We Decode The Skin Benefits Of Vitamin C

We Decode The Skin Benefits Of Vitamin C
From brightening and evening out tone to plumping and firming your skin, vitamin C is regularly touted as a must-use skincare ingredient. Should you opt for a serum or a cream and where does it fit into your routine though? We're here to answer all the questions to help you get the best results from your vitamin C.

Vitamin C is a staple in everyone's skincare routine, and it is part of the skincare anti-ageing trifecta: vitamin C, SPF and retinol. This ingredient with an array of benefits has quickly become a staple for us. If you’re not sure how to incorporate vitamin C in your routine, or what results you should expect, we’ve got that covered for you.

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C in skincare is one of the best ingredients because of its multifunction. From anti-ageing to protecting the skin, everyone should have it in their (morning) skincare routine. The vitamin C ingredient you usually find in skincare is called L-ascorbic acid and is an extremely potent vitamin C derivative. Vitamin C comes from citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, which are important for your health as well. You could say that vitamin C is one of those ingredients we need in every area of our daily health and wellness, where skincare also has its place.

What does vitamin C do for skin?

Vitamin C is known to be one of the best supplements to keep you healthy and energised, but applying vitamin C skincare is also a game changer. When looking at anti-ageing products, you’ll see that vitamin C is often listed as an ingredient. Keep reading for some of the benefits of vitamin C for skin.



Vitamin C Brightens Your Skin

“It not only helps to brighten pigmentation that already exists, but also reduces the activity of the enzyme that leads to these dark spots from forming in the future,” says Dr Dennis Gross. For anyone struggling with dark spots or hyperpigmentation (PIH), vitamin C is one of the best brightening ingredients out there. The Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C + Lactic 15% Vitamin C Firm & Bright Serum, £88.00 combines vitamin C and lactic acid to resurface the skin texture and skin tone. It’s also a great option for acne-prone skin.



Vitamin C Is A Powerful Antioxidant

Vitamin C provides superb antioxidant properties and can help to shield your skin from harmful free radicals – think of everything you don’t see that can get to your skin including UV rays and pollution. That’s why we love using a strong vitamin C like Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum, £70.00 in the morning. Pair your morning vitamin C with a sunscreen, and your skin will be ready to fight anything.



Vitamin C Plumps Your Skin

Vitamin C doesn’t just keep free radicals away from your skin barrier, it also helps to boost our levels of collagen, resulting in plump and bouncy skin as well as ease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How to Use Vitamin C in your Skincare Routine

The best time to use vitamin C in your routine is in the morning. Not only will it brighten your complexion and make you look more awake, but it will also protect your skin from free radicals. If you live in a busy city, where pollution and UV rays may be out to play, a layer of vitamin C will help protect your skin and fight the signs of ageing these stressors could cause.

If you use retinol in your nighttime routine, that’s all the more reason to use vitamin C. After any type of exfoliation, your skin will always like that extra layer of protection. After applying your vitamin C, don’t forget to apply your SPF! These two ingredients join forces to boost your skin’s defence and fight whatever is thrown at it.

How long will it take before I see results from Vitamin C?

This is the age-old question when it comes to introducing something new to your skincare routine. When it comes to vitamin C, it can take between three weeks to a month to start seeing long term results on the skin. Just like with any other product, consistency is key if you want to have the best results.

When choosing your vitamin C serum, make sure you take into account the concentration (the stronger, the better). You also want to choose an air-tight sealed product to keep the potency of the product from being damaged over time.

Our Favourite Vitamin C Products for skin

From vitamin C serums to vitamin C creams, oils and even eye creams, we love having this ingredient in our skincare routine, especially in the morning. If you’re trying to get rid of stubborn pigmentation, day and night is the way to go to see quicker results. Some of our favourite vitamin C products include…

How to Store your Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C serums and creams can be tricky to store because oxidation can happen after the product has been open. When the formula comes into contact with air, sunlight or heat, you might notice your vitamin C serum turns a darker shade of yellow. Prevent your skincare products from becoming oxidised by keeping them in an environment where the temperature doesn’t change much and away from direct sunlight. Thankfully, most vitamin C skincare now comes in opaque containers to help slow down the oxidation process. We like Sunday Riley CEO Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream, £20.00 to reap all the benefits of vitamin C.

Our Final Thoughts on Vitamin C in Skincare

Vitamin C is an ingredient that we love and if you don’t have it in your routine yet, you should think of incorporating it. It protects your skin from daily stressors, brightens your complexion and most importantly, helps fight signs of ageing. The ingredient is also really easy to incorporate into your routine, a little bit every morning and your skin will thank you long term.

Read More

Can You Use Vitamin C With Retinol?
What Is Retinol?
Drunk Elephant vs Sunday Riley: Which Is Best For You?
Posted: Friday, 14 April 2023

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