, tells SELF. “Serums typically offer the highest concentrations of active vitamin C and tend to have better skin penetration compared to other vitamin C products, like creams and cleansers.” Here are a few of the biggies when it comes to benefits:That’s because the antioxidant can help your skin produce collagen—a protein that gives your complexion a firmer, bouncier feel, which in turn helps to improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles, Dr. Chiu explains.
Dr. Chiu warns that stronger formulations can sometimes have a low pH, which can be especially irritating for those with dry and/or sensitive skin. To be safe, she recommends starting with a gentler formula at first—one that contains less than 5% vitamin C—and then working your way up if you’d like. Most people can benefit from going up to 10% once their skin can handle it, and some can go up to 20%, as long as it’s applied only once per day.
Remember, people with dry and/or sensitive skin probably want to stick with lower concentrations, around 5% or less, since they are less likely to be irritating. Even if you don’t fall into the dry or sensitive skin category, it’s best to start at a lower concentration and work your way up to see what your skin can tolerate.