Can you use a Vitamin C serum at night?
or is the morning better?
Yes, you can, but for most people the morning is better. Here's why, and what to use in your evening routine instead.
Written by Jasmin | Years of skincare know-how & all things Dermaworks
5 min read
The short answer
Yes.But the morning is better.
Yes, you can use vitamin C serum at night, and it will still help brighten your skin. But for most people the morning is better: vitamin C helps your skin defend itself against daytime UV and pollution, and it pairs perfectly with SPF. Use retinol in the evening instead.
★★★★★ 4.7 · £14.95
Vitamin C is one of skincare's most-loved ingredients, and there's a reason everyone talks about it: it brightens dull skin, fades the look of dark spots and helps protect against everyday damage. But one of the questions we're asked most is when to use it. Should you apply vitamin C serum in the morning or at night? Here's the straight answer, and how to get the most from every drop.
Can you use vitamin C serum at night?
Yes, you can. Vitamin C is safe to use at night, and it will still brighten your complexion, fade the look of dark spots and support your skin's collagen. But for most people, the morning is the best time to use it, because that's when its antioxidant protection works hardest. That's exactly how we designed our 20% Vitamin C Serum to be used.
The most important thing is using it every day. If the evening is the only time you'll remember, using it at night beats not using it at all.
What vitamin C does for your skin
Protects against everyday damage
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps neutralise free radicals, the unstable molecules created by UV rays and pollution. That means less of the dullness and premature ageing they cause.
Brighter, more even skin tone
Use it every day and your skin looks visibly brighter, dark spots and pigmentation fade, and your whole complexion looks more even.
Firmer, smoother-looking skin
Your skin needs vitamin C to make collagen, the protein that keeps it firm and smooth. Regular use helps skin look plumper, with softer-looking fine lines.
Fades post-blemish marks
Vitamin C helps tackle the pigment behind post-breakout marks, so they fade faster and your skin looks clearer.
Why we recommend using vitamin C in the morning
- Protection when you need it most. Most UV and pollution exposure happens during the day. Applied in the morning, vitamin C is on your skin exactly when it counts.
- It supercharges your sunscreen. Under SPF, vitamin C helps neutralise the free radicals that UV still creates, so the two work better together. It doesn't replace sunscreen, though.
- A brighter base for the day. Our serum absorbs in seconds and sits beautifully under moisturiser, SPF and make-up, so you head out with fresh, radiant skin.
- It keeps your evening free for retinol. Vitamin C and retinol are one of skincare's most powerful pairings, and they work best at opposite ends of the day.
What to use at night instead
Your evening routine is the perfect time for ingredients that work while you sleep. Here's the simple routine we recommend alongside your morning vitamin C:
- Retinol, the anti-ageing powerhouse, to boost collagen and tackle fine lines and texture overnight. Start 2–3 nights a week and build up.
- Hyaluronic acid to flood skin with hydration for a plumper, smoother look. It's gentle enough to use morning and night.
- A nourishing moisturiser to seal everything in, such as our Pure Radiance Face Cream or Men's Daily Moisturiser.
Want it all in one box? Our 3 Serum Gift Set brings vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and retinol together for a complete morning and evening routine.
Your routine at a glance
What to use, and when
Morning
- Cleanse
- Vitamin C Serum
- Hyaluronic acid
- Moisturiser
- SPF
Evening
- Cleanse
- 2.5% Retinol Serum (start 2–3 nights a week)
- Hyaluronic acid
- Moisturiser
Are there benefits to using vitamin C at night?
It still brightens and supports collagen. These benefits build over weeks of regular use, whenever you apply it.
It doesn't make your skin sensitive to the sun. Vitamin C isn't photosensitising, so it's safe to use at either time of day.
It suits busy mornings. If your mornings are rushed, the evening can be the easiest time to stay consistent, and consistency matters more than timing.
But you miss the daytime defence. Vitamin C's antioxidant protection is most useful while you're out in UV and pollution, which is why the morning gets more from every drop.
Can you use vitamin C morning and night?
You can, but you don't need to. Once a day, every day, is all it takes to see results. Twice a day isn't harmful, but it uses up your serum faster without much added benefit.
Don't use it at the same time as retinol. If you'd like both at night, alternate evenings rather than layering them together.
Always wear SPF in the morning, whichever time you apply vitamin C.
How to use vitamin C at night if you prefer
Cleanse thoroughly. Remove make-up, SPF and the day's grime so the serum goes onto clean skin.
Apply 3–4 drops. Massage gently into your face, neck, décolletage and the backs of your hands.
Follow with moisturiser. Lock in hydration and let your skin rest overnight.
Be consistent. Most people see a brighter glow within three weeks, with dark spots fading from around week six.
The bottom line
You can use vitamin C serum at night, and it will still brighten and even your skin. But the morning is where it shines, protecting your skin all day alongside your SPF. Vitamin C in the morning, retinol in the evening, hyaluronic acid at both: one of the simplest and most powerful routines in skincare.
We created our serum to be a formula we'd be proud to use ourselves every single morning: powerful enough to deliver visible results, yet balanced for everyday use. Ready for brighter mornings? Our 20% Vitamin C Serum is £14.95, lasts around 4–6 weeks and is rated 4.7 out of 5 by our customers. For the complete morning-and-night routine, our 3 Serum Set gives you vitamin C, hyaluronic acid and retinol in one box. Whichever you choose, our 60-day money-back guarantee has you covered.
FAQs
Your questions, answered
Is it better to use vitamin C in the morning or at night?
Can I use vitamin C and retinol in the same routine?
Can I use vitamin C serum twice a day?
Do I need SPF if I use vitamin C?
Start tomorrow morning
Brighter morningsstart with vitamin C.
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