📌 What you’ll learn
- Why vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night
- The difference between pure vitamin C and derivatives
- How retinol beginners should build up amount and frequency
- Who should ask a doctor before using retinol
“C in the morning, A at night” has been very popular these past few years, but many people go wrong right from the start: their whole face peels after using retinol, they keep using vitamin C after it has turned yellow, or they think vitamin C means they don’t need sunscreen.
Today Derrick will lay it out like a “spec sheet”: what vitamin C and retinol are, how to choose them, and how beginners should start, all in one go.
What is “C in the morning, A at night”?
Simply put, in the morning you use skincare with vitamin C, and at night you use skincare with vitamin A (for example retinol). The two ingredients are used at different times, each working in the time slot that suits it.
Why C in the morning and A at night?
- Vitamin C in the morning: in the daytime your skin faces UV and the outside environment. Vitamin C is a common antioxidant in skincare, so it suits the daytime, and it must be paired with sunscreen.
- Retinol at night: retinol is less stable in light, and when you first start it may cause redness, peeling and other irritation. Using it at night means less effect from the sun, and it’s easier to add extra moisture.
Getting to know vitamin C: pure vitamin C and derivatives
Vitamin C in skincare roughly comes as “pure vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid)” and various “vitamin C derivatives”. The main differences are stability and irritation:
3 key points when choosing vitamin C skincare
- Check the packaging: vitamin C is sensitive to light and air, so opaque, airless or small-size packaging is better. Our weather is hot and humid, so don’t keep it in the bathroom.
- Check the colour: if a pure vitamin C product clearly turns yellow or brown, it has usually oxidised. Better not to use it any more.
- Check the ingredient list: first see which form of vitamin C is used, then whether it suits your skin. Higher concentration is not always better.
Vitamin C often appears in formulas together with vitamin E and ferulic acid (Ferulic Acid), mainly to make the formula more stable. For more on choosing and storing it, read “Vitamin C is not a cure-all“.
Getting to know retinol: the vitamin A family
Retinol is one of the derivatives of vitamin A. In the skin, the vitamin A family roughly converts in this order:
Retinyl esters → Retinol → Retinal → Retinoic acid
- The further right, the more direct the action, and the more irritating it is.
- Retinoic acid is a medicine. It must be prescribed by a doctor, and it’s not something ordinary skincare contains.
- Retinol is the most common choice in skincare, with a more balanced level of action and irritation.
In skincare, retinol mainly helps skin cell renewal, so fine lines and roughness look less obvious. But it needs to be used consistently for a while. You won’t see obvious changes after just a few days.
Retinol beginner? How to start
- Start with a low strength: with retinol, stronger is not always better. In 2024 the EU passed a rule that caps vitamin A in face skincare at 0.3% (counted as retinol equivalent). You can use that as a reference.
- Use about a pea-sized amount: enough for the whole face, no need for more.
- Increase slowly: start with 1–2 times a week. Once your skin is used to it, go to every other day, and finally see whether daily use suits you.
- Avoid the eye area and the corners of the mouth: the skin there is thinner and gets irritated more easily.
- For the first few weeks, don’t layer exfoliating products on the same night: for example AHAs (fruit acids) or scrubs.
- Moisturise more: after retinol, apply a moisturising lotion or cream. If you sit in aircond all day and your skin dries out easily, read “In aircond all day and your skin is dry? What to do”.
Who needs to be extra careful?
- Pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding: better hold off on retinol and other vitamin A skincare for now. Ask your doctor first.
- Sensitive or dry skin: you can start with a gentle vitamin C derivative. For retinol, start at a lower strength and lower frequency, and try it on a small area first.
- Seeing a dermatologist, or had an aesthetic treatment recently: please check with your doctor first.
- Rejuvenating C Powder: the morning “C”: C Powder uses magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (a more stable vitamin C derivative), plus tranexamic acid. It comes as a powder, so you only take it out when you use it. Make sure your hands are completely dry, and close the lid tightly right after.
- No.7 Revitalizing Firming Cream: the night “A”: No.7 is a night cream with retinol, suitable for mature skin concerned about fine lines, sagging and dullness. Use it only at night. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding, ask your doctor first. If it feels dry at the start, use it every other night first.
- 9A Moisture Repair & Plumping Cream: 9A is a rich moisturising cream. In the brand’s night routine, No.7 + No.8 + 9A are mixed and applied together, to help reduce the dryness retinol may bring.
- 6A Multi-Effect Brightening Protection Cream: while you are using retinol, your skin is more sensitive to the sun. Apply 6A (SPF20) as the last step in the morning. It suits everyday outings; if you will be outdoors for a long time, use SPF30 or above, plus a hat or umbrella.
Products aren’t a must. Choose based on your own skin; if you’re not sure, ask me first.
Find the pace that suits you
Not everyone needs Morning C, Night A, and you don’t need to start everything at once. Understanding your own skin first, then deciding which step to start with, matters more than chasing high strengths. Take it slowly, no pressure.
FAQ
Q: Can I apply vitamin C and retinol at the same time?
Using both together is more likely to feel irritating. So for most people, splitting them into morning and night is an easier way to start.
Q: If I apply vitamin C in the morning, do I still need sunscreen?
Definitely. Vitamin C cannot replace sunscreen, and if you use retinol at night, sunscreen in the day matters even more.
Q: How long before I see results?
Everyone’s skin is different. Skincare builds up over time. Usually you need to keep going for several weeks to a few months before you feel a change.
Want to know how to care for your skin?
Tell me about your situation, no pressure 😊
※ This website is run by Derrick, an independent IT’S BEATTIYA distributor, and is not the official website of the IT’S BEATTIYA company. This article shares general skincare knowledge. Cosmetic results vary from person to person and cannot replace medical advice; if your skin reacts abnormally, stop using the product and consult a dermatologist.
