Can I use Vitamin C with Peptides?Updated 12 days ago

It really depends on the type of Vitamin C you're using. If you're using our Vitamin C Fix Concentrate Extreme 15%, you're absolutely fine to pair it with peptides. That's because we use a special complex with Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, and Ascorbyl Glucoside – all stabilised derivatives that are much less reactive than pure ascorbic acid.

Why Some Vitamin C Products Don't Play Well with Peptides

The difference comes down to how they behave on the skin. Pure ascorbic acid is quite acidic, with a pH of around 2, whilst derivatives have a much more neutral pH, which is where peptides are happiest. Using ascorbic acid alongside peptides could affect their stability, whereas derivatives are gentle and won't interfere.

The Oxidation Issue

Pure ascorbic acid is highly unstable and breaks down quickly when exposed to air, light, or water, producing free radicals that could actually degrade peptides over time. Derivatives, on the other hand, are far more stable and release their benefits gradually, so there's no risk of that happening.

Metal Ion Interactions

Ascorbic acid binds to metals like copper and iron, which can speed up oxidation and might interfere with certain peptides, especially ones like copper peptides, which rely on those metals to function properly. Since derivatives don't react in the same way, they're much safer to use in combination.

How Absorption Works

Pure ascorbic acid needs a low pH to penetrate the skin, but derivatives convert into ascorbic acid gradually once they're absorbed, making them gentler and less likely to disrupt other active ingredients.

The Bottom Line

If you're using a product with a high percentage of pure ascorbic acid, it could potentially affect your peptides. But with a derivative-based formula like ours, there's no issue at all, and you can layer it without worrying.