As someone who works in the beauty industry, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I have my skin-care routine down pat. A few years ago, I added a vitamin C serum into my rotation because I wanted to work on diminishing dark spots and protecting my skin from sun damage, and it was a game-changing decision. For the unfamiliar, "Vitamin C is a super antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental damage and prevents premature skin aging associated with UV rays and pollution," Sara Vasdev, MD, previously told PS. Plus, if you apply vitamin C and use it in tandem with SPF, it helps to increase the power of the sunscreen, which in turn helps to protect your skin even further.
As I mentioned, I've been embracing vitamin C products in my routine for years when it comes to my face, but I haven't really been consistent with using the ingredient on my body. In all honesty, I'm not great about carrying my meticulous skin-care regimen down past my neck, but this year, I wanted to make it a point to do so. Luckily, Nécessaire launched The Body Vitamin C Serum ($55), and it's been the easiest thing to incorporate into my daily body-care line-up.
Keep scrolling to read my full review of the Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C and find out whether or not it's a fit for your
About the Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C
- This product is a lightweight vitamin C serum that helps to boost skin's radiance.
- It features 2.5 percent stabilized vitamin C.
- Other key ingredients include vitamin E and niacinamide, glycerin, and citric acid.
- It's hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.
What I Like About the Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C Serum
While this product isn't heavy enough to be considered a lotion, it's a little bit thicker than your average serum. It's thick, but it glides on without resistance. In my opinion, it doesn't offer enough moisture to replace your traditional body lotion, but that works for me because I typically apply my own on top.
I love that this formula isn't sticky, and it absorbs quickly into my skin so I can continue with my routine. I've been using it for about a month, and I've noticed that when I apply it, my skin seems noticeably brighter and the tone seems more even.
Knowing how well vitamin C works in conjunction with SPF, I've made sure to apply this product every morning before heading out for a day at the beach, or on days when I know I'm going to spend a lot of time in the sun. I have sensitive, reactive, acne-prone skin, and I found that this product didn't exacerbate my acne or cause breakouts, which is a huge plus.
How to Use the Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C Serum
The brand recommends using this product daily, during the daytime, on clean skin. It suggests applying the product to the areas that you want to treat. When using the product, it also suggests using sunscreen prior to sun exposure.
I use this serum twice a day, in the morning and at night, after showering and drying off. I apply it all over my body, but I focus on my chest area and arms, which is where I see the most discoloration and hyperpigmentation from the sun. I like to let it absorb fully into the skin, and then I layer either a body oil or a body lotion on top of it.
The only times I opt not to use this product is when I'm using a retinol-based product instead.
What to Consider Before Trying the Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C Serum
One thing to note if you plan on testing this product is that it's more of a serum than a lotion; it doesn't coat the skin in hydration the way that a traditional body moisturizer would, so I find that it works best when paired with one.
Where the Nécessaire The Body Vitamin C Serum Is Available
Nécessaire's The Body Vitamin C is available directly on the brand's website and Sephora.
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Renee Rodriguez is a staff writer and social producer for PS. She writes across all verticals, but her main areas of expertise focus on fashion and beauty content with an emphasis on reviews and editor experiments. She also produces social content for the PS TikTok and Instagram accounts.