Can Vitamin C In My Skincare Cause An Allergic Reaction?

Vitamin C can brighten the skin and help reduce the signs of ageing, but not all Vitamin C serums are formulated in the correct way to prevent irritation and reactions. Although allergic reactions to Vitamin C in skincare are rare, they can happen. 

Symptoms normally include redness or a mild burning sensation, and they tend to appear immediately. Irritation may also cause breakouts. With Vitamin C serums, the most common cause is a formula which is too acidic and not stable.

In your normal skincare products, you might find pure forms of vitamin C, known as L-Ascorbic Acid, but more often than not, you’ll come across derivatives that convert into vitamin C once they’re absorbed into your skin. This is because, while the purest form is effective, it’s also the most unstable and the most prone to oxidisation. L-ascorbic acid is also highly prone to oxidisation. Most products come in lightproof containers to reduce the risk of oxidisation, but exposure to air can cause it to oxidise as well.

When your serum is oxidised, it can irritate or even cause an allergic reaction in the skin.

Can you avoid allergic reactions?

Allergic reactions tend to happen when your immune system mistakes something as a potential threat, so you don’t want to shock your skin by applying lots of Vitamin C all of a sudden.

When you start using any active ingredient, introduce it slowly.
Apply a small amount every other day and gradually build up to daily use as your skin adapts.

AIl Rejuvaus products only use a form of Vitamin C that is more stable and less irritating than L-Ascorbic Acid called Superox-C.

This is extracted from the world's most powerful natural source of Vitamin C Kakadu Plum.