I am creating this thread to share that I bought an l-ascorbic acid serum that I have used 3 times already (once every other night) and I started to peel on about the 3rd day. I was not expecting any peeling effect from a vitamin c serum but it felt so great because it was such a nice surprise and my skin actually glowed afterwards. To those of you who have a sensitivity to tretinoin/retin a and are looking for an alternative peeling effect maybe you should try a good vitamin c serum. I used one with a 20% concentration, and please be sure to ask the seller if the serum has oxidized yet and also make sure it is not tinted yellow or tinted any other color; it should be a clear substance. Not all vitamin C serums contain the same strength and some products contain such a small amount that you may not get this effect, so be sure to get a PURE l-ascorbic acid/vitamin c serum. There are other benefits to vitamin c serums that can be googled. Just thought I'd share this with my fellow lighteners :)

Thanks It'sANewDay for this thread. I didn't know that vitamin C serum can help the skin to peel, but it makes since as it's known to build collagen.

Yeh who knew? I know I didn't but it was so weird I was washing my face and I felt stuff peeling off and I looked at my hand and it was a bunch of dead brown skin. It was gross and intriguing at the same time lol. Hopefully someone will find this helpful and I will be ordering more serum as I'm scared of this one oxidizing soon.

Now thinking about it, I probably should have tried a good strong vitamin c serum first and then moved up to the retin-a?

Retin A has a lot of benefits but if you're skin is showing sensitivity to it maybe a smaller concentration will work, but the vitamin C serum could also cause sensitive just probably not as much as retin a product. It all depends on your skin type with any product you use. I am still using the retin a simultaneously with the vitamin c serums; I will do each like every other night and alternate to get the most benefit.

Ok, sounds good. I had cut back to everyother night with Ra and it seems to help with the sensitivity. But, for my arms and hands still every night since the skin is thicker and reacts better with it.

Don't turn your back on those arms for 1 second! The arms are VERY stubborn lol so give them hell!:p

Lol.. oh I still use the Ra on my arms and hands daily, no sensitivity there. I just cut back on the face to slow the lightening and sensitivity and so my arms can ketch up.

I guess I have to ask since it was not posted:rolleyes:
Itss A New Day what Vitamin C serum are you using?

Hi Nikki I am using an l-ascorbic acid serum from an eBay seller. The name of his store is Skinbeautysolutions. I am using the 20% concentration but I see they also have a 10%, 15%, 25% concentration. Anyone from any seller/store will do as long as you make sure it is still fresh/hasn't oxidized, the color isn't tinted, and you use it up real quick. Hope this helps.

Thanks!
How do you know it's working?
And how would you know if it oxidized or not?

Well my skin started peeling on day 3; I used it one night, skipped a night, and my skin started peeling the 3rd day. The second day I noticed my skin was glowing. I haven't been using anything on my face really so I attribute this effect to the serum. You would know if it's oxidized if the color is tinted and not clear, but sometimes it can be clear and has started oxidizing and you wouldn't know, so I advise to use it up quickly to avoid this, or keep it stored tightly away from any lighting in an amber colored container. You can even make your own at home instead of spending money on a big batch that could go bad. I emailed the seller thanking them for the product and this is what they replied:

"your very welcome, i personally have had troubled skin since i was a teen, and have done so much research on skin care and keeping my skin as young and wrinkle free as possible. so most of the products that i sell are some of the best products that are in the market. thanks again."


"your very welcome, also to let you know once it does start peeling, it is best to use less to 2-3 times a week, just make sure to monitor your skin daily to see how it reacts to vitamin c. Overall vitamin c is a very important vitamin for our skin along with vitamin A (RetinA) & E. thanks again"

Hi Nikki, here is a list of the benefits of l-ascorbic acid that I have compiled from some websites so you can have a better understanding of how it works:

It is estimated that only 8% of orally ingested Vitamin C makes it to your largest organ, the skin.
1. L-ascorbic acid is the most stable form of Vitamin C.
2. Over a twelve week period, Vitamin C reduces wrinkles and increases the moisture content of the skin.
3. Topical Vitamin C may reverse photodamage.
4. Topical L-ascorbic acid stimulates collagen production and improves the firmness of skin of postmenopausal women.
5. The concentration of L-ascorbic acid needs to be at least 10% or higher.
6. It must be protected from direct light (look for opaque packaging).
7. It needs to have a low pH between 2.0 to 3.5.
8. Topical Vitamin C reduces free radicals, the leading cause of skin-cell damage, and skin cancer.


It is also known to treat skin acne as well. What this does for consumers is give healtheir, younger looking skin through a Vitamin serum. The antioxidant properties in Vitamin C serum also assist with wound and burn healing as well. The ascorbic acid in the serum is said to be the active ingredient that manufactures skin elastin and collagen. This benefit is not only effective in providing a more youthful appearance, but will also increase the rate of healing on the skin and decrease any inflammations you may have. This is how it works so effectively on acne and scar tissue as well.

Courtesy of :C Serum for Skin Health article by MyChelle Skin Care

Vitamin C Serum

The following website tells you how to make your own serum, what to look for in manufactured serums, and other facts about vitamin c serums:
Vitamin C serum | Skin Care

Thanks so much for the information!
I've already put the seller's product on my watch list.
What's this serum feel like? I ordered a Vitamin C serum from eBay and it was extremely sticky! Too much glycerin!
I had to add water to make it spread, just awful I ran warm water under the bottle until the serum was gone.

Hi it is a new day,
Can you tell me where got your vitamin C serum from? I tried to pm you but your private email is full
I have been looking but I found crazy prices

She get's it from eBay store Skinbeautysolutions and it's 15.99

Thanks a lot Nikki cute, you are a gem

Hi Nikki, I have a BIG ISSUE with things that feel sticky on my face because I am super acne prone, and this one felt like water going on; not too sticky and heavy IMO. Here are the ingredients listed in this order: l-ascorbic acid, glycerin, propylene glycol, deionized water

Again there are others that sell these or you can make your own Kojojo if cost is a factor; some are more expensive because they have a bunch of other ingredients and also the ones that are stabilized cost a lot more money to use the extra science to stabilize them.

Thanks a bunch It'sANewDay for all of the vitamin C info! Glad to have this here. How many oz or ml of serum is in your bottle

Hi Golden my bottle is a 1oz. Size that says use before 45 days. I am still peeling these days but I am using Retin A at night now by itself and will alternate in a few days (its OK to use a vit. c. every night if your skin is OK with it) so both the serum and the retin a combined in my regimen is really sloughing off my skin at a crazy rate. My mom is telling me I look lighter but I have not been using any HQ or any other lightening products on my face, and as an update the hq/retin a combo worked to lighten the dark hyperpigmented spots on the sides of my face within... 2 weeks if I had to guess using it 1-2X per day, so I stopped using it on my face, and the hq/retin has lightened my neck but I still have some darker patches that I am attacking aggressively with the hq/retin a combo, but I need to be careful because I see some skin that I am not trying to lighten on my neck is getting lighter, so precise application is key.