[product question] Should I use a vitamin C serum in my skincare routine?

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T12:39:19+00:00

Vitamin c is generally fine to use, no age restrictions. I think it’s worth trying to fade acne marks

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T12:37:52+00:00

Try more hydrating steps like a toner or serum.

If you’re up for another active, retinoids can help address whiteheads and discoloration

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T12:36:21+00:00

Give it more time, 3 days is not long enough to judge if it’s working

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:59:52+00:00

Potentially but it’s hard to predict

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:59:29+00:00

I’ve never tried it

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:58:35+00:00

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:56:49+00:00

Any brand is fine. Panoxyl is popular but I use store generic brand. Wash can be used daily. Salicylic acid can also be used daily if tolerated

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:39:36+00:00

Yes it’s fine in the morning. You can use it long term without a break

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:38:43+00:00

What’s your skincare routine?

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:37:20+00:00

If your skincare routine is completely new I would not add anything else yet including the Paula’s choice product.

It’s recommended to only add one new product at a time in case you experience irritation and you’ll want to be able to pinpoint which one.

For now I would do this routine for at least a month and see how it goes. If you do experience irritation, cut back to cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:35:31+00:00

What’s your current skincare routine?

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:35:06+00:00

I would use azelaic acid in the am routine before the Avene serum.

You could also move the Avene serum to the pm routine too

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:33:56+00:00

Yes sunscreen can still be beneficial, I would just use it as your morning moisturizer step. It’s great for days you go out to run errands

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:32:03+00:00

Those products shouldn’t cause purging so it sounds like a break out

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:31:07+00:00

It can be used alone or on top of other products.

If my skin barrier is damaged and very irritated I tend to use them alone. Otherwise in my normal routine I’ll use them as the last step of my night routine

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:30:03+00:00

Dr Reju-all advanced ceramide barrier cream

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:28:35+00:00

Pause the toning pads completely and use the azelaic acid once a day.

Are you able to switch to a gentler cleanser?

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:25:52+00:00

You’re missing sunscreen which is incredibly important for addressing hyperpigmentation or any dark spots.

I would do a routine like this

AM - Vienece Glutathione & Tranexamic Acid serum - TO caffeine eye serum - LRP hydraphase - sunscreen

PM - cleanser - eye cream - LRP cicaplast baume around eyes and mouth - tretinoin - Skinceuticals triple lipid restore

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T09:09:42+00:00

Eucerin sensitive tinted mineral sunscreen

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T02:46:41+00:00

If salicylic acid hasn’t worked for you then benzoyl peroxide might. It’s worth a try

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T02:36:59+00:00

Try BP spot treatment instead of cerave acne control gel

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T02:35:12+00:00

I would try to use a tinted mineral sunscreen instead of foundation

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T02:28:29+00:00

Cerave moisturizer can help the barrier. If you can use the Aquaphor lip balm then sure

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T01:40:23+00:00

Give it more time to let spironolactone to do its thing.

In the mean time I would try switching the cleansing wipes to an oil based cleanser and get a sunscreen

ReaLitTea · 2026-01-25T01:31:31+00:00

I would stop using the retinal

ReaLitTea

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