5 Reasons to Add Vitamin C to Your Skincare Routine
If you've been paying attention to the skincare world over the last few years, you've likely heard of the benefits of vitamin C. However, If you think consuming lots of vitamin C-rich foods is the way to reap those benefits, that may not be the whole story. The stratum corneum's structure, the skin's outermost layer, may not allow direct delivery of ingested nutrients to provide widely touted benefits. Here are some reasons to add a topical Vitamin C product to your daytime skincare routine.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, or L-Ascorbic Acid, is an antioxidant and water-soluble nutrient. While it is a necessary nutrient, we can't produce it on our own, so we have to get it from external sources. Vitamin C supports immune function, wound healing, and more and can be found in varying amounts in our skin.
Vitamin C and the Skin
While Vitamin C is a fantastic skincare ingredient, it is known for being highly unstable. It oxidizes quickly and, in its pure form, can be irritating for some people. For these reasons, several Vitamin C derivatives are used in skincare. They include ascorbyl palmitate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, retinyl ascorbate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Since nothing good comes easy, these derivatives must be converted back to l-ascorbic acid on the skin to provide benefits. While the concentration of Vitamin C and its derivatives varies across formulations, research shows that formulations should have a pH of between 3.5 and 4. This report states, "from a clinical point of view, it is important to note that the efficacy of the Vit. C serum is proportional to the concentration, but only up to 20%."
1. Vitamin C Boosts Collagen Production
Vitamin C encourages the cells within the skin's connective tissue to boost collagen production. This helps your skin repair itself after being damaged by UV rays or acne breakouts. The result is firmer, more plump-looking skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Vitamin C Neutralizes Free Radicals
Free radicals are created when your body is exposed to UV radiation, polluted air, smoke, or even fighting off a cold. Free radicals are molecules that contain at least one unpaired electron. Not to get too sciency, but Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it gives up some of its electrons to neutralize the free radicals.
3. Vitamin C Helps Prevent Dry Skin
Dry skin occurs when there isn't enough moisture or lipids in the skin. This report states that Vitamin C and its derivatives all improved skin moisture content after 4 weeks of daily use. However, only L-ascorbic acid reduced the amount of transepidermal water loss (TEWL.) All forms of Vitamin C will help boost skin moisture content, but pure vitamin C will help you retain more moisture.
4. Vitamin C Reverses Photoaging
Vitamin C can clinically reverse photoaging. This report states that "vitamin C must be non-esterified, acidic and optimally at 20% concentration" to reduce hyperpigmentation and wrinkles.
5. Vitamin C Paired with Sunscreen Provides More Protection
A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays. However, according to this article, "sunscreens block only 55% of the free radicals produced by UV exposure." Pairing your vitamin C with sunscreen allows the antioxidant to help neutralize the free radicals and prevent skin redness and/or burning.
No matter your skin tone or type, you can probably benefit from adding Vitamin C to your routine.
Here are a Few Vitamin C Products to Try:
Hyper Skin Brightening Dark Spot Vitamin C Serum is a super lightweight water-based serum that contains Vitamin C derivative, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. It's an ether-derived form of Vitamin C touted for its ability to prevent melanin formation. It feels great on the skin, and I recommend it to new Vitamin C newbies. Wears well under sunscreen and makeup.
REN Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream uses Ascorbyl Glucoside - a vitamin C derivative shown to boost collagen production, brighten skin and provide antioxidant protection. It absorbs quickly and does a great job of keeping skin balanced. Wears very well under sunscreen and makeup.
BeautyStat Universal C Skin Refiner is a silicone-based waterless formulation containing 20% L-ascorbic acid. It may be mildly irritating if you have never used a vitamin c serum at this percentage. I like to use it with light but rich sunscreen.
b.Glen C Serum is another waterless formula with L-ascorbic Acid. It has a propylene Glycol base, so it may feel a bit greasy when first applied, but it doesn't wear greasy -- if that makes sense. Wears well under sunscreen and makeup.
Paula's Choice C5 Super Boost Vitamin C Moisturizer is a daily moisturizer that contains 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. If you have dryer skin, this is great to layer up under your sunscreen as it gets colder.
The Ordinary Vitamin C Powder is fantastic if you are like me and like to go all mad scientist with your skincare. It's 100% pure L-ascorbic acid. You can mix it in your water-based serums and creams. I've even added it to my toner. This is no like tacos, where more isn't better; a tiny amount goes a long way. Also, if you follow the directions, it will expire before you get halfway through it.