Vitamin C + SPF: The Ultimate Combo For Glowing Skin

Vitamin C and sunscreen are a powerful duo when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

They work together in different ways to provide you with the best possible defense against sun damage. Sunscreen acts as the first line of defense, blocking UV rays from reaching your skin while Vitamin C neutralises any free radicals that manage to get through, preventing further damage. Together, these duo provide a more comprehensive protection against sun damage.

Desire glowing skin? Here are three simple steps to using Vitamin C and sunscreen effectively.

Step 1: Apply a Vitamin C serum to your clean, dry face and neck in the morning. Wait a few minutes for the serum to absorb. A popular choice is the Cerave Vitamin C Serum, Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Serum, Medix Vitamin C and Tumeric magic combo or Cosrx Vitamin C 23 Serum.

Step 2: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen such as the Tiam Vitamin B3 Sunscreen or La Roche Posay Anthelios Fluid with SPF 50 or higher over the top. All products listed are available on Nectar Beauty Hub.

Step 3: Reapply sunscreen every two hours, or more often if you are sweating or swimming. Choosing the right moisturiser for oily skin No matter what your skin type is, moisturising is an essential step in any skincare routine – even oily skin needs to stay hydrated. Daily moisturising is vital for healthy skin as its protects the skin’s barrier, keeps it blemish-free and healthy.

With so many moisturisers on the market though, it can be overwhelming to know which to try out.

Here are a few tips for choosing the right one for your oily skin below:

Look for “oil-free” and “non-comedogenic” labels These terms mean that the moisturiser won’t clog your pores or make your skin oily. Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 All in One Cream, for example, is a good choice that nourishes and moisturises without oiliness. Also try out Cerave Moisturising Lotion or La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. All items are currently available on Nectar Beauty Hub.

Choose a lightweight formula – A gel-based or water-based moisturiser such as Cosrx Hyaluronic Acid Intensive Cream will absorb quickly and won’t feel heavy on your skin. Ingredients to look for Hyaluronic acid is a great hydration that won’t make your skin oily.

Niacinamide can help control oil production and reduce the appearance of pores. Salicylic acid is a gentle exfoliant that can help prevent breakouts. Ingredients to avoid Mineral oil, petrolatum and lanolin can clog pores and make your skin oily. Avoid fragranced moisturisers as they can irritate your skin. Cerave Moisturising Lotion is a completely fragrance-free choice.

Skincare tips for acne-prone skin

Although commonly linked to teenage years, the reality is, acne can happen at any age. In fact, acne— whether whitehead, blackhead, deeper papules or painful cysts— happens for a variety of reasons including genetics, lifestyle factors and fluctuating hormone levels.

Commonly, it can arise from the triad of androgen, bacteria and excess oil production on the skin, resulting in pimples and blemishes.

These few tips will help you manage your skin better if battling acne-prone skin or experiencing pimples and breakouts more frequently than usual.

Cleanse Regular cleansing is common sense. Look for cleansers containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid; they are made for fighting acne. Carave Salicylic Acid Cleanser, Cerave Blemish Cleanser, Cosrx Salicylic Acid Cleanser, Tiam Face Azulence Cleanser and Cerave Foaming Cleanser are great options and are available at Nectar Beauty Hub. Cosrx BHA Blackhead Power Liquid designed to prevent the formation of blemishes before it happens, is also great to try out.

Tone – using a product containing salicylic acid such as the Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner, Tiam AHA Toner, Some by mi Yuja Niacin Toner or the Cosrx Propolis Synergy Toner. Toners can help to restore balance and hydration to your skin, minimise the appearance of pores, and temporarily tighten skin. Spot treat Spot treat using an oil-free formulation in the form of a cream, gel or serum lotion or gel containing benzoyl peroxide.

Other active ingredients should include Vitamin C, niacinamide, arbutin and azelaic acid. Try out Missha Vitamin C Serum and the Cosrx Niacinamide Serum which combines the benefits of snail mucin and Niacinamide.

Moisturise – Moisturise with a hydrating light-weight product ideally containing Vitamin B3 (niacinamide). Other ingredients to look for in a moisturiser include hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid. You should try out the Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. This essence has a whopping 96% snail secretion filtrate for super intense repair and hydration.

Also consider La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo; it is ideal for both acne-prone and oily skin. Sun protection Protect your skin from photo damage with an oil-free sunscreen such as the Missha Aqua Sunscreen or Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sunscreen containing at least SPF 40.

Night care – Complement your day routine with a deliberate night routine that includes double cleansing using makeup removal products and foaming cleansers such as the Cerave Foaming Cleanser. For night serum options, look out for ingredients such as retinol, adapalene or tretinoin. End with an emollient moisturising cream and then a hydrating under eye cream.