Vitamin C has so many amazing benefits to your skin; from lightening darks spots to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But but the type of vitamin C serum you select, as well as how you use, when you use it and even store it, can significantly affect its power. In fact, not all vitamin C products are created equalóand they can be irritating to use in some cases.

So, before you start going down the path of finding a vitamin C product for your face, here are seven smart tips to get the most out of your vitamin C serum.

1. Use vitamin C serums in the morning

You can certainly use vitamin C products in the evening, but you'll get the most benefit when you use it in the morning. They typically should be applied before heading out for the day, when UV radiation is at its highest.

But what you may not realize is that vitamin C becomes less effective when exposed to light, so it's vital that you allow the serum to absorb into your skin before going outside. Always layer underneath sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 as the vitamin C will protect the skin even further too.

2. Use your vitamin C products in the correct order

Vitamin c serums should be applied after you cleanse and tone your face.

3. Use the right concentration vitamin C for your skin type and concerns

Different products contain a wide variety of concentrations of vitamin C. In general, they range from below 5% all the way up to 30% and this ingredient can have different effects at those concentrations. Pure Fiji's Kakadu Super Vitamin C Brightening Oil contain 15% of concentrated vitamin C.

If you have dry or sensitive skin a lower concentrations around 10% is recommended because it is likely to be irritating. Those with oily skin or with more extensive pigmentation issues can handle higher concentrations.

4. Don't use vitamin C with benzoyl peroxide

We recommend that you avoid using benzoyl peroxide when using vitamin c which can oxidize the vitamin C and, therefore, make it less potent. If you must use benzoyl peroxide products in your skin care routine try using vitamin C in the morning and benzoyl peroxide in the evenings, or use them on different days.

5. Store your vitamin C products correctly

Vitamin C is sensitive to light and air. When they are exposed to these factors it becomes less stable and less efficacious. That's why Pure Fiji's line of vitamin c products are stored in opaque containers.

6. Look for specific formulation of vitamin c

There are different types of vitamin C that you might see pop up in different types of products. Some of these are more stable than others, meaning they won't oxidize as quickly, and some of them have different properties that can make them more suited to certain skin types.

For example if you have dry, mature skin you want to look for moisturizing products containing lipid-soluble forms of vitamin C, like ascorbyl palmitate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. You can find this ingredient in Pure Fiji's Kakadu Super Vitamin C Brightening Oil and Pure Vitamin C Masque. Pure Fiji uses an oil-soluble, more stable form of Vitamin C in these products.

7. Beware if the color changes

A high quality vitamin C serum should be colorless or a light straw color like Pure Fiji's Brightening Serum. If it has been compromised it will turn yellow or brown and is less effective.

You may be reluctant to throw it especially if you paid a hefty price for it but it won't do as much for your skin. And in some cases oxidized vitamin C products can even cause slight yellow discoloration of the skin.

Summary

One of the most common way to get vitamin C in a skin-care routine is in a serum. But you don't have to limit yourself! If you'd rather not add an extra step to your skin care routine, know that you can also get vitamin C in cleansers, moisturizers, brightening oils, and masks.