Can You Use Vitamin C Serum at Night?

While many associate vitamin C with their morning skincare routines, it can be just as effective when used at night. In fact, applying vitamin C serum before bed may even enhance its benefits due to reduced environmental stress on the skin.

The Benefits of Using Vitamin C Serum at Night

Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals caused by pollution and UV rays. By applying it in the evening, your skin can repair and regenerate more efficiently during sleep, taking full advantage of the product’s renewing properties.

Using it at night can also reduce the chances of photosensitivity that some skin types may experience during the day. Without sun exposure, the serum’s active ingredients get time to sink deeply into the skin, stimulating collagen production and fading hyperpigmentation uninterrupted.

For those dealing with uneven skin tone or dullness, nighttime application offers a more intensive approach. Combined with consistent use, it can give your skin a radiant, even-textured glow over time. If you’re new to vitamin C, start with alternate nights to assess how your skin reacts, gradually building to nightly use.

How to Properly Layer Vitamin C Into Your Night Routine

Layering your skincare products correctly ensures you get the full efficacy of each ingredient. Start with a clean base to allow better absorption of your vitamin C serum. A gentle cleanser like the OAT MILK FACE CLEANSER is ideal to prep your skin without stripping it of its natural moisture barrier.

After cleansing, apply your vitamin C serum onto slightly damp skin. This helps activate the product and boosts penetration. Allow it to fully absorb before moving on to your moisturiser or any treatment oils. If your skin tolerates it well, vitamin C pairs beautifully with ingredients like niacinamide or hyaluronic acid for a more comprehensive skincare routine.

Complete your regimen with a nourishing moisturiser to lock in hydration. Even at night, layering matters—serums first, then oils or creams last. This method maximises the benefits of vitamin C while helping your skin stay balanced and resilient overnight.

Reasons to Choose Nighttime Over Daytime Application

Although vitamin C is commonly used in morning routines for its antioxidant protection, using it at night offers key advantages. Sunlight and pollution often degrade vitamin C upon exposure. Applying it after dark circumvents these factors and enhances stability.

Moreover, nighttime routines tend to involve fewer steps, meaning vitamin C has less competition from other actives. If you're using exfoliating acids or retinoids, alternating nights with vitamin C ensures your skin gets the benefits without becoming overloaded. This approach prevents irritation while maintaining visible results.

At night, the skin enters repair mode. Blood flow increases, and cell renewal accelerates—perfect conditions for vitamin C to work better behind the scenes. If you struggle with pigmentation, acne scars, or a lacklustre complexion, nighttime use can become a transformative step in your routine.

Pairing Vitamin C With Supportive Products

To maximise the results of your vitamin C serum, pair it with synergistic products. A light exfoliator used twice a week like the PRO AGE+ SUPER FACE SKIN POLISH can help slough away dead skin cells, ensuring the serum sinks into fresh, newly surfaced skin for better efficacy.

Follow your serum with a restorative moisturiser to prevent trans-epidermal water loss. This step is especially crucial if you’re using vitamin C in a dry environment or during colder months. Look for moisturisers with calming ingredients that support skin barrier health, especially if your skin is sensitive or prone to dryness.

Be mindful of layering vitamin C with products containing strong acids or retinoids, unless your skin is well adapted. Instead, build your skincare wardrobe around hydration and barrier support when using vitamin C at night. Regular use, along with gentle support products, will amplify results over time without sensitising your skin.

Who Should Use Vitamin C Serum at Night?

Vitamin C serums can benefit all skin types, but nighttime use is particularly ideal for those with sensitive or reactive skin. Avoiding the stress of sun exposure and daytime pollutants allows the active to work more gently but effectively.

If you’re someone who already uses an antioxidant-rich morning serum, incorporating vitamin C at night offers added defense and rejuvenation. And for those battling uneven tone, fine lines, or tired complexion from daily stressors, night application helps reverse cumulative damage while you sleep.

Ultimately, the flexibility of vitamin C makes it a hero ingredient regardless of timing. But applying it before bed provides your skin uninterrupted hours to repair, rebuild collagen, and brighten from within—all without the interruption of makeup or UV rays.