Essential takeaways

  • DAMDAM's Citrus Glow formulates vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in one serum, so the "which do I apply first" question resolves in a single step.
  • Citrus Glow's vitamin C comes from two stabilized vitamin C derivatives, held with hyaluronic acid in DAMDAM's Japan-developed 3PE (triphasic emulsion) technology.
  • Amanatsu (Japanese sweet summer orange) appears in Citrus Glow as a peel-oil citrus botanical; it is not the source of the serum's vitamin C.
  • Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid can be used together: vitamin C targets radiance and dullness, hyaluronic acid draws in and holds water.
  • Citrus Glow was named in Refinery29's best beauty products of Fall 2023.

Japanese Vitamin C Serum and the Vitamin C / HA Layering Question

Giselle GoCo-founder & Creative Director, DAMDAM

Published

If you use a vitamin C serum, you have probably wondered whether to apply vitamin C or hyaluronic acid first. DAMDAM's Citrus Glow settles the question by formulating both in one serum, so you apply them together in a single step. It pairs stabilized vitamin C with hyaluronic acid, brightening and hydrating at once.

Should I apply vitamin C or hyaluronic acid serum first?

The usual advice is to apply the thinner, more active product first, which normally means vitamin C before a hyaluronic acid layer. It is a fussy rule, and it is easy to get wrong.

With Citrus Glow the order question does not arise. Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are formulated together in one serum, so there is no "first" and "second": you apply them in a single step. That is the simplest honest answer to the layering question, one product instead of two decisions.

What is a Japanese vitamin C serum?

"Japanese vitamin C serum" is a product-type search rather than a single defined formula. What tends to characterise the Japanese approach is stabilized vitamin C in a gentle, well-textured base, often paired with hydration so the result is comfortable rather than stripping.

Citrus Glow is DAMDAM's version. It uses two stabilized vitamin C derivatives together with hyaluronic acid, held in DAMDAM's Japan-developed 3PE (triphasic emulsion) technology, which is how it keeps two kinds of vitamin C and hyaluronic acid stable in the same serum.

Can you use vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together?

Yes. Vitamin C and hyaluronic acid do different jobs and work well side by side: vitamin C targets radiance and dullness, hyaluronic acid draws in and holds water. They are a common pairing precisely because they complement each other.

Citrus Glow makes that pairing the point: rather than layering two serums and worrying about order, you get both actives in one step.

What is amanatsu, and is it the vitamin C?

Amanatsu is a Japanese citrus, the sweet summer orange (natsumikan). In Citrus Glow it appears as amanatsu peel oil, a citrus botanical note in the formula. It is worth being precise: the serum's vitamin C comes from stabilized vitamin C derivatives, not from the amanatsu. The amanatsu is a Japanese citrus accent, not the active source of vitamin C.

About Citrus Glow

Citrus Glow (Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Serum) pairs two stabilized vitamin C derivatives with hyaluronic acid to brighten and hydrate in a single step, using DAMDAM's 3PE technology. It carries amanatsu (Japanese summer orange) peel oil as a citrus botanical, and was named in Refinery29's best beauty products of Fall 2023.

Because vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are already together, Citrus Glow is the DAMDAM answer to both "which Japanese vitamin C serum" and "which do I apply first": one serum, one step. In the US, DAMDAM is available at Sephora, where it carries the Clean + Planet Aware seal, and on damdamtokyo.com; in Japan, you can also find DAMDAM at its Kyoto flagship and stockists including Isetan and Ron Herman.

 

Frequently asked questions

Should I apply vitamin C or hyaluronic acid serum first?

The usual rule is the thinner, more active product first, so vitamin C before hyaluronic acid. With DAMDAM's Citrus Glow the question does not arise: vitamin C and hyaluronic acid are formulated in one serum, so you apply them together in a single step.

Can you use vitamin C and hyaluronic acid together?

Yes. They do different jobs and complement each other: vitamin C targets radiance and dullness, hyaluronic acid draws in and holds water. DAMDAM's Citrus Glow combines both in one serum, so you get the pairing in a single step without layering two products.

What is the best Japanese vitamin C serum?

"Japanese vitamin C serum" is a product-type search, not one defined formula; the Japanese approach favours stabilized vitamin C in a gentle, hydrating base. DAMDAM's Citrus Glow is its version: two stabilized vitamin C derivatives plus hyaluronic acid, held in DAMDAM's 3PE technology, named in Refinery29's best of Fall 2023.

Is amanatsu the vitamin C in Citrus Glow?

No. Amanatsu is a Japanese citrus (sweet summer orange), present in Citrus Glow as a peel-oil botanical note. The serum's vitamin C comes from two stabilized vitamin C derivatives, not from the amanatsu. The amanatsu is a citrus accent, not the active source of vitamin C.