Vitamin C is one of the elements that skin care aficionados most frequently laud. It is widely recognized that vitamin C has several, diverse skin benefits that are applicable to almost everyone, regardless of age or skin type. It’s a real workhorse and one you should definitely include in your routine.
The main caution is that vitamin C is famously picky and unstable, so it’s important to think carefully about the type you choose, how you use it, and even where you store it. The benefits of vitamin C for skin are described below, along with crucial information on how to use the substance to maximize these benefits.
DESCRIBE VITAMIN C. According to Robyn Gmyrek , M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at UnionDerm in New York and a clinical instructor of dermatology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, vitamin C is the most prevalent antioxidant in human skin. Fun fact: vitamin C must be consumed orally, either through diet or supplements, because your body cannot produce it. However, even if you consume a lot of vitamin C, “In the skin, only a little portion of vitamin C will be biologically accessible and active. A very small amount enters your stomach, travels through your digestive tract, enters your bloodstream, and finally reaches your skin. Applying it topically is the only way to improve its availability in the skin “Dr. Gmyrek explains. Here comes the influx of numerous vitamin C products from skin care companies.
SKIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C The fact that vitamin C is a triple threat as a component in skin care is why you’ve heard so much about it.
HAS ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto, notes that vitamin C fights oxidative stress as a powerful antioxidant, protecting your skin against harmful free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can be produced by a variety of environmental irritants, including pollution and sunlight. According to Dr. Yadav, they start a process called oxidative stress, which damages collagen and quickens skin aging. In order to stop the damage from free radicals, vitamin C can aid. (
In related news, according to research , topical vitamin C can prevent the production of sunburn cells by 40% to 60%. According to her, the chemical can even lessen a particular indicator of DNA damage brought on by UV radiation exposure and linked to the development of skin cancer. It makes sense to use a vitamin C product under your sunscreen every morning for all of the aforementioned benefits.
AID IN THE PRODUCTION OF COLLAGEN According to Dr. Yadav, vitamin C is well recognized for promoting the production of collagen, one of the main proteins in the skin, which gives the complexion a firmer, tauter, and smoother appearance. You can keep your skin resilient and stave off aging symptoms by promoting collagen formation. According to Dr. Gmyrek, the substance has the additional benefit of reducing collagen deterioration and breakdown in addition to aiding in the production of new collagen.
LOWERS HYPERPIGMENTATION Predisposed to unwelcome dark spots? Pick up some vitamin C. According to Dr. Gmyrek, vitamin C helps to brighten the complexion, reduce uneven pigmentation, and level out skin tone. It lessens pigmentation by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme tyrosinase, which is crucial for the creation of melanin, a pigment found in skin.
WHICH VITAMIN C SKIN-CARE PRODUCT IS BEST? If you’ve made the decision to use vitamin C for skin care, there are three things to consider when choosing the right product for your regimen.
BETA VITAMIN C TYPE Because there are numerous variations of vitamin C that are included in skin-care products, the phrase “vitamin C” is used as a generalization. L-ascorbic acid is revered as the gold standard by many experts. According to Dr. Gmyrek, it is the most physiologically active, frequently used, and thoroughly researched type of ingredient in topical skincare products. The main negatives, according to her, are that it is incredibly unstable, doesn’t enter the skin properly, and is most likely to irritate people, especially those with sensitive skin.
Ascorbyl-6-palmitate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (MAP), and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate are other forms of vitamin C used in cosmetics (THD). According to Dr. Gmyrek, they are more reliable and capable of penetrating your skin better. They are less effective since your skin must change them into ascorbic acid when you apply them, according to Dr. Yadav. There are benefits to utilizing alternative types of vitamin C, she explains, “but in my opinion, there’s nothing like the genuine pure thing.” These benefits include include increased stability, decreased irritability, and improved absorption. It is also important to note that, generally speaking, l-ascorbic acid-containing products are more expensive than those that use alternative forms of the substance.
CONCENTRATION It also affects how much vitamin C is present in the mixture. “A product must contain more vitamin C than 8% to be considered biologically significant, however studies have indicated that vitamin C concentrations beyond 20% are both less effective and more irritating. The majority of products on the market today fall into the 10 to 20 percent range “which, according to Dr. Gmyrek, is a decent range to aim for.
Dr. Yadav suggests starting at the lower end and then working your way up if your skin is on the sensitive side. You can also choose a formula that contains one of the other types of vitamin C. It’s also crucial to remember that vitamin E and ferulic acid act in concert to stabilize l-ascorbic acid, so looking for solutions that contain all three is a smart idea, advises Dr. Gmyrek.
Packaging plays a role. Dr. Gmyrek advises consumers to look for goods housed in opaque containers with pump top dispensers since vitamin C, and specifically vitamin C l-ascorbic acid, is easily destabilized by sunshine and oxygen. Dr. Yadav continues, “Store them in a cool, dark area.”
Product type Instead of a moisturizer, search for vitamin C in a serum to get the greatest value for your money. Dr. Yadav emphasizes that serums are strong forms of delivery to your skin because they are concentrated treatments. Apply it to clean, dry skin in the morning so that it can serve as an additional layer of protection beneath your sunscreen. Just remember to wait a few minutes for it to completely absorb into the skin before covering your skin with sunscreen.
Dr. Gmyrek advises against combining it with any other products, but you can apply it again in the evening if your skin tolerates it. Retinoids and other popular chemicals like benzoyl peroxide, she claims, can destabilize the substance and effectively negate its effects. Instead of stacking them yourself, she advises, if you do want to use it in conjunction with other active substances, look for a combination solution that has already been developed with them all to guarantee that they are stable and effective.
When selecting a product, there are many things to think about, but it will probably be worthwhile to take advantage of vitamin C’s many advantages.
