Vitamin C in Monsoon: Worth It, or Just Hype?

A straight answer on whether you need a Vitamin C serum this season — including why we don't currently sell one.

What Vitamin C actually does

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, most commonly) has real, well-studied benefits: it's an antioxidant that helps defend against environmental stress, and separately, it has evidence supporting a mild brightening effect on dark spots and uneven tone over consistent use.

Where the hype outruns the reality

What's less talked about: Vitamin C is notoriously unstable. Many formulations degrade quickly once opened — exposed to light, air, or heat — and a degraded Vitamin C serum can do very little, or in some cases irritate skin, while still being marketed as effective. Stabilized, well-formulated versions exist, but they're harder to get right and typically cost more for that reason.

What our Niacinamide serum already does on this front

Our Niacinamide 10% Face Serum includes Alpha Arbutin, an ingredient with clinical evidence for fading dark spots and evening tone by a different mechanism than Vitamin C — it works by directly inhibiting the enzyme involved in producing excess pigment, rather than acting primarily as an antioxidant^[6]. For pigmentation and tone concerns specifically, this is the product we can speak to honestly and with evidence, without asking you to add a separate Vitamin C step.

If you already use a trusted Vitamin C serum from elsewhere, it layers fine with our serum — just apply Vitamin C first on clean skin, wait a few minutes, then follow with niacinamide.