Vitamin C products darkens my skin?? Am I the only one? :(
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free skin care · Thu Jun 21, 2012 8:10 pm

I would venture a guess for anyone experiencing 'yellowing' skin;

A. You are using a food grade vitamin C mixed into water.

B. You are using a food grade vitamin C mixed into water.

C. You are using a food grade vitamin C mixed into water.

All I know is that I'm as pale as pale can be (head to toe), and that was never the case until I used a proper vitamin c serum regularly. (About 4 years for me.)

free skin care · Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:06 am

Thank you Kassy! Smile

By proper serum do you mean a DIY C E Ferulic serum? And do you ever use LAA powder just in the palm of your hand and mix it with something and apply it like that? I was thinking of trying that way of application but wasn't certain how to or if it was ok to do.

free skin care · Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:44 am

egyptiangoddess wrote:

Thank you Kassy! Smile

By proper serum do you mean a DIY C E Ferulic serum? .

For me it means 3 antioxidants working in synergy, with both water + oil included to address both the lipid and aqueous parts of the cells, and a pH of 2.5 for optimal penetration.

egyptiangoddess wrote:

And do you ever use LAA powder just in the palm of your hand and mix it with something and apply it like that? I was thinking of trying that way of application but wasn't certain how to or if it was ok to do.

No, I've never found the need to do that because I've never had a problem with my C serums stability.

If you want to do that, just put a *pinch* of L-AA in your hand, add 5 or 6 drops of distilled water to that, then be sure to mix in a few drops of a high vitamin E content oil as well. (You can get away without an emulsifier if you do it this way and apply immediately.)

Also, use a cosmetic grade L-Ascorbic Acid powder, not a drug store supplement!

free skin care · Sat Jun 23, 2012 5:39 am

Thank you so much Kassy! Smile

Which of your C serum recipes is your favorite? There are several different ones and I'm not sure which one to make.

free skin care · Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:04 am

I'm using the MAP serum from Skin Actives. Hopefully that isn't a problem.

Sun Jul 01, 2012 3:17 pm

Quote: "I feel much better following a recipe - it even tastes gentler"

Could you please tell me about your vitamin C recipe?

I have used SS 100 for the last 10 years and avoid the sun. Since my skin got stained with the vitamin C, I rarely go out. The dark color has not fade significantly, maybe 1 shade. Since my face and neck were so dark compared to the rest of my body; I applied vitamin C to the rest of my body and had the same results. I was never able to keep a tan in my legs for more than 2 weeks; vitamin C has been the only product that it does not fade away. It has been 2.5 months since my skin got darker. I did not notice any improvement when I stopped taking the vitamin C orally for a month. I am now concerned that I would not recover my natural skin color. People think that I had been tanning. I hate to give up on the vitamin C as my skin became very smooth but unfortunately also very dark.

LoriA wrote:

Yeah, I don't actually know what to think with my situation!

But I do believe these treatments are way harsher than we think they are.

It makes me think of young girls with beautiful, healthy skin who suddenly get into products, and all of a sudden their skin is darker and ruddier than it was and that healthy, life-like glow is gone. Sad

Far too early. Its not makeup in most cases, its that they're killing off their skin with treatments/products they don't need that early. We're using these for longterm, anti-aging benefits, or acne, or fading hyperpigmentation.

The orangey-thing others are describing.. I suspect that's the wrong kind of l-ascorbic acid, not to mention too much of it. I feel much better following a recipe - it even tastes gentler! (not snacking, honest)

Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:06 pm

Hi Kassy,

Could you please give me the name/brand of the vitamin C serum product you are using? Also, do you applied the serum at night?

Where do you buy the cosmetic grade LAA powder?
Is the vitamin E oil the same sold at Health stores?

Thank you for your help!
I really missed my pale skin color Sad

Kassy_A wrote:

egyptiangoddess wrote:

Thank you Kassy! Smile

By proper serum do you mean a DIY C E Ferulic serum? .

For me it means 3 antioxidants working in synergy, with both water + oil included to address both the lipid and aqueous parts of the cells, and a pH of 2.5 for optimal penetration.

egyptiangoddess wrote:

And do you ever use LAA powder just in the palm of your hand and mix it with something and apply it like that? I was thinking of trying that way of application but wasn't certain how to or if it was ok to do.

No, I've never found the need to do that because I've never had a problem with my C serums stability.

If you want to do that, just put a *pinch* of L-AA in your hand, add 5 or 6 drops of distilled water to that, then be sure to mix in a few drops of a high vitamin E content oil as well. (You can get away without an emulsifier if you do it this way and apply immediately.)

Also, use a cosmetic grade L-Ascorbic Acid powder, not a drug store supplement!

Sat Jul 21, 2012 7:35 pm

Hi Kassey,
Please help. Could you please give me the Vitamin C recipe that you use? You mentioned that your skin got pale by using vitamin C serum regularly. The darkening of my skin after I used ascorbic acid never went away, alreaday more than 3 months.
Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Kassy_A wrote:

I would venture a guess for anyone experiencing 'yellowing' skin;

A. You are using a food grade vitamin C mixed into water.

B. You are using a food grade vitamin C mixed into water.

C. You are using a food grade vitamin C mixed into water.

All I know is that I'm as pale as pale can be (head to toe), and that was never the case until I used a proper vitamin c serum regularly. (About 4 years for me.)

Sun Jul 22, 2012 2:07 am

I HATE products that darken skin to a dirty sallow hue.

So some skin care companies are using food grade vitamin C?

free skin care · Fri Aug 31, 2012 8:59 am

When are you using Vitamin C.
I use mine at night, and don't see any problem...
Do you use sunscreen before going out?
Very important....

cc428 wrote:

Hi ladies, this might sound really strange, considering how many people rave about vit c helping them reduce pigmentation. For me on the other hand, its the reverse. It somehow makes my skin darker. Its true! I noticed it a while ago and wanted to give it one last test before I post a thread on EDS.
I have been using other products 'Cetaphil,Dr H' for 1 month. No Vitamin c products what so ever. Then last night, I used Ultra Ceuticals vitamin c cream, I was pretty sure by that stage that i will wake up with a darker face, and i did!!!! Bingo!
So , heres the question- am I the only one HERE that has this kind of reaction?? And can anyone explain why? The only reason I can think of is that somehow my skin thinks vitamin c is too strong- hence it 'disturbed or woke up' the pigments in my skin, and made it darker?? I find that vit c creams really does rejuvenate and firms my skin, however I dont want to look darker/ orangey at the same time..Hmm...im lost... Crying or Very sad

free skin care · Sat Sep 01, 2012 1:08 pm

OP, you're not the only one.

My skin doesn't like most forms of vitamin C either. Although vitamin C is purported to reduce hyperpigmentation, it has never benefited my skin in such a way.

The only form of vitamin C that my skin likes, thus far, is ester-C. I've never had problems with that.

Sat Feb 22, 2014 8:41 am

zobe wrote:

I have the same reaction with vitamin C. Everybody told me I was the only one with this reaction as for other people the skin got lighter. I am not giving up on vitamin C. I tried a DIY and again have the darkening results. It has been over 3 weeks and I can't get the dark yellowish color off. Any advise?
Thanks!

Hi, I am having the same issue. did the yellow color ever go away?

Thanks! Getting worried.

free skin care · Sat Feb 22, 2014 9:18 am

The LAA is oxidizing on your skin for some reason; it could be your particular chemistry (the pH of your skin). Try another form of C like MAP, AA2G or EAA which is more stable.

free skin care · Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:48 pm

sometimes it happens when people use vc skincare without suncream in the day time...

free skin care · Mon May 16, 2016 8:40 pm

Just wanted to chime in and say I experience this too every time I use Vitamin C (specifically L Ascorbic Acid).

I only apply at night, and I always use SPF 30 during the day when I'm using C or A products. The "staining" does seem to go away a bit when I stop, but the fading is gradual and seems to take a long time (Well, long-ish - 2 to 3 weeks, which seems like forever.)

I've used the following products, all with the same result:

--Skinceuticals
--SkinActives (really nice dupe of Skinceuticals, if anyone's interested)
--various LAA cosmetic powders and one food grade, always mixed with distilled water.

The food grade powder was highly recommended by others who had no problem using it as a topical, and it really was as fine and easily dissolved as they said.

I have to wonder if hemochromatosis, or some other iron absorption issue, might be the culprit. Some good reading on the subject can be found here: http://www.blisstree.com/2008/09/24/sex-relationships/miracle-skin-a-perception-shift-28/

I'm actually really bummed about this. Vit C is one of the best actives with a very well-documented efficacy and safety record, and it's also one of the most inexpensive and simple to DIY. I just can't tolerate the staining, especially since there's some question of whether it can become permanent Sad

ETA: The Skinceuticals C was fresh; clear and colorless. When it started looking ever so slightly yellow I tossed it. (In fact, I may have tossed it sooner than necessary) I was mixing the Skin Actives C on-the-spot prior to use, so there's no chance it was oxidized. Skin Actives' C powder in distilled water had the same effect. No idea what could be causing this, other than something iron-related (and I really hope it's not that...)

free skin care · Mon Jun 06, 2016 4:33 pm

Did u use sun screen well?

free skin care · Thu Jun 09, 2016 2:22 pm

nick850914 wrote:

Did u use sun screen well?

Hi nick850914,

Yep, I always use sunscreen faithfully when I'm using Vit C. I stop using acids or anything with any exfoliating effect around mid-spring, or around 2 to 3 weeks before trips to sunny locales where I know I'll be outside and sunscreen has a tendency to wear off.

I think for whatever reason, whether it's iron levels or otherwise, some people's skin just reacts strangely to L Ascorbic acid.

Fri Nov 04, 2016 2:55 pm

Hey guys I just wanted to say that I too experience similar effects with a product that had vit c IN it. I used that product from head to toe for a couple weeks unaware of the effects. It has been over a year and my skin is still darkening after I discontinued using it . For people who have experienced this change in their skin, did your skin ever go back to normal? if so which products did you use. ANy advice would be appreciated as i know this is an old form.

free skin care · Sun Nov 27, 2016 8:15 am

Don't use it in day time

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