We’ve all grown up hearing various benefits of orange juice, and Vitamin C. With Coronavirus spreading across the world, most companies have noticed an increase in the sales of orange juice! It turns out that’s when everyone realized what a superstar it was!

But besides boosting immunity and other health benefits, Vitamin C is an ideal ingredient for skincare. If you’re wondering what the big deal is with Vitamin C, we’re here to shed some light on its many benefits. Here’s why you should include Vitamin C in your skincare routine.

6 Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin Care

  • Stimulates Collagen Production

Collagen is generally known as something that maintains the skin’s youthful appearance. Collagen and elastin are actually naturally occurring proteins in the skin that make it look plump and firm. The acidic nature of Vitamin C stimulates the skin to produce more collagen and elastin, improving the texture of the skin.

This also results in reduced appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Besides encouraging the production of more collagen and elastin, Vitamin C also promotes cell turnover where healthy new cells replace older, damaged ones.

  • Prevents Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation and dark spots are a common problem, and Vitamin C is the perfect cure for these. Vitamin C controls the action of the enzyme tyrosinase, which converts tyrosine into melanin, thus stopping hyperpigmentation and other forms of discoloration.

This action happens without changing the skin’s natural pigmentation but works on conditions like sun spots, age spots, or melisma. It also brightens skin and minimizes signs of redness, resulting in an even tone complexion.

  • Moisturizes Skin

We’re all aware of the importance of keeping skin moisturized. Not only does it make skin look supple, but it also prevents fine lines and skin irritation. Vitamin C is known to encourage the production of barrier lipids, which help retain moisture within the skin.

This is probably why Vitamin C is a significant ingredient in so many serums since serums are meant to provide intense hydration. Another fact is that a Vitamin C derivative, Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, has been proven to improve hydration by preventing water loss.

  • Lightens Under Eye Circles

Being thinner and more delicate than the skin on the rest of the face, the under-eye area is prone to dark circles and puffiness. Vitamin C can tackle this by stabilizing a particular protein, the collagen mRNA. This repairs the damaged under eye area and makes the area plumper.

Dark circles are notoriously stubborn, but Vitamin C can reduce any pigmentation or discoloration here, evening out the complexion of facial skin.

  • Fights Free Radical Damage

Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant with loads of health benefits, including some for the skin. The main job of an antioxidant is to fight free radical damage, and Vitamin C does this perfectly. Free radicals are molecules that are missing an electron, and they are constantly trying to snatch an electron from other atoms resulting in cell damage.

Antioxidants like Vitamin C give free radicals that extra electron, neutralizing their damage in the process. Vitamin C protects the skin against environmental damage by promoting the skin’s natural repair system.

  • Protects Against Sun Damage

Part of Vitamin C’s role in fighting free radicals is related to sun damage. Exposure to UV rays can cause all kinds of skin damage as well as serious disorders like skin cancer. While Vitamin C is not a sunscreen (it cannot absorb UV rays), it can limit sun damage.

Vitamin C also helps in thickening the dermis layer of the skin, which makes it more effective in guarding against UV damage. The effects go so far as to prevent pre-cancerous changes due to exposure to UV rays.

How to Use Vitamin C for Skin?

Vitamin C is available in a large array of products, although the most popular is serum. Serums contain a greater concentration of active ingredients, making them more effective in tackling skin problems.

Vitamin C is mostly found in these forms:

  • L-ascorbic acid
  • Ascorbyl palmitate
  • Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate

Of these, L-ascorbic acid is considered the most effective form of Vitamin C for skin care since it can penetrate the skin barrier better. Vitamin C also works well with other ingredients like AHA and Retinol, but particularly Vitamin E, which is why the two are often found together in skin care products.

Vitamin C should not be used along with products containing niacinamide, since it may make Vitamin C less effective. Vitamin C products should be stored in dark, air-tight glass bottles in a cool place to maintain its efficacy.

Vitamin C is generally considered safe and gentle for topical applications, and most people will not face any adverse reaction. However, those with hypersensitive skin may experience some irritation, so it’s always advised to do a patch test first.

For someone starting with a Vitamin C product, it’s better to go for a 5% serum, and then go up to 20% if needed. Use a minimal quantity – less is usually more. The skin care products with vitamin c needs to sit for 15 minutes to be completely absorbed before applying the next product.