The story of how my whitening care was actually counterproductive 🐰 | The correct way to use Vitamin C and morning/night routines
Introduction
Have you ever felt like you're using so many whitening products, but they don't seem to be working?
I've felt the same way. Actually, I was in the same boat.
There was a time when I applied Vitamin C serum morning and night, and layered it on whenever I was worried about dullness, but nothing changed.
Things changed once I learned the "correct way to use ingredients." The whitening cosmetics weren't bad. I was just using them in the wrong way and order 🐰
[1] 4 common mistakes in whitening care
Mistake 1: Using Vitamin C serum in the morning
Vitamin C is an ingredient sensitive to light. If you apply it in the morning and expose your skin to UV rays, a reaction called photo-oxidation can occur, which may cause dullness.
The idea that "applying it morning and night doubles the effect" is wrong, and using Vitamin C in the morning carries the risk of being counterproductive. As a rule, Vitamin C derivatives should be used exclusively at night.
Mistake 2: Skipping sunscreen after applying whitening products
Even if you carefully apply ingredients for whitening care, if you are exposed to UV rays afterward, melanin will continue to be produced. The effect of your whitening care will be zero.
Whitening care and sunscreen are a set. No matter how good the whitening cosmetics you use are, they are meaningless without sunscreen.
Mistake 3: Using scrubs every day because you're worried about dullness
When you're worried about dullness or roughness, you might try to remove it with a scrub. But friction promotes the production of melanin. The more you scrub, the more you get the counterproductive effect of worsening pigmentation.
Scrubs should be limited to once a week or less. In whitening care, "zero friction" is just as important as sunscreen.
Mistake 4: Layering too many whitening ingredients
Vitamin C + Tranexamic acid + Arbutin + Niacinamide...
Using them all at once won't increase the effect.
It only increases the burden on your skin.
Focusing on 1-2 ingredients and staying consistent is the fastest route to whitening.
[2] The correct way to use truly effective whitening ingredients
Here is a summary of the main ingredients used for whitening and how to use them correctly.
Vitamin C derivatives
The effect is to address dark spots and dullness. As a rule, use it only at night. Since it is sensitive to light, avoid using it in the morning.
Niacinamide
The effects are melanin inhibition, pore care, and skin firmness. It can be used both morning and night. It is low-irritation and suitable for first-time whitening care. If you are unsure, I recommend starting with this.
Tranexamic acid
The effect is to address spots and melasma. It can be used both morning and night. Choosing products formulated as quasi-drugs can help you expect better results.
Arbutin
The effect is the inhibition of melanin production. It can be used both morning and night. It is important to choose products with high concentrations.
If you are unsure, I recommend starting with niacinamide.
It is the most cost-effective whitening ingredient that can be used morning and night, is low-irritation, and is available at affordable prices🐰
[3] The correct whitening routine
For whitening care, it is important to divide roles: "prevent in the morning, fade at night."
Morning (prevent spots)
After washing your face with lukewarm water, use a lotion containing niacinamide to suppress melanin production from the morning. Then, apply sunscreen (SPF30 or higher, PA+++ or higher), which is the most important step, and you are done.
The foundation of whitening care is sunscreen.
Without this, your morning skincare is meaningless.
Night (fade spots)
After thoroughly removing sunscreen with a cleanser, wash your face with a facial cleanser. Then, use a toner containing Vitamin C derivatives.
This is a 'direct approach to dullness' that can only be done at night.
Finally, seal it all in with a milky lotion containing niacinamide or petroleum jelly, and you're done.
Just by following this division of roles in two steps,
the effectiveness changes completely even if the ingredients you are using are the same.
Rei-chan's Monologue
To be honest, a few years ago, I was applying Vitamin C serum both morning and night. I thought, 'It's expensive, so it must be better to use a lot,' and I would layer it on.
I only found out that it was all counterproductive after I started studying ingredients😂
Now I only use Vitamin C at night,
and in the morning, I only use niacinamide and sunscreen.
Once I simplified it, I stopped worrying about dullness.
Whitening is just about 'using ingredients correctly' and
'applying sunscreen every day'
It was just these two things🐰
Summary
✅ Vitamin C is basically for 'night use only'
✅ The golden rule is to pair whitening care with sunscreen
✅ No friction, and use scrubs once a week or less
✅ If you're unsure, start with niacinamide
✅ The basics of whitening are 'preventing' in the morning and 'fading' at night
＼This is the end of the free preview／
"Which specific products contain niacinamide?"
"Can I buy Vitamin C products at affordable prices?"
"Please tell me all the whitening cosmetics you actually use, Rei-chan."
In the paid section, I reveal all the whitening cosmetics I actually use.
It is a list of my top-tier products, mostly affordable, that stay within a 3,000 yen monthly budget.
(Currently available for free🐰)
[Paid Section] Full disclosure of my top-tier whitening cosmetics
Products I use in the morning
Niacinamide Lotion: Hada Labo Gokujyun Medicated Firming Lotion (approx. 1,100 yen)
This is a quasi-drug formulated with niacinamide as an active ingredient. It moisturizes with three types of hyaluronic acid while also addressing whitening and skin firmness.
I feel this is the most cost-effective whitening lotion available at an affordable price.
Sunscreen: Skin Aqua Super Moisture Gel (approx. 800 yen)
It has a light texture and leaves no white cast. With SPF50+ and PA++++, it effectively blocks UV rays. I use this on sunny mornings when I go out as the foundation for my whitening care.
Products I use at night
Vitamin C Derivative Lotion: Melano CC Medicated Intensive Anti-Spot Essence (approx. 1,000 yen)
This is an essence formulated with a high concentration of Vitamin C derivative (ascorbic acid).
By using it only at night, it prevents photo-oxidation while directly addressing dullness and dark spots. This is the product I felt the most results from among all affordable whitening essences.
Emulsion: Curel Intensive Moisture Care Milk (approx. 1,000 yen)
I moisturize thoroughly at night with a ceramide-infused product. I use it as a 'lid' to lock the Vitamin C ingredients into my skin. It's easy to use even on summer skin that tends to become sensitive.
Total monthly cost for whitening skincare: approx. 2,500–3,000 yen
I don't use any expensive beauty serums at all.
If you choose by ingredients, you can get sufficient whitening care in this price range🐰
Thank you for reading until the end🐰
Applying SPF50+ every day was counterproductive | How to correctly choose SPF and PA for summer sunscreen
Summer skin irritation was actually caused by incorrect care🐰 | The correct way to deal with sweat, sebum, and friction, and the summer skin calendar
Please bookmark these as well and use them for your summer whitening care!