THE AMAZING SKIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C: The Grande Dame of Skincare Ingredients

Holy-Grail.  Powerhouse.  Be-all, end-all.  These are all appropriate phrases when it comes to describing vitamin C, the doyenne of all active skincare ingredients. 

Let’s take a walk down memory lane.  Growing up, most of us were lectured on the importance of consuming vitamin C by our parents, healthcare professionals, and countless advertising messages.  Eat your vegetables.  Drink your orange juice.  Take your multi-vitamins.  Why?  Because vitamin C is an essential nutrient that keeps the body functioning.  Vitamin C has been hailed for everything from strengthening the immune system, to slowing down the on-set of age-related vision loss, to treating hypertension. 

Vitamin C’s holistic benefits extend to your physical appearance by helping you achieve healthier, more radiant skin.  In fact, vitamin C’s superior skin-repairing, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory properties have catapulted the nutrient to superstar status within the beauty industry. 

What Is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient found in a variety of foods, including fruits and green vegetables. Also called ascorbic acid or ascorbate, vitamin C is a popular ingredient in high-performing beauty and personal care products.

Vitamin C stabilizes collagen production to repair damaged skin and helps shield the skin from premature aging.  Collagen is an important part of skin structure and it is responsible for the elasticity of your skin.  As you age, your body naturally produces less collagen. With less collagen, your skin becomes drier and more prone to wrinkles.  In addition to aging, damage from UV rays and free radicals can contribute to collagen loss.  The result is an increase in the formation of wrinkles and sunspots.

How does Vitamin C Help Your Skin?

Proactively incorporating vitamin C into your daily routine could be the key to improving your skin’s vitality.  You should aim for a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and supplements rich in this precious nutrient.  In addition, you can achieve great results with high quality skincare.  When applied topically, the key benefits of vitamin C include:

  • Repairing sun damage
  • Lightening brown spots
  • Helping to prevent hyperpigmentation
  • Protecting the skin from environmental stressors aka free radicals
  • Promoting collagen production
  • Diminishing the appearances of fine lines and wrinkles

Vitamin C interacts positively with a variety of other nutrients, including vitamin E.  Vitamin E is known to offer additional protection against UV damage and skin dryness. When used together, vitamin C increases your ability to absorb vitamin E.

Vitamin C may help reduce your risk of developing a mineral deficiency. It increases the absorption of iron, potassium, and other minerals.

Applying a skin care product containing vitamin C shouldn’t result in any negative interactions with medications. However, vitamin C may adversely interact with other skincare products. Given that vitamin C is essentially an acid, it may destabilize other acids, such as lactic acids and the AHAs and BHAs found in exfoliants and masks.

Upgrading Your Beauty Routine with Vitamin C

You may find vitamin C in a variety of forms that allow you to customize a regimen that suits your needs.  Apply it in the morning for UV protection or at night to revitalize your skin as you sleep.  Also consider a vitamin C treatment, such as a mask, to help exfoliate a few evenings per week.

Start your morning with a vitamin-C infused cleanser such as Luxe Botanics Camu Brightening Cleanser.  It offers gentle refreshment and is ideal for all skin types.

AMAZING SKIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C - Luxe Botanics Camu Cleanser

Protect your skin from UV rays with a serum like Rutz Naturals Potent-C Vitamin C Serum.  This powerful serum features 20% Vitamin C in a highly-stabilized formula. 

AMAZING SKIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C - Rutz Naturals Potent-C Serum

Treat yourself to a vitamin C facial multiple times per week with Circcell Fruition Brightening & Polishing Fruit Mask.  It’s formulated with 45% real fruit puree!  It resurfaces and rejuvenates the skin without irritation.

AMAZING SKIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C - Circcell Fruition Brightening & Polishing Face Mask

Nourish overnight with CLE Cosmetics Vitamin C Elixir.  This unique formula features a bi-layer of natural oils plus a serum hybrid with pure vitamin C concentrate.  While you sleep, it works to brighten the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

AMAZING SKIN BENEFITS OF VITAMIN C - CLE Cosmetics Vitamin C Elixir

Storing Vitamin-C-Based Serums

Be careful!  Vitamin C serums are prone to oxidation if not stored properly.  Oxidation breaks down the vitamin C compounds and makes the product less effective.  Vitamin C serums should be used up within 3 months of when you open it.  Always be sure to close the container tightly after every use.  And these special serums should be stored away from direct sunlight.  The best spot is in a cupboard in a room that doesn’t get too hot or cold, such as the kitchen or a drawer in your bedroom. The bathroom is also a suitable storage location if it has enough ventilation to prevent excess humidity.

 

Now that you’re in the know, get in the glow with the power of Vitamin C.

 

 

 

 

 

References for this article:

Allure – Vitamin C Benefits for Skin

Byrdie – Vitamin C Benefits

Oregon State – Skin Health and Vitamin C

Ingredients Skincare Vitamin C

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