Vitamin C is a powerhouse ingredient in the skincare world, which is also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C plays a excellent role in skincare routine for its antioxidant properties and ability to improve dull, uneven skin. It also does amazing things for your face. Many people are wondering why vitamin C is often the star ingredient in skincare products as serums, moisturizers, and masks. You may also think “why is vitamin C good for you skin?” or “How can vitamin C make your skin better?” Well, here we are to tell you about the benefits of vitamin C for skin. This piece contains information about the science behind vitamin C’s effectiveness, its skin benefits and how one can add it to their daily skincare routine for glowing young-looking skin.
The Science Behind Vitamin C For Skin Health:
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin. So, our body can’t produce it naturally. It is also very essential vitamin for our other body processes, but it plays a fantastic role in skin health. Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant that help us to get rid of free radical damages that causes reactive stress. By time, oxidative stress can cause skin to lose its suppleness, age faster and have uneven skin tone. Additionally, Vitamin C is an important component of making collagen. Collagen is one kind of protein that helps your skin stay firm, full and bright. As we age, our natural collagen production slows down, which makes skin wrinkle and sag. Vitamin C supports the enzymes that are responsible for collagen production. By this, vitamin C stops the normal decline.
What does Vitamin C do for your skin?
- Boost Collagen Production:
Collagen is one kind of protein that keeps your skin firmer and more youthful. When we aged, our body can’t produce more collagen, that leads to sagging and wrinkles. Vitamin C encourages collagen production to your skin and helps to keep your skin firm and supple. Collagen is like a foundation to your skin barrier that keeps your skin in line. Your skin starts to lose its flexibility and structure in its absence. So, we all should use vitamin C to keep our skin feeling fresh and smooth.
- Brightens skin tone:
One of the fantastic benefits of vitamin C is that it can make your face look brighter. It stops the enzyme tyrosinase, which is responsible for melanin production, vitamin C helps to fade dark spots, sunspots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. This makes the skin looking brighter and more even.
- Fights free Radicals and environmental damage:
As vitamin C is a antioxidant it fights off free radicals damages caused by environmental pollutants like pollution, cigarette smoke, and UV radiation. But it doesn’t mean that it is a alternative of a sunscreen. It enhances your skin’s defense against these damaging factors. These free radicals harm skin cells, leading to premature aging and dullness. Vitamin C absorbs free radicals and protects your skin from oxidative stress and also helps to minimize the visibility of wrinkles, dark spots, and fine lines.
- Reduce Inflammatory and Redness:
Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it an excellent ingredient for which makes it an excellent ingredient for calming your skin and reducing irritation. If one is struggling with acne, rosacea, or general redness, Vitamin C can help to calm and feal it.
- Improves Skin Texture and Firmness:
As we know, vitamin C stimulates collagen production, this special characteristic, helps to protect skin from damage and improve skin texture. It helps the damaged skin cells to heal and promotes smoother, firmer, and more youthful skin.
- Provides Hydration and Moisture:
This amazing ingredient helps to improve your skin’s natural layer, which helps to retain moisture. It also performs well with hyaluronic acid and ensures that your skin stays plump and hydrated throughout the day. Sometimes hyaluronic acid and other hydrating ingredients are added to Vitamin C products, making it a two-in-one product.
- Speeds up wounds healing:
Studies have shown that vitamin C boosts up the skin’s natural healing process. As it reduces the chances of long-term scarring, it is beneficial for minor cuts, acne scars, and other blemishes.
Why use vitamin C serum for skin:
Serum VS other vitamin C products:
We all know that serum is a highly concentrated skincare product. Our skin absorbs serum quickly and gives its best result. Serums always contain active ingredients that can deeply cure the skin by addressing specific concerns like wrinkles, darks pots, acne or uneven texture. Vitamin C comes to us in many forms like creams, toners, mask etc. but serums are most effective in our skin form all of them. Whenever you will use a vitamin C serum, you will notice the difference by your own.
Absorption and Effectiveness:
Usually serums are designed for fast-absorption and it is very lightweight. It ensures that its active ingredient reaches the deeper layer of skin and gives you your desire look. Serums gives fastest result than any other skincare product.
Compatibility with other skincare products:
Vitamin C serum play well with other skincare products. Vitamin C serums increase the absorption power of your skin. So that other products like hydrating moisturizer or potent sunscreen can play their role fast and effectively.
Targeted Action:
Serums are designed to handle specific concerns of skin like aging, dullness, fine line, dark spots etc. Vitamin CF serum is not different from them. Vitamin C serum usually plays a good roll for reducing dark spots and fine line. By using a high-quality vitamin C serum it can brighten your skin, protect your skin against environmental pollution. Overall, it improves your skin texture and tone.
How to choose the right vitamin C product:
You will be surprised to know that all vitamin C product is not created equally. There are differences in their formulation. Here’s what to look for:
Stability: Search for products that are formulated with L- ascorbic acid. L-ascorbic acid is most stable form of vitamin C. It protects skin from damage that caused by UV ray and other environmental factors. It helps to boost collagen and melanin production.
Concentration: Ideal vitamin C concentration depends on one’s skin type and the type of vitamin C used. But usually, the ideal concentration is 10%-20%. Lower concentration than this may not be effective while higher concentration than this can be harmful.
Packaging: Vitamin C breaks down in light and air, so choose products that comes in a dark, airtight package.
How to incorporate vitamin c into your skincare routine:
Every product can be effective if you can use it correctly. One can get the highest benefits of vitamin c, if they use it in a proper way. Here is how to do it:
Choose the right formulation for your skin:
AS we know, vitamin c comes in various forms like L-ascorbic acid, sodium phosphate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. The most powerful form is L-ascorbic acid, but it can become unstable for some people. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and other stabilized versions are better because they are gentle.
Start slowly:
As vitamin C is a power ingredient, if you are new user of it then start with a lower concentration (around 10%). Then gradually increase to the higher concentrations (15-20%) as your skin builds tolerance.
Apply it in the morning:
Vitamin c puts a barrier on your skin that protects your skin from sun damage and other environmental pollution. So, it is most effective to use it in the morning. After cleansing your skin in morning, apply your vitamin c serum before applying moisturizer and sunscreen.
Pair it with sunscreen:
If you are going outside or you are living in a house where UV ray can damage your skin, then you have to use a sunscreen. Though vitamin c gives some protection against UV damage, it is not alternative of a sunscreen. Use a broad-spectrum SPF 50 or higher for optimal protection.
Avoid mixing with certain ingredients:
Products that contain niacinamide or benzoyl peroxide, should not be combined with vitamin c because it can reduce the effectiveness of it. Instead, combine it with complementary ingredients like hyaluronic acid or vitamin E.
Combining vitamin c with other skincare ingredients:
Vitamin C with Retinol:
Vitamin C and retinol together can enhance your anti-aging regiment. However, to prevent irritation apply both substances in the evening or on different days because both are very strong.
Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid:
Vitamin C with hyaluronic acid is a powerful combination to retain moisture of skin. Hyaluronic acid helps your skin to be hydrated and plumps. On the other hand vitamin c works for brightening and protecting your skin. So, by using both together you can get a smooth and glowing complexion. But if you have any health issue, then test first that your skin can absorb it or not.
Vitamin C for different skin type:
Sensitive skin:
Some thinks that vitamin c irritates those who have sensitive skin. But vitamin c can be beneficial for sensitive skin. Just you have to choose a serum with gentle formulas or lower concentration to prevent irritation. By choosing the right serum, one can grab all the benefits of vitamin c.
Oily and acne-prone skin:
Vitamin C is a excellent product for oily and acne-prone skin. As it has anti-inflammatory and healing properties, it helps to remove acne scars and dark spots. By removing these, it gives you a full-fresh look. All you have to de, search for a lightweight, oil-free formulas that won’t clog your pores.
Dry skin:
Vitamin C can also be helpful for dry skin by locking its moisture and boosting collagen production. Collagen makes skin plumper and keeps hydrated.
Some of the most trusted vitamin c serum include:
No7 Radiance + 15% Vitamin C Serum:
Key Features:
- It contains 15% pure vitamin c (ascorbic acid)
- It targets dullness and dark spots and balance skin’s tone and brighten its appearance dramatically.
- Vitamin C in it supports collagen production, which helps to improve skin firmness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- It protects skin from the damages that is caused by free radicals, environmental pollution and prevents premature aging.
- This serum is designed to be lightweight. That’s why it is perfect to use daily, even for sensitive skin.
- Contains ingredients that provide hydration and make skin smoother and plumper.
Key Ingredients:
- 15% pure vitamin c (ascorbic acid)
- Hyaluronic Acid
- Glycolic Acid
Skin Aesthetics Vitamin C and Collagen Face Serum:
Key Features: