Skin Care 101: Benefits of Vitamin C
Rose May Pimentel in Health
Feb 10, 2024 • 3 min Read
Vitamin C is an ascorbic acid water-soluble nutrient that plays a role in keeping the body and skin healthy. It’s an immune system booster and a skincare powerhouse.
It has potent amounts of antioxidants that help decrease the risks of certain chronic diseases. Applying topical vitamin C in the form of skincare products such as serums, creams, and masks will maximize its benefits too.
It keeps the skin healthy by protecting it from oxidative damage caused by daily exposure to light, heat, and pollution. It’s a multipurpose workhorse that protects, repairs, and enhances the skin.
Here are the multiple skin benefits you can get from applying vitamin C products:
1. Brightens and evens out skin tone
It inhibits melanin production by slowing down the generation of the melanin enzyme tyrosinase. This tempers hyperpigmentation and evens out your skin tone over time. Elevated melanin production causes the skin to have dark spots in different areas. Melasma, sun spots, acne marks, and age spots are all considered forms of hyperpigmentation.
Researchers found that vitamin C’s antioxidant properties play a role in lightening dark spots. It gives you a healthier, brighter, and youthful-looking glow skin.
2. Exfoliates the skin and eliminates dullness
Since vitamin C is an acid, it helps exfoliate dead skin cells and allows new cells to surface sooner. It enhances skin cell regeneration and leaves your skin softer, smoother, and brighter. Together with its melanin-inhibiting properties, vitamin C can also have anti-aging benefits by minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Protects against sun damage
Vitamin C revitalizes your sun-damaged skin (rosacea, flakiness, rough areas, sunspots) but vitamin C serums or products are not substitute for sunscreen because they don’t absorb UVA or UVB rays and don’t provide SPF.
Research showed that topical vitamin C treatment could improve the skin appearance of people with mild to moderately photodamaged skin if used for at least three months. Results found that their skin tone, fine lines, and roughness improved. By applying topical vitamin C, your sunburn may heal and rejuvenate faster.
4. Reduces under-eye circles
Dark circles under your eyes indicate a network of blood vessels under that area. Vitamin C smoothens the under-eyes, keeps them hydrated, and plumps the skin, resulting in less dark, dull, and sunken skin.
One study found that the antioxidant properties of vitamin C help strengthen the delicate skin of your under-eyes, conceal the blood vessels underneath and prevents the appearance of dark circles.
5. Minimizes skin redness
Red and blotchy skin is caused by multiple factors such as hormones, inflammatory skin conditions (e.g., eczema, acne, rosacea, and psoriasis), and sun exposure. Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that repair the damaged capillaries that cause skin redness. This process gives a smoother and more even complexion.
When shopping for skincare products with vitamin C, look for products with a stable form of the vitamin, such as L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is best used with other antioxidants, such as vitamin E, to enhance its benefits.
A potential breakdown of the skin barrier may happen when you combine vitamin C with exfoliating acids like AHAs, BHAs, and retinoids.
Always be careful while trying new products – apply a small amount and test your skin reaction for any sensitivity first.
Vitamin C is considered the gold standard ingredient in skincare. Remember, your skin is the largest organ and deserves the utmost care. Add vitamin C to your routine, and you’re working towards a brighter complexion and a healthier and happier you. Let the power of vitamin C help unleash your skin’s full potential. After all, you deserve to shine!
Stay healthy and safe!
