5 Ways Vitamin C Serum Benefits Oily Skin

Do you have oily skin, or do you think you have oily skin? There are specific characteristics your skin displays that can hint at this. An oily skin type is most commonly defined as one that produces excess oil on the face that could result in a persistently shiny or greasy appearance. Naturally, the skin has a certain amount of oils to keep it supple and moisturized. Your skin type is mainly based on how much oil your skin naturally makes and some skin types may have a mixture of different levels of oil production.

The main signs of an oily skin type include: 

• Your face is typically shiny, and it gets greasy as the day progresses.
• You have visibly enlarged pores, especially on your nose, forehead, and chin. 
• Makeup seems to slide off rather than stay on throughout the day. 
• The oilier areas of your face may house blackheads, pimples, and other forms of acne. 

If you want to know more about skin type, learn more about how to determine your skin type in our latest release.

Is Vitamin C Serum Good for Oily Skin?

You might have read somewhere that vitamin C is suitable for all skin types, but may be wondering, “is vitamin C good for oily skin?” or “how do vitamin C serums work for oily skin?”. The short answer is “yes,” as the benefits of vitamin C for oily skin are expansive due to this ingredient’s antioxidant-rich trait. Serums that include vitamin C help to unclog pores, clear out impurities and excess oil, as well as brighten and even out skin tone. Vitamin C serums are also suitable for sensitive and combination skin, as they provide intense hydration to dehydrated skin (in addition to the benefits listed above). We always recommend finding products with the form of vitamin C that is best suited for your skin, as some forms can irritate the skin—especially those with more sensitive skin types. 

We also live by the rule of pairing your Vitamin C serum with an appropriate facial oil to reap the synergistic advantages of using a hydrating product (your serum) with a moisturizer (your facial oil). This duo is especially great for oily skin types, as the vitamin C serum’s efforts are bolstered by the work the facial oil does in helping to balance the skin’s natural oils. Together, they promote a plump, purified, brightened and balanced complexion. 

If you have oily skin and are concerned about applying a facial oil, we understand where the fear may come from! Oily skin doesn’t thrive when you apply thick moisturizers or ingredients that are not compatible with it, but that doesn’t mean you should steer clear of moisturizers altogether. It’s important to find the right type of moisturizer that supports your skin rather than one that overwhelms it, like our Herbal Facial Oil for Oily Skin, which has a lightweight, fast-absorbing grapeseed oil base combined with cleansing botanicals.

Benefits of Vitamin C Serum for Oily Skin

One of the benefits of vitamin C serums for oily skin is the antioxidant-rich quality that can tackle a variety of skin concerns at once. This makes it not only beneficial for oily skin types but also for normal, sensitive, and combination skin types. Below are some of the benefits a vitamin C serum can do for oily skin.

Promotes skin firmness and youthful radiance

Vitamin C contains antioxidants and other properties that enrich the skin, keeping your look firm and tight and leaving it with a youthful radiance. When purchasing a vitamin C serum, look for one that harnesses hydrating ingredients like saccharide isomerate and other skin-firming herbs like calendula, which work together to create a bouncy-looking, vibrant look for the skin.

Our Wild Fruit Serum has the perfect combination of powerful humectants, antioxidant-rich botanicals, and skin-firming herbs to achieve this effect.

Unclogs pores

Dirt, dust, and pollution often wreck the skin by clogging it and introducing bacteria. When you have oily skin, you are most likely already dealing with clogged pores because of excess natural oil production—so you really want to avoid having these extra factors contribute to further clogging. The benefits of vitamin C serums for oily skin can be of great aid to these issues since it is typically packed with antioxidants, which protect the skin from environmental stressors.

If your main concern is to unclog pores, we highly recommend pairing your vitamin C serum with a facial oil best suited for your skin type to reap the benefits of a vitamin c serum for clogged pores and oily skin, because the facial oil will play a vital role in balancing the skin’s natural oils. Remember, serums are aqueous-based products, so they are typically composed of emulsions or hydrating ingredients (rather than being oil-based), but you could look for a serum that features moisturizing ingredients, like squalane, in the formula.

Hydrates the skin

Upon applying a vitamin C serum, your skin will get hydrated even in the deeper layers. Because oily skin types produce excess natural oils, it’s a common misconception that a serum, which hydrates the skin, is not needed. (Don’t forget, hydration and moisturization play different roles in a routine.) However, for your skin to vibrate in perfect harmony, you’ll want to ensure it is not only properly moisturized, but also properly hydrated. A serum’s main role is to provide optimal hydration for the skin, and this is no different with a vitamin C serum. Because serums are aqueous-based solutions, they have a smaller molecular size which results in the product driving deeper into the skin. This means all of the wonderful activated ingredients get put to great use, as they make their way to your skin’s deep layers.

Brightens and evens out skin tone

Because oily skin types can come across congested pores, a common habit that forms is overly touching or picking skin. Picked skin can then result in the appearance of dark spots. Thus, incorporating a vitamin C serum will not only protect your skin from environmental stressors, but it will also brighten your skin complexion by interacting with the tyrosinase enzyme. The tyrosinase enzyme is the primary enzyme responsible for converting the amino acid tyrosine into melanin.

Because vitamin C (with its great beauty benefits for your skin) inhibits this enzyme, this ingredient has a brightening effect on the skin, making it a wonderful solution if you’re looking for an overall illuminated appearance or if you’re looking to even out skin tone variations for one consistent shade.

Protects the skin against environmental stressors 

Many environmental stressors beyond our control can work against our skin. A great way to combat the potential impact these effects can have on our skin is to shield your face with an antioxidant-rich vitamin C serum. This doesn’t mean you should skip your daily sunscreen (as this step is an essential outer guard against the elements), but your vitamin C serum will help create a preliminary line of defense by adding back in an abundance of antioxidants that not only protect against environmental stressors, but also replenish any nutrients that can potentially be depleted when facing such stressors.

How Does a Vitamin C Serum Work for Oily Skin?

A vitamin C serum, filled with humectants and antioxidant-rich ingredients alongside potent, activated ones, will successfully hydrate and brighten skin, even out skin tone, and firm and tighten your look. The vitamin C, with its antioxidant-rich content, paired with other nutritious herbs and plant-powered peptides help in achieving the above listed benefits of Vitamin C serum for oily skin. 

We understand that finding a solution for oily skin can feel cumbersome, as you experiment with a plethora of products trying to find the ones that work best for you and your skin.

Say bye to the frustrating days of greasy skin and clogged pores and hello to properly hydrated, moisturized, glowing skin. Besides that, you can rest assured knowing you’re also introducing an abundant dose of skin-shielding antioxidants through the vitamin C serum for oily skin benefits, protecting your skin barrier from the negative effects of outdoor elements. 

If you’re ready to harness the powers of a truly pure vitamin C formula in your skin care ritual, check out our Citrus Stem Cell Serum from the Signature line and the Wild Fruit Serum from the Wild Alchemy line. Or, if you’re already committed to a serum that works for you, add 1-3 drops of Brighten from our Concentrated Boosting Elixirs to your existing serum for a small, yet potent touch of the gentlest and stablest form of vitamin C with sea buckthorn!

Frequently Ask Questions

Can I use a vitamin C serum for oily skin?

You can use a vitamin C serum for oily skin. It deeply hydrates the skin with the use of humectants without leaving a greasy film, brightens and evens out skin tone, and protects the skin against environmental stressors due to its antioxidant-rich content, among other many benefits. 

We recommend pairing your high-quality vitamin C serum with a facial oil formulated for oily skin. While the vitamin C serum hydrates, brightens, and protects, the facial oil will play out its main role in balancing the skin’s natural oils, which will address the issues of excess oil production and result in properly hydrated and moisturized skin for a balanced, radiant complexion.

Alternatively, if you are looking for a serum that does it all, look for a vitamin C serum that features moisturizing ingredients (like plant-derived squalane) or add a 1-3 drops of Brighten in the Concentrated Boosting Elixirs, which features Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, arguably the best vitamin C for skin.

Does vitamin C help with oily skin?

Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and thus great for promoting healthy-looking skin for oily skin types. It also helps reduce the appearance of temporary skin redness and evens out skin tone.