Citrus fruits
Scroll for five minutes and someone will tell you that you NEED a vitamin C serum. Every morning. No exceptions. If it's not in your routine, you're basically aging in fast-forward.
I hear the echo of it in my treatment room every single week. I build a client a beautiful routine, and the first question is almost always, "Wait... where's the vitamin C?"
Here's the thing. I LOVE vitamin C. It's a brilliant ingredient and I recommend it all the time. But it is NOT the end-all, be-all of skincare, and you probably don't need that vitamin C serum the internet keeps pushing at you.
The Question I Hear at Every Reorder
A client of mine recently started the KrX Youthplex line for her anti-aging concerns. When she came in to reorder, she paused and asked, "Should I add a vitamin C serum too?"
It's the ingredient we hear about the most, so of course she asked!
I asked her one simple question back... "Do you want to use two serums?"
She absolutely could. But her Youthplex serum is already addressing most of her concerns. Its small-chain multi-peptides help support collagen and elastin while keeping her skin hydrated and cushioned. That serum is the one doing the real work for her goals.
When we talked it through, she admitted she didn't really WANT another serum. She just felt like she was missing out. And honestly? That feeling is exactly what social media is selling.
Let's Give Vitamin C Credit
Vitamin C earned its fame for good reasons. A well-formulated vitamin C serum can:
Act as an antioxidant, helping defend skin against the free radicals from UV and pollution.
Back up your sunscreen. It does NOT replace SPF, but the two make a great team.
Help brighten dullness and soften the look of dark spots.
Support your skin's natural collagen production, since your skin needs vitamin C to build collagen.
That's a great resume! But a great resume doesn't mean every client needs to hire it.
Your Goals Come First, Not the Ingredient
When I build a routine, I don't start with a trendy ingredient and work backward. I start with YOU. What bothers you when you look in the mirror? What do you want to see in three months?
Then I find the formula that checks those boxes. Sometimes that's a vitamin C serum. Often it's a peptide serum, a soothing serum, or a brightening blend that does the job better for your skin.
Skincare isn't about collecting every "must-have" ingredient. One serum that targets your actual concerns will ALWAYS beat three serums you bought because an influencer said so.
When I WOULD Say Yes to Vitamin C
If my client had been more worried about redness and sun damage, my answer would have been different. Vitamin C moves up my list when:
Sun damage, sunspots, or uneven tone is your main concern.
You spend a lot of time outdoors. Hello, Colorado hikers, skiers, and gardeners! Our altitude means more UV exposure.
You have dark marks left behind after breakouts.
Your skin looks dull and tired, and brightening is the goal.
Even then, not every vitamin C is right for every skin. There are MANY forms, and some are far gentler than others. That's a whole blog of its own, so stay tuned!
More Serums Doesn't Mean More Results
This is where so many people get overwhelmed. One serum becomes two, two becomes four, and suddenly your morning routine takes twenty minutes. Your skin gets irritated, and you can't tell which product is actually helping.
There's also a patience piece. My client started her Youthplex routine in September. Supporting collagen and volume takes time, and your skin needs months of consistent use, not weeks, to show what a formula can do. Adding something new now would only muddy the waters.
So before you add that next serum to your cart, ask yourself... Is my current routine addressing my goals? Have I given it enough time? If the answer is yes, you're not missing out on anything.
Let's Build a Routine Around YOU
You don't need every trending ingredient. You need the RIGHT products for your skin and your goals, and a routine simple enough that you'll actually use it.
Not sure if your routine is checking the right boxes? Browse our Shop by Concern routines, each built with five products plus a bonus, or book a virtual skincare consultation and I'll help you figure out what your skin really needs. Local to Evergreen? Book your appointment here!
