The Right Way to Use Vitamin C + 5 Mistakes to Avoid | Dr. Idriss

Using a vitamin C serum but not seeing brighter skin, fewer dark spots, or the glow you expected? The problem may not be vitamin C itself — it may be the formula, the concentration, the way you’re storing it, or how you’re using it in your routine. In this video, I’m breaking down why your vitamin C may not be working and how to get better results from one of skincare’s most popular antioxidant ingredients. We’ll talk about L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C derivatives, concentration, pH, stability, oxidation, packaging, and why a higher percentage does not automatically mean a better serum. I also explain how vitamin C can help support brighter-looking skin, improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, protect against oxidative stress, and support collagen — while also being very clear about what vitamin C cannot do on its own. We’ll get into common vitamin C mistakes, including using an oxidized serum, choosing the wrong form for your skin, layering too many irritating actives, and expecting one ingredient to erase stubborn discoloration. You’ll also learn where vitamin C fits in a morning skincare routine, how it works alongside sunscreen, and why combinations with ingredients like vitamin E and ferulic acid can matter in some formulations. If your vitamin C serum turns orange or brown, irritates your skin, pills under other products, or simply hasn’t given you the results you expected, this video will help you figure out what may be going wrong. The goal is