Ever feel like your skincare routine is starting to resemble a chemistry experiment?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Do I apply vitamin C or peptides first?”, you’re in the right place.

The truth is, the order matters. Not just for the science, but for how effectively your products absorb and perform. I’m here to break it all down in a way that’s easy to follow and even easier to stick to.

Vitamin C should go first, followed by peptides. This order preserves optimal pH levels. Acidic for vitamin C to absorb and brighten, then neutral for peptides to repair and hydrate. Waiting 5–10 minutes between steps maximizes their effectiveness without irritation.

No confusion, just a simple guide to layering these powerhouse ingredients for results you can actually see. And yes, I’ll show you how to make it all work beautifully with my go-to duo: the Maria Kane Glow Duo.

Which Goes First: The Definitive Guide

Let’s cut straight to the chase: vitamin C goes first, then peptides.

This isn’t just skincare lore, it’s about science and your skin’s chemistry.

Vitamin C (especially in its purest form, L-ascorbic acid) needs a slightly acidic environment to absorb deeply and get to work brightening, evening tone, and fighting environmental damage.

If you apply something more neutral or alkaline on top, like a peptide serum, too soon, you risk compromising that absorption window.

Peptides, on the other hand, love a more neutral pH. They’re your skin’s quiet communicators, signaling repair, hydration, and firmness from the inside out. But if they go on too early, right after an acid like vitamin C, their message can get lost in translation.

My rule? Give each serum its moment.

Apply your vitamin C, wait about 5 to 10 minutes, and then follow with your peptide serum. That pause might feel small, but it’s where the magic happens, it allows both actives to sink in fully and work their best without competing for attention.

If you're short on time in the morning (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), don’t stress.

You can always use your peptides at night instead. It’s all about listening to your skin and building a rhythm that works for your real life, not some 12-step fantasy routine.

What Do Vitamin C And Peptides Actually Do?

Vitamin C – The Brightening Defender

Vitamin C is your brightening, firming, protective powerhouse.

It fights free radicals caused by sun exposure, pollution, and stress, basically all the things our skin battles daily. It’s also a collagen co-pilot, encouraging firmer, smoother texture over time while working to fade dark spots and boost your natural glow.

I always recommend vitamin C as a morning ritual. It’s like giving your skin its own antioxidant shield before heading out into the world. Think of it as both prevention and transformation in a single drop.

Peptides – The Skin-Building Communicators

Now, peptides are a little quieter, but don’t underestimate them.

These small chains of amino acids act like messengers, telling your skin it’s time to rebuild, repair, and rejuvenate. They help stimulate collagen and elastin, improve elasticity, reduce fine lines, and support a healthy skin barrier.

→ Also Read: What Is Peptide Serum?

Unlike vitamin C, which brings the brightness and zing, peptides are more about comfort, restoration, and resilience. They’re deeply hydrating, inflammation-soothing, and ideal for nighttime use, when your skin is in full recovery mode.

I especially love recommending peptides to anyone dealing with dehydration, sensitivity, or the first signs of aging.

→ Also Read: What Do Peptides Do for Skin

Can You Use Vitamin C And Peptides Together?

Yes, you absolutely can. And you should if you're serious about radiant, resilient skin. But here's the catch: how you combine them is everything.

Why pH Is The Real Problem

Vitamin C, especially in its most effective form (L-ascorbic acid), loves an acidic environment. That low pH allows it to penetrate deep, neutralize free radicals, and stimulate collagen production.

But peptides? They’re a different story. Peptides perform best in a more neutral pH range. It’s their comfort zone, the environment where they can signal your skin to repair and rebuild.

If you layer them too quickly, vitamin C and peptides back-to-back, it’s like sending your skin mixed signals.

The acidic pH from the vitamin C can interfere with the peptides’ performance, not by deactivating them chemically, but by making the skin less receptive to their message.

Solutions For Smooth Layering

So how do we make them play nice?

Option one is the simplest, and what I use personally and recommend most often:
→ Apply your vitamin C serum first (like our Brightening CE Ferulic Serum),
→ Then wait 5 to 10 minutes,
→ Follow with your peptide serum (like our Nourishing HA Peptide Serum).

This short pause allows your skin’s pH to balance out enough to make room for peptides to do their thing. It’s not just a buffer, it’s an invitation for your products to actually work.

Option two is for anyone who just doesn’t have the time to wait around in the morning:
→ Use vitamin C in your AM routine,
→ Reserve peptides for the PM, when your skin naturally shifts into repair mode.

And for especially sensitive skin types, alternating days is a smart way to simplify your routine without sacrificing results. One day, vitamin C, the next day peptides. Less layering, same glow.

The key here is intention. With the right timing, you don’t have to choose between brightening and strengthening, you get both.

Peptides, Vitamin C & The Concerns No One Explains Well

Even the most skincare-savvy people have the same handful of questions, and let me tell you, they’re completely valid. Conflicting advice, too many products, and the fear of “doing it wrong” can paralyze even the most confident routine.

So let’s walk through the most common concerns I hear, and clarify what really matters.

Won’t Vitamin C And Peptides Cancel Each Other Out?

This one comes up a lot, and the answer is: no, they won’t deactivate each other. That myth stems from the misunderstanding of pH compatibility.

The real concern isn’t cancellation, it’s absorption.

If you apply peptides immediately after vitamin C, the acidic environment can make them less effective. Just give vitamin C a few minutes to sink in before applying your peptides, and you’re golden.

Do I Have To Pick Just One?

Absolutely not. And this is where so many routines go wrong, you shouldn’t have to choose between brightening and barrier repair.

Both vitamin C and peptides serve very different roles in your skin health, and used correctly, they’re incredibly complementary.

The key is layering with intention, or, if needed, separating them into morning and evening routines.

What If I Don’t Have Time To Wait Between Steps?

I get it. Between school drop-offs, Zoom calls, and that iced matcha you forgot you made, waiting 10 minutes for your serum to absorb sounds impossible.

If that's you, a simple solution is to use vitamin C in the morning and peptides at night.

Or skip the second-guessing entirely and use a streamlined system like our Glow Duo, where everything is designed to layer seamlessly with minimal fuss.

How Long Does It Take For My Skin To Return To Neutral pH?

Technically? A few hours. Realistically? 5–10 minutes is enough for most skin types to balance enough for your peptides to be effective.

You don’t need to overthink this step, just give it a moment, enjoy your coffee, and let your skin do its thing.

The Glow Duo: The Go-To Pairing For Brighter, Stronger Skin

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by product layering or unsure which serum to apply when, The Glow Duo was made for you.

I created this pairing to make space for real, visible results without the complication. With just two thoughtfully formulated serums, your skin gets exactly what it needs, exactly when it needs it.

Brightening CE Ferulic Serum (AM)

This is your skin’s morning armor. After cleansing, apply our Brightening CE Ferulic Serum to instantly deliver a potent dose of antioxidant protection and luminous clarity.

• It’s designed to target hyperpigmentation, boost collagen, and bring dull, tired skin back to life.

• Infused with pure vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid, this trio doesn’t just brighten, it stabilizes, protects, and enhances each other’s effectiveness.

• The bonus? That ferulic acid extends the potency of vitamin C, giving your skin a longer window to soak up every ounce of glow.

You’ll notice the difference not just in radiance, but in resilience, especially if sunspots or environmental stressors are a concern.

Nourishing HA Peptide Serum (PM)

At night, your skin switches into recovery mode, and that’s where our Nourishing HA Peptide Serum comes in. Apply it after your evening cleanse, and let it go to work while you rest.

• This serum is all about hydration, plumping, and long-term repair.

• It’s packed with hyaluronic acid to draw in moisture and signal peptides to stimulate collagen, improve elasticity, and reinforce your skin barrier.

• Ideal for sensitive or mature skin, this formula calms, comforts, and supports your skin’s natural overnight renewal process.

I like to think of it as the quiet workhorse of your routine, less flashy than vitamin C, but just as necessary for skin that feels strong, smooth, and visibly healthier over time.

Together, these two form the foundation of a balanced, science-backed skincare ritual: brighten by day, rebuild by night.

Layering 101: The Maria Kane Way

Skincare doesn’t have to be overwhelming to be effective.

In fact, I built the Maria Kane line specifically for women who are tired of the 10-step chaos and just want products that work.

→ Also Read: How To Layer Skincare Products

Here’s how to build a results-driven, glow-boosting routine using the essentials from our collection.

Your AM Routine: Start Bright

1. Cleanse – Soothing Peptide Cleanser

Begin your morning with a gentle cleanse to prep your skin. This sulfate-free formula removes impurities without stripping your skin barrier, setting the stage for actives to absorb effectively.

2. Vitamin C – Brightening CE Ferulic Serum

Apply a few drops to clean, dry skin. This serum works to brighten, even tone, and defend your skin from free radical damage throughout the day.

→ Wait 5–10 minutes: Let your skin absorb vitamin C fully before moving on. This pause allows your pH to settle and makes room for the rest of your routine to shine.

3. Moisturize – Barrier Replenishing Cream

Seal in hydration and fortify your barrier with a lightweight, nourishing cream designed to calm and protect all skin types, especially a must if you’re layering active ingredients.

4. SPF – Illuminating Beauty Balm SPF 44

Never skip this step. This tinted, antioxidant-rich SPF is your daily armor against UV damage and premature aging. Plus, it gives your skin a healthy, radiant finish, no makeup required.

Your PM Routine: Repair + Restore

1. Cleanse – Clarifying Salicylic Cleanser

End your day with a deep, purifying cleanse that unclogs pores, removes makeup, and clears away excess oil. This gentle salicylic acid formula helps keep breakouts in check while leaving your skin refreshed and balanced.

2. Peptides – Nourishing HA Peptide Serum

Apply your peptide serum to damp or dry skin after cleansing. This formula hydrates deeply and signals collagen production while you sleep.

3. Retinol (optional, 2–3x/week) – Overnight Youth Booster

If you’re using retinol, layer it here. Our clinical-grade formula delivers renewal without irritation, thanks to soothing niacinamide and hydrating hyaluronic acid.

4. Moisturizer – Barrier Replenishing Cream

Finish with the same moisturizer you used in the morning. At night, it helps lock in actives and replenish any moisture lost throughout the day.

This routine was designed to simplify, not complicate. With just a few key products, you get a smart sequence that delivers brightness, firmness, hydration, and protection, morning to night. And best of all? Your skin doesn’t feel overwhelmed. It feels empowered.

Layer Smarter, Glow Harder

You don’t have to choose between brightening and rebuilding.

Both vitamin C and peptides deserve a place in your routine, and when layered with intention, they deliver the kind of results that don’t just show up, they stick around.

Whether you're fighting sun damage, softening fine lines, or just craving that lit-from-within glow, giving each ingredient its moment to shine is the key.

And that’s exactly why I created The Glow Duo, to help you stop overthinking, start layering smarter, and finally experience skincare that meets you where you are.

Because skincare should never feel like a science experiment. It should feel like confidence, one drop at a time.