Unlock The Power Of Vitamin C In Skincare

When skincare products are advertised, nourishing ingredients are frequently highlighted. Ascorbic acid or Vitamin C is one such ingredient. 

This potent antioxidant has recently drawn a significant following as a skincare ingredient, and with good reason: its role as an oxidant provides the skin with many advantages.

But how does Vitamin C help us achieve healthy skin? In this article, discover how Vitamin C can be a part of your daily skincare routine. Read more to learn about this popular skincare ingredient. 

What Is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a nutrient usually found in many fruits and vegetables. When ingested, it provides a host of benefits to the body, such as boosting the immune system, among others.

However, did you know this vitamin has many positive effects when applied as a topical product? When it comes to the skin, Vitamin C can help with collagen synthesis, wound healing, and evening out one’s complexion.

There are many ways that this Vitamin can support glowing skin. It is now widely used as a skincare ingredient in various products thanks to its positive effects on the skin.

Vitamin C in Skincare

Vitamin C can be found in skincare products in several forms. These include L-ascorbic acid and Vitamin C derivatives like ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. 

L-ascorbic acid is the most widely used and extensively researched type of Vitamin C as it’s the vitamin’s purest form. While it is the most successful in penetrating the skin, it’s unstable and can easily be affected by light and oxygen.

Due to the instability of pure ascorbic acid, many skincare brands and manufacturers choose to create a formula using Vitamin C derivatives, such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbate, and more. These Vitamin C forms are more shelf stable albeit slightly less potent than pure L-ascorbic acid.

What Are the Benefits of Vitamin C for the Face?

As part of topical products, Vitamin C serums for the face offers many benefits for your skin’s health. Some of them include the following:

1. Vitamin C may help fight against UV damage

Did you know Vitamin C and sunscreen can work together incredibly? The vitamin may help reduce the redness and skin damage caused by the sun’s UV rays.

Many studies have shown that Vitamin C may help protect your skin from UV damage. As an antioxidant, it blocks reactive oxygen species and prevents damage from oxidative stress and free radicals that can speed up skin aging.

Using this before applying sunscreen may help maximize UV protection for the day. However, do note that Vitamin C products should not replace SPF or sunscreen.

2. Vitamin C may help brighten the complexion

Another skin benefit you may get from Vitamin C is that it may help brighten your complexion. Vitamin C works as a natural skin brightener by reducing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. 

It works by hampering melanin production. By reducing melanin production, this skincare ingredient can help to even out the skin tone and improve the overall brightness of your complexion.

 

3. Vitamin C may help slow skin aging

Vitamin C is an antioxidant, so it helps protect the skin from environmental damage, oxidative stress, and free radicals. With this ingredient keeping you protected from all that damage, it helps slow down the appearance of skin aging symptoms.

On top of this, Vitamin C also promotes healthy collagen production. Collagen is crucial in keeping the skin elastic and firm. As we age, the skin also matures, and our collagen levels naturally decline. 

Because of this, the skin may become saggy. Fine lines and wrinkles may also start appearing. Vitamin C, however, may help boost or stimulate healthy collagen production, which can help to improve the skin's texture and firmness.

 

4. Vitamin C may help with acne

Having Vitamin C as a skincare ingredient may also help improve acne. This vitamin has anti-inflammatory properties, which help control excess sebum production on the skin. As such, it may help reduce oil and residue buildup that may result in an acne breakout.

Some clinical trials found that using Vitamin C topically twice daily reduced acne lesions. As such, many have opted to use Vitamin C skincare products to help clear the skin of acne. 

Tips on Using Vitamin C in Skincare

Most of the time, you will find Vitamin C in skin care as serums. However, this ingredient has also been included in daily and nighttime moisturizers.

While it’s a great ingredient to look for in skincare, you also need to use it with care to reap most of its benefits. Here are some tips you can follow when using Vitamin C in your skincare routine.

Find the Right Concentration

If you’re using Vitamin C as a serum or in topical skincare items, make sure you’re using the right concentration. Vitamin c as an ingredient is quite potent, so it may cause hypersensitivity when your skin is not up for the job.

If you have normal to oily or combination skin, a product with 10-20% Vitamin C concentration may be safe to use. People with dry or sensitive skin and those new to Vitamin C should opt for lower concentrations, usually 10% or less. 

Avoid Using Vitamin C Products With Chemical Peels

Vitamin C can react easily with other ingredients in many skincare products. When using Vitamin C products, be careful using chemical exfoliators, particularly those with AHAs or BHAs. 

Vitamin C, AHAs, and BHAs are all acids that may affect the skin negatively when used together. Instead, space their use apart: if you’re using Vitamin C for your morning routine, use the chemical peel at night. 

Store Your Vitamin C Skincare Products Properly

Light, temperature, and particular pH levels can all affect the state of Vitamin C due to its reactive nature. Because of this, Vitamin C skincare products, especially those that are formulated with pure vitamin C, are infamous for having a short shelf life.

If you want to ensure your skincare products are effective and safe to use for a longer time, you must store them properly. Keep your Vitamin C products in a cool, dry place not exposed to the sun. Most people suggest using the refrigerator since it can help keep your Vit-c products fresh.

See the Hype Behind Vitamin C in Skincare

The following Vitamin C has gained over the years is unsurprising, thanks to its effectiveness as a skincare ingredient. With many visible benefits, it’s natural for many people to try and use this skincare ingredient as part of their daily regimen.

However, due to its potency and reactive nature, using it properly is imperative, whether you use Vitamin C cream for the face, a serum, or a toner. Nevertheless, it's an easy ingredient to find, and many such products are a breeze to incorporate into one’s skincare lineup.

Ready to reap the benefits of Vitamin C for your skin? It’s time to experience the hype behind this skincare ingredient. Try it out for yourself and see it make a difference!