Ask Dr. Schultz
Using vitamin c and a sunscreen?
Hello Dr. Schultz!
Quick question. Should I apply vitamin C underneath sunscreen or on top of it?
This is a great question that is often asked, and in fact, a trick question.
For vitamin c (antioxidants) to be effective, they need to be applied at night. This is because the vitamin c helps to maintain the youthfulness of your skin by absorbing the negative effects of sun exposure. However, to do this, it must first be absorbed into your skin in order to be able to absorb the sun’s damaging rays. If you apply it at the start of the day, the sun’s rays will destroy it before it’s had a chance to be absorbed into your skin and thus effectively protect you from the sun.