Vitamin C is often found in skincare products both for the face and for the body. Vitamin C is one of the best vitamins for skincare in the sense that it encourages new collagen to grow, protects your skin from sun damage, fades pigmentation, and so many more benefits that you wouldn’t believe! In addition to eating foods high in Vitamin C, you can apply it topically to make the most out of its benefits.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid. Don’t let the word acid scare you, though, because this natural substance is amazing for your skin! It’s a water-soluble natural substance that has been proven to improve skin health (as well as having many other health benefits that will overall improve the way you look and feel). It’s a powerful antioxidant and can also help prevent signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, and reduce hyperpigmentation.
It’s important to eat Vitamin C as part of a healthy diet, but this vitamin is more potent when you use it topically. Your skin absorbs Vitamin C like crazy when you use it in skincare products like serums and moisturizers. It starts working right away to reduce the appearance of fine lines and uneven skin tones, which means it’s a MUST in your skincare routine.
What Vitamin C Does For Your Skin:
Collagen Production
Your body produces collagen, which is the base of skin, muscles, tendons, and hair. Collagen helps keep our skin looking smooth and young. As we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen, which can cause sagging.
With topical application, Vitamin C helps boost your body’s natural collagen production. This helps make your skin look firmer and reduces the appearance of fine lines.
Hyperpigmentation
As we age, dark spots can appear on our skin. This is caused by environmental stresses and exposure to the sun. Hyperpigmentation is usually harmless, but it can make your skin look older. The antioxidants in Vitamin C can reduce dark spots caused by damage from the sun as well as prevent future dark spots from forming.
Reduces Redness
Redness and blotchy skin can be caused by inflammatory skin conditions like rosacea or eczema, hormones, or even exposure to the sun. Vitamin C is a natural anti-inflammatory that can naturally mend broken capillaries to reduce redness.
Hydration
Vitamin C helps the skin retain water, which keeps your skin looking super plump. This helps smooth your skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This hydration also helps prevent dry skin and flakes that can make your skin look dull.
Dark Circles
Dark circles under your eyes are caused by blood vessels just below the surface of the skin. Applying vitamin C topically can strengthen thin under-eye skin to reduce the appearance of dark circles.
Firmer Skin
Vitamin C boosts collagen production over time, and you’ll notice your skin getting firmer after you start using it on your skincare regimen regularly. This helps your skin look younger and reduces the signs of aging because fine lines will be much less noticeable.
Protect From Sun Damage
Sun damage is caused by free radicals in the skin. These atoms are missing an electron, so they steal it from another atom. This can lead to sun damage like fine lines and wrinkles. However, vitamin C is an extremely powerful antioxidant (it basically has an extra electron to donate to the free radicals to neutralize them and make them harmless). Does this make sense? I hope it does! In short, Vitamin C is an excellent way to protect your skin from sun damage (alongside wearing SPF on a daily basis, of course!)
Promote Healing
Applying VItamin C topically can boost cellular turnover, reduce redness, and promote skin healing. Use a cream or lotion with Vitamin C after spending time in the sun or when you have a scratch or scrape to promote healing.
How to Use Vitamin C in SkinCare
- Even though you should be eating foods high in Vitamin C, you’ll reap more benefits when you apply it directly to your skin.
- Some people are sensitive to Vitamin C, so always perform a patch test on your forearm. Apply a small amount and wait for 24 hours. If there’s no redness or irritation, you can then apply it to your face.
- Always follow the directions on the packaging for your product. Use Vitamin C once or twice a day.
- You can use Vitamin C skincare products with other active ingredients, but niacinamide (Vitamin B3) may lower the results of Vitamin C and cause redness if you have sensitive skin. Make sure not to use both vitamins at the same time. You can still use both, but try to use them at different times!
- Vitamin C can go bad. If the product is expired or changes color, the Vitamin C has oxidized and is no longer effective.
- If you suffer from sensitive skin, you may need to gradually add Vitamin C to your skincare routine. Start by using it once a day every other day for a few applications, then use it once a day. Finally, work your way up to using it twice a day.
- You can use Vitamin C products once or twice a day. If you have sensitive skin, you may only want to use it once a day.
- Try using it in the morning because it can protect your skin against damage from the sun. However, you should always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your skin after using a product with Vitamin C.
My go-to skincare products with vitamin C in them:
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic is one of the best vitamins for clear skin. This vitamin C serum helps neutralize free radicals induced by UVA/UVB, infrared radiation (IRA), and ozone pollution (O3), which may lead to visible signs of accelerated skin aging. In addition to antioxidant protective benefits, C E Ferulic improves signs of aging and photo-damage, the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and the loss of firmness, while brightening skin’s complexion.
Revision Vitamin C 30%
These Vitamin C lotions are formulated with the newest, highly stabilized form of Vitamin C for healthy, radiant skin. The 30% formula contains one of the strongest concentrations of Vitamin C available. Contains THD Ascorbate, a very powerful form of Vitamin C Brightens dull skin Provides a full line-up of antioxidants, including Vitamin E and Coenzyme Q10 Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skinceuticals Phloretin CF
SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF provides powerful antioxidant protection to normal, oily, and combination skin types. Designed for daytime use, this antioxidant serum neutralizes free radicals to prevent signs of accelerated skin aging. The blend of phloretin, pure vitamin C, and Ferulic acid improve the appearance of discoloration, fine lines, and uneven skin tone.
Be Radiant Vitamin C Towelettes
Small-business owned.
Convenient pads deliver multi-tasking antioxidants. They tone, refresh and cleanse by removing surface oil and debris. Use them daily, or keep them in your bag when you need a fresh face on the go!
Have you used Vitamin C in your skincare routine? I’d love to know more about it and how it has improved your skin!
Are you in Atlanta and have questions about Vitamin C and skincare?
Come visit us! We have two locations in Atlanta – one in Buckhead and one in Alpharetta and we’d love to help you personalize a skincare routine that is ideal for your skin type!
Pin This Post
