wash my hands after applying some vit C serums, the lines on my palms would get dark orange. Are you exfoliating on a regular basis? What does your C serum look like in terms of colour?

Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:16 pm

please do not use VC product in daytime ....

free skin care · Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:42 pm

Hi Mabsy,
Thanks for your reply. Its not really a serum that im using, its more like a cream type, and its pure white in colour. I wash my face in the morning but the colour still stays on my face. I really do turn darker, at least 1 shade darker than the night before I put on the vit c cream. I have tried other brands on vitamin c creams and it does exactly the same thing. The higher the potency of the vit c, the faster i will get darker. Its a mystery!! I might have to give up vitamin C all together, even though i love the firming effect. I tried googling and searching on the internet, but could not find anything. I want to at least find out why it happens before i give it up.

free skin care · Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:46 pm

qiongsh wrote:

please do not use VC product in daytime ....

Hi Qiongsh, I only use vitamin C in the night time.

free skin care · Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:55 pm

I think there is no vitamin c product should be used in the day time, even though it is supposed to be could be illuminated by sunshine.
Recently, the technology is still not advanced enough for proventing the vitamin c from the sun damage.

Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:32 am

The vitamin C absorbs sunlight and makes skin black, don't use on daytime

free skin care · Sun Sep 06, 2009 1:20 am

Hi all,

Yeh I only ever use Vitamin c creams at night, but its still darkening my skin...why??

free skin care · Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:25 am

I had the same effect (I even posted about it), just when I started using my Vit C serum in February, I have a light color skin, so I had a glowing tan (very noticeable) on my face by mid day and on. But it stopped appearing after continuing use. Except, I noticed, as did many others, and reported here that when VitC was used blackheads on the nose and cheeks became more apparent, so I had to exfoliate often.

I think it is a sort of oxidation/Vit C stability problem. There is a thread where we are currently discussing this. (wow it's already been pushed far away by newer posts, but it is very current thread)

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=35215

free skin care · Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:32 am

Hi Ella-Stella
Thanks for your post and thank god im not the only one! I tried searching 'vitamin C' on EDS but i didnt see your post? I didnt realise that it makes blackheads more apparent? Eww... having blackheads is bad enough, i dont need people to take more notice of it. This 1 more negative side effect of could very well be the factor that stops me from using vitamin C once and for all.

Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:03 am

i use obagi vit c serum 5% around my eyes and obagi vit C serum 20% for the rest of my face. the instructions say to use the serums in the A.M. i have always followed this.

i also started using perricone's amine complex facelift which also has vit c in it. it instructs to use in the A.M.
i'm confused. why would the manufacturers instruct to use in the A.M. if it effective?

free skin care · Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:27 am

cc428 wrote:

Hi Ella-Stella
Thanks for your post and thank god im not the only one! I tried searching 'vitamin C' on EDS but i didnt see your post? I didnt realise that it makes blackheads more apparent? Eww... having blackheads is bad enough, i dont need people to take more notice of it. This 1 more negative side effect of could very well be the factor that stops me from using vitamin C once and for all.

My post about the color was in one of the threads on "fake tan" because I shared there that something is giving me color like a fake tan, and so we figured out that it was Vit C and maybe my mistake to use it too soon after copper peptides.

I haven't given up on Vit C yet. However I am going to try to use only DIY serum to make sure it is fresh and not oxidized. I also do not think Vit C causes blackheads, I think it just gives them more color (pigment) when the Vit C is oxidized, which I am now trying to avoid with DIY stuff. And not only because of the blackheads, but because it is not effective when it is oxidized as it is discussed in that thread (I posted the link earlier)

Sun Sep 06, 2009 7:03 am

There is some debate over whether using vit C serums in the morning is a good thing, however I have always used mine in the morning unless I'm using one with a heavier texture in which case I use it at night. There is an argument for using it in the morning in that it helps to protect the skin from the sun (you need to use sunblock as well of course). I can't say I've ever had issues with my skin going darker (although in my case that would be quite welcome since I'm very pale) but I always make sure that the serums I use are fresh and clear.

Sun May 06, 2012 4:23 pm

I have the same reaction with vitamin C. Everybody told me I was the only one with this reaction as for other people the skin got lighter. I am not giving up on vitamin C. I tried a DIY and again have the darkening results. It has been over 3 weeks and I can't get the dark yellowish color off. Any advise?
Thanks!

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2012 4:33 pm

Welcome!

Which form of vitamin C are you referring to, Zobe?

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2012 4:45 pm

I use Vit C in the daily only because I use copper peptides and Retin A at night, so really need to space things out. I don't have any faith in LAA Vit C serums that you buy ready made and cost a fortune. They just always appear orange in the bottle, even though we are told its the way it should be by the people selling it. And Ive tried a few and can't rely on getting fresh stuff anymore. I prefer the freshness of adding my Vit C powder daily to my aloe Vera or distilled water and just using it as a toner. There's no orange tinge or anything.

I must admit though ultraceuticals is the worst Vit C serum Ive tried and Ive tried the cream and serums. The only product I don't mind from them is their hydrating lotion and even skin tone serum.

I have used the ultraceutical C and the one you are referring to is the cream one.? I was told, at the time I used it, to rub it or massage it in for 2 minutes and use it at night. Not sure if that's what you've been advised. However if you get the same darkening with other LAA type C products then perhaps you could go for something else, like MAP ETC..Maybe your skin is not suited for certain types of Vit C serums and creams.

We all are different and different things work and don't work for us.

Sun May 06, 2012 5:57 pm

Thank you for your reply. I tried organic Vitamin C years ago, only for a few days and had the darkening results. I don't think they sell that brand anymore. I decided to try again, using my own solution: purified water and vitamin C white powder after I saw people having great results with DIY solutions.I only put it on two nights before going to bed. On the second day, my face, neck and hands looked as if I had stained them. So,the third night I put it on in the rest of my body since I didn't want to look with a face painted; and now my skin is a very dark yellow color. My skin is naturally pale, so I really want to get my normal color back. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks again.

Sun May 06, 2012 6:00 pm

I forgot to ask you. How much vitamin C powder are you adding to the water. I used a formula of 4oz of purified water and 1 teaspoon of vitamin C. Is that too much vitamin C?

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2012 6:22 pm

Which form of vitamin C are you referring to Zobe? L-ascorbic acid, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or another? Are you weighing and correcting the pH of your DIY solution?

free skin care · Sun May 06, 2012 6:35 pm

zobe wrote:

I forgot to ask you. How much vitamin C powder are you adding to the water. I used a formula of 4oz of purified water and 1 teaspoon of vitamin C. Is that too much vitamin C?

If it is LAA then roughly:

4oz.=120ml.
1tsp.=4.9ml.

A 10% C would be 12ml. in 120ml. so you are at less than 5% by my calculations, which I invite anyone to double check! Laughing

free skin care · Mon May 07, 2012 4:00 am

This is weird because I've been having this same sort of problem but I'm not sure if it's related to vitamin c or not.

I took some pictures recently with a new digital camera and was horrified to see that my face looks tanned/yellow/orange. I'm naturally like as pale as you can imagine! And I can't figure out what is wrong. I was even worried I had some sort of liver problem, but the whites of my eyes aren't yellow! Then I thought perhaps it's that carotenemia condition from too much carotenes, or the similar lycopene condition from too much lycopene. (I eat a ton of these a day but not as much now because of this Sad

) But then I saw that my eyeglasses nose pads are orangey/yellowy looking, the same as my skin. Omg! So I've now been thinking it's my face cream, because I seem to get darker as the day goes on. It's so upsetting!

Firefox, maybe you would know what's causing this? The form of vitamin c in my current face cream is "ascorbyl glucoside" but it's quite near the bottom of the list. But still, it's in a jar, I wonder if oxidation of the cream is the problem? It's quite siliconey feeling, sticky and sort of sits on top of the skin. It's a sort of gel-cream consistency rather than a regular cream. (And it doesn't moisturize well either lol.)

The ingredients are:

Water , Cyclopentasiloxane , Glycerin , Niacinamide , Acetyl Glucosamine , Dimethicone , Polyethlene , Polyacrylamide , Dimethicone , Crosspolymer , Panthenol , Triethanolamine , C13-1 Isoparaffin , Dimethiconol , DMDM Hydantoin , Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Disodiium EDTA , Laureth-4 , Tocopheryl Acetate , Laureth-7 , Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil , Fragrance , Bambusa Vulgaris Extract , Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract , Butylene Glycol , Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate , Phenoxyethanol , Ascorbyl Glucoside , Soluble Collagen , Sodium Hyaluronate , Tin Oxide , Titanium Dioxide , Mica

I realize it's probably crap but I'm in love with the sort of opalescent luminous finish it gives, which I can't find anywhere else. (Darnit!)

Sorry for going off topic. Anyhow, Firefox do you think its the vitamin c in this product combined with being in a jar/oxidizing and sitting on top of the skin that's causing this darkening?

free skin care · Mon May 07, 2012 7:40 am

Ascorbyl glucoside is supposed to be stable, plus I don't think there is enough in that formulation to do anything at all. Could be your sweat/ sebum that is giving you the orange glow? Or the acidity of your sweat/ sebum in combo with one of your products? Some people find foundation turns orange through the day due to this. Is your cleansing method super gentle and pH ~5.5?

IMO the luminous finish is down to the titanium and mica in the silicone base (emboldened), you can find make up primers with similar ingredients and effects.

"Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Acetyl Glucosamine, Dimethicone, Polyethlene, Polyacrylamide, Dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, C13-1 Isoparaffin, Dimethiconol, DMDM Hydantoin, Acrylates/ C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Disodiium EDTA, Laureth-4, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Fragrance, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Soluble Collagen, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Mica."

Mon May 07, 2012 10:19 am

[quote="Mabsy"]There is some debate over whether using vit C serums in the morning is a good thing, however I have always used mine in the morning unless I'm using one with a heavier texture in which case I use it at night. There is an argument for using it in the morning in that it helps to protect the skin from the sun (you need to use sunblock as well of course). I can't say I've ever had issues with my skin going darker (although in my case that would be quite welcome since I'm very pale) but I always make sure that the serums I use are fresh and clear.[/quote]

I'm curious to hear whether there is any consensus about the AM versus PM application. I started using it in the morning, when I read several sources stating this is best, but am getting a bit uneasy now.

free skin care · Mon May 07, 2012 10:32 am

Vitamin C

Let’s talk about vitamin C…
You may already know, but it bears repeating, that when it comes to smart skin care, there isn’t a single magic ingredient—no matter how expensive, no matter how rare. Just as eating only one vegetable can’t possibly give your body everything it needs, no single antioxidant, no matter how potent, can give your skin all the care it needs. Yet if you’ve seen any skin care marketing in the past two decades, you’ve probably noticed that vitamin C gets a lot of attention as being nothing short of miraculous. Rather than rely on hype, we turned to published, substantiated research in order to understand how the antioxidant powerhouse vitamin C can truly benefit skin.

A piggy-back ride to skincare fame…
Almost 20 years ago, a Duke University scholar published a ground-breaking paper that showed how a form of vitamin C called L-ascorbic acid reduced UVB damage when applied to the backs of hairless pigs. This evidence suggested that photodamage or “sun spots” could be repaired with topical use of vitamin C—and that was big news for anyone concerned with signs of aging! That original paper preceded an impressive and conclusive body of research that has since proven the benefits, stability issues, and usage requirements for vitamin C. Further research (lots of research) continued to show vitamin C’s positive effect on skin, and a bonafide, legitimate skincare craze was born!

Mass market explosion leads to consumer confusion…
As widely used as vitamin C is in cosmetics now, it can get confusing because there are many forms, each with its own name formulated in varying amounts. Here’s what you need to know:

The forms of vitamin C that are proven most stable and effective are: ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, retinyl ascorbate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.
Regardless of marketing hype – there is no one “best” form of topically-applied vitamin C.
A proven range for vitamin C efficacy is between 0.3% and 10%.
All antioxidants, including vitamin C, are vulnerable to deterioration in the presence of air and light. If a product containing antioxidants does not come in airtight, opaque packaging, don’t buy it!
So what can vitamin C really do?
Here’s what a well-formulated, stably-packaged product with vitamin C can do for your skin:

Protect skin cells and skin’s support structure from UV-related damage
Improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin
Strengthen skin’s barrier response
Reduce inflammation
Promote collagen production
Enhance effectiveness of peels and microdermabrasion
Lessen hyperpigmentation (at levels of 3% or greater)
Boost the efficacy of sunscreen actives

http://www.cosmeticscop.com/vitamin-c.aspx

DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE HYDRA-PURE VITAMIN C BRIGHTENING SERUM

PRODUCT INFORMATION:
View the Video Description for this product! (Please note that the color shown in the video may no longer be available.)
Vitamin C is proved to be the most potent anti-aging ingredient. Use Hydra-Pure® Vitamin C Serum to fight the forces of nature and keep your skin youthful and glowing.
This nourishing serum contains three forms of Vitamin C, which works in the lipid-soluble and water-soluble layers of the skin, to provide maximum efficacy.
Repairs damage from aging, sun, stress and poor diet, reversing the visible signs of aging and promoting collagen growth.
Micro-encapsulated delivery system amplifies the effects of beneficial trace minerals, making active ingredients work better.
Use in the PM.
1 oz.

Full Ingredient Disclosure: CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, CYCLOMETHICONE, ASCORBIC ACID, DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER, PEG/PPG-18/18 DIMETHICONE, SQUALANE, SODIUM ASCORBYL PHOSPHATE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, QUERCETIN CAPRYLATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, LINOLEIC ACID, SODIUM CHONDROITIN SULFATE, SODIUM HYALURONATE, SALICYLIC ACID, LACTIC ACID, PALMITOYL OLIGOPEPTIDE, PUERARIA LOBATA ROOT EXTRACT, SALIX NIGRA (WILLOW) BARK EXTRACT, ACRYLATES/CARBAMATE COPOLYMER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PANTHENOL, PENTASODIUM PENTETATE, PHYTIC ACID, POTASSIUM CITRATE, POTASSIUM GLUCONATE, TETRASODIUM EDTA, PURIFIED WATER (AQUA PURIFICATA), PHENOXYETHANOL

http://www.zappos.com/dr-dennis-gross-skincare-hydra-pure-vitamin-c-brightening-serum-1-0-oz

I never find consistent recommendations on this, I do use my Laa in the AM! Very Happy

Sun May 13, 2012 5:07 pm

The color you described in your face is exactly how my face looks: tanned/yellowish/orange. It had been over a month and the color is not fading. I am starting to worry. I used vitamin C white crystal- Ascorbic acid. My face looks stained, so I tried the vitamin C in other parts of my body and I had the same results. I was never able to tan my legs and now they are yellowish. I really want to recover my natural skin color but I don't know what to do.

egyptiangoddess wrote:

This is weird because I've been having this same sort of problem but I'm not sure if it's related to vitamin c or not.

I took some pictures recently with a new digital camera and was horrified to see that my face looks tanned/yellow/orange. I'm naturally like as pale as you can imagine! And I can't figure out what is wrong. I was even worried I had some sort of liver problem, but the whites of my eyes aren't yellow! Then I thought perhaps it's that carotenemia condition from too much carotenes, or the similar lycopene condition from too much lycopene. (I eat a ton of these a day but not as much now because of this Sad

) But then I saw that my eyeglasses nose pads are orangey/yellowy looking, the same as my skin. Omg! So I've now been thinking it's my face cream, because I seem to get darker as the day goes on. It's so upsetting!

Firefox, maybe you would know what's causing this? The form of vitamin c in my current face cream is "ascorbyl glucoside" but it's quite near the bottom of the list. But still, it's in a jar, I wonder if oxidation of the cream is the problem? It's quite siliconey feeling, sticky and sort of sits on top of the skin. It's a sort of gel-cream consistency rather than a regular cream. (And it doesn't moisturize well either lol.)

The ingredients are:

Water , Cyclopentasiloxane , Glycerin , Niacinamide , Acetyl Glucosamine , Dimethicone , Polyethlene , Polyacrylamide , Dimethicone , Crosspolymer , Panthenol , Triethanolamine , C13-1 Isoparaffin , Dimethiconol , DMDM Hydantoin , Acrylates / C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Disodiium EDTA , Laureth-4 , Tocopheryl Acetate , Laureth-7 , Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil , Fragrance , Bambusa Vulgaris Extract , Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Fruit Extract , Butylene Glycol , Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate , Phenoxyethanol , Ascorbyl Glucoside , Soluble Collagen , Sodium Hyaluronate , Tin Oxide , Titanium Dioxide , Mica

I realize it's probably crap but I'm in love with the sort of opalescent luminous finish it gives, which I can't find anywhere else. (Darnit!)

Sorry for going off topic. Anyhow, Firefox do you think its the vitamin c in this product combined with being in a jar/oxidizing and sitting on top of the skin that's causing this darkening?

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