Vitamin C is not recommended in summer: fact or myth?

The truth most people skip

Summer brings sun, the sea, and a lighter routine - but also one of the most common skincare dilemmas: should you cut vitamin C from your routine? If you've also heard that “vitamin C doesn't go in the sun,” you’re not alone. But the reality is a bit different – and much more interesting.

Why is everyone suddenly doubting vitamin C?

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid and its derivatives) is known as a powerful antioxidant that:

• brightens the complexion
• reduces hyperpigmentation
• stimulates collagen production
• protects the skin from external factors

Vitamin C is a powerful active ingredient, but it does not cause photosensitivity in the sense that it damages the skin in the sun (unlike some acids). In fact – it does the exact opposite.

Vitamin C + sun = better protection

Vitamin C neutralizes free radicals caused by UV radiation, boosts the effectiveness of SPF, and reduces oxidative stress in the skin.

In other words – in summer, it is actually desirable.

But... The sun reduces the effect of vitamin C because it breaks it down. In other words, vitamin C protects your skin by “absorbing” harmful substances (free radicals), but in the process, it uses itself up and stops working.

Where do people go wrong in summer?

1. Too strong formulas

High concentrations (15–20%) can irritate the skin. But if you tolerate the formula well during the rest of the year, there is no reason why you wouldn't tolerate it well in summer. New users should definitely perform a patch test to see how their skin reacts to vitamin C.

2. Unstable products

Vitamin C oxidizes easily in heat and light – which is even more pronounced in summer, so vitamin C serums often turn brown. L’ADRIA Vitamin C Ritual is specifically designed to be resistant and stable; the only storage limitation is keeping it away from direct sunlight.

3. Skipping SPF

Vitamin C is not a substitute for sun protection. Without SPF, the effect is limited.

How to use vitamin C in summer (without risk)

If you want the benefits without the side effects, stick to this:

• use it once a day and choose the time of day that suits you depending on what you want to achieve
• use it in the morning if you want the best skin resistance to the sun. Applied in the morning, it will be in a high concentration on the skin and will be able to neutralize the most free radicals

Use it in the evening if you want a better anti-aging effect, because vitamin C will have time to penetrate deeper into the skin to the site of anti-aging action before it starts to degrade significantly in the morning upon contact with light. Additionally, when vitamin C penetrates deeper into the skin, if well protected with SPF in the morning, it creates a reservoir in the skin and remains active for about 3 days. For this reason, L’ADRIA prefers to recommend using their Vitamin C Ritual in the evening, simply to give it a chance to penetrate deeper and take effect.

• combine with SPF (mandatory)
• choose more stable, milder formulas with lots of soothing ingredients
• listen to your skin – if it's sensitive, reduce frequency

When should you skip it after all?

There are situations when it's better to take a break:

• if the skin is irritated or sun-damaged
• after intense sun exposure
• with very sensitive, redness-prone skin

In those cases, shift your focus to hydration and barrier repair.

Conclusion: don't cut it – adapt it

Vitamin C is not a summer enemy. On the contrary, it can be one of your key allies for a healthy, even, and protected complexion. The point is not “yes or no,” but how and how much.