Many a time you might have heard dermatologists recommending Vitamin C serum to eliminate any skin imperfections such as dark spots, blemishes, acne scars, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone. Name any skincare issue and Vitamin C is there for your rescue. But have you ever given a thought as to what makes this beauty ingredient, a favourite among skin care experts? Thanks to the high concentration of antioxidants found in Vitamin C. You will find that Vitamin C is infused in many skincare products. The antioxidants present in Vitamin C help to repair the damaged skin and accelerate the healing process, keeping your skin soft, smooth, flawless, radiant and youthful.
Vitamin C is a must-have ingredient in your daily skincare routine. If you are yet to include this amazing beauty ingredient in your skincare routine, then you must know the skincare benefits of this versatile ingredient. Keep reading to have complete knowledge about Vitamin C and why is it considered to be the most sought-after beauty ingredient in a skincare product.
Also Read : Vitamin C Serum- A Staple Food For Your Skin
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect, repair and heal your body as well as skin. It increases your body’s immunity power to fight diseases and is an essential nutrient required for the repair of your skin. Vitamin C is found in all citrus fruits and some vegetables. Your body gets Vitamin C through the food, but for your skin to reap the benefits of Vitamin C you need to apply it topically. In the skincare industry, Vitamin C is produced synthetically to be used in various skincare products.
There are many synthetically produced derivatives of Vitamin C but most of them are unstable and get oxidised easily. L-ascorbic acid is the purest and the most stable form of Vitamin C.
Why Is Vitamin C Good For Your Skin?
The beauty benefits of Vitamin C are attributed to the fact that it is rich in antioxidants. These antioxidants neutralize the effect of free radicals which are responsible for causing skin damage. In the first place, you need to understand what are free radicals and how do they damage the skin. There are 3 types of free radicals but here we will be talking about ROS i.e reactive oxygen species. Many external factors such as UV rays of the sun, smoke, pollution, extreme climatic conditions, cigarette smoking, stress, lack of sleep and even the air we breathe are responsible for exposing your skin to ROS. This oxidative stress has a damaging effect on the skin cells and breaks the protective barrier of the skin, which affects the texture and appearance of your skin leading to the appearance of wrinkles, fines, dark spots and skin dryness.
Vitamin C being high in antioxidants helps to neutralize the damaging effect of the free radicals on the skin cells, effectively reducing wrinkles, fine lines, dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Thus, Vitamin C is infused in many skin restorative products as it helps to combat the damaging effect of the ROS. The only drawback of Vitamin C is that it gets oxidized quickly when exposed to air, heat and light. Hence Vitamin C products are available in airtight, dark or opaque containers which are generally stored in a cool, dark place to prevent oxidation.
Benefits Of Vitamin C For Your Skin
If you ask a dermatologist to name a Vitamin which is beneficial for your skin, then pat comes the answer as Vitamin C. It is considered to be the most sought-after beauty ingredient in the skincare industry. This is because it is able to effectively eradicate all your skincare problems giving you clear, radiant and youthful skin. Let’s dive deep into the benefits of Vitamin C.
Also Read : Beauty Benefits Of Vitamin C Serum
1. Fights Wrinkles And Fine Lines
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes the effect of free radicals which are responsible for damaging the skin cells. Free radicals can wreak havoc on your skin and are responsible for the appearance of early signs of ageing. The antioxidants in Vitamin C protect the skin and help in the regeneration of the skin, thus effectively reducing the effect of free radicals on your skin.
2. Repairs The Sun-Damaged Skin
Exposure to the harmful rays of the sun can damage your skin causing the appearance of sunspots, wrinkles, flakiness, rosacea. Regular application of Vitamin C on your skin can help protect your skin from further sun damage. It has been noticed in a study that people with mild to moderately sun-damaged skin experienced a remarkable change in the appearance of their skin. Topical application of Vitamin C serum helped to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, roughness and uneven skin.
3. Evens Out Skin Tone
Exposure to harmful UV rays for long-duration, hormonal changes or health conditions can be responsible for uneven, blotchy skin. Vitamin C helps to reduce the production of melanin in the skin and repairs the damaged capillaries which cause discolouration of the skin. Thus, it effectively reduces dark spots, acne scars, blemishes and evens out your skin tone.
4. Hydrates Your Skin
It is extremely important to keep your skin well moisturized, otherwise it could lead to various skin conditions such as dry, itchy and irritated skin. Vitamin C plays a vital role in keeping your skin well moisturized as it is known to enhance the skin barrier function, thus reducing the loss of water from the skin surface. Vitamin C is a go-to remedy for dry, dull and dehydrated skin.
5. Improves Elasticity Of Skin
Vitamin C is known to boost the collagen production of your body. Collagen is a protein found in the body which helps to keep your skin firm and tight. But ageing causes a decreased production of collagen in the body, leading to skin sagging and the appearance of wrinkles. The topical application of Vitamin C helps increase the elasticity of the skin and make your skin firm and youthful.
6. Soothes The Inflamed Skin
Vitamin C exhibits anti-inflammatory property due to which it is beneficial in treating inflamed skin. It helps to calm down and has a soothing action on the itchy, irritated skin. It is effective in treating skin conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis.
7. Reduces Hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C is beneficial in treating hyperpigmentation which is caused when the body starts producing melanin in excess. Topical application of Vitamin C can help reduce hyperpigmentation as it inhibits the production of tyrosinase enzyme which is responsible for the production of melanin.
8. Heals Your Skin
Vitamin C is known to repair and heal your skin as it boosts the production of fibroblast ( a connective tissue cell that is vital for the healing process) in the skin, thus accelerating the healing mechanism of the skin.
9. Acts As A Soothing Agent For Sun Burned Skin
Vitamin C has a soothing action on the sunburned skin as this super skincare ingredient boosts cellular regeneration and increase cell turnover, thus heals and revives the sunburned skin. But Vitamin C should not be considered as an alternative to sunscreen. You can apply Vitamin C skincare product, followed by a good sunscreen before going out in day time.
These skincare benefits of Vitamin C make it a super ingredient in skincare products. After knowing about its beauty benefits, now you can definitely include Vitamin C in your skincare regime.
How To Include Vitamin C In Your Skincare Regime
If you want to have a clear, radiant and youthful, then the best skincare ingredient to look out for is Vitamin C. Regular application can refine the texture and appearance of your skin. As per experts, the best way to include Vitamin C in your skincare routine is to apply it in the serum form, as the serum is more effective than creams and lotions. Serums can effortlessly penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, providing all the skincare benefits of Vitamin C. Always look out for the term L-ascorbic acid, whenever you purchase a Vitamin C serum. As per our skincare expert, ‘ the effectiveness of Vitamin C increases when combined with Vitamin E (another powerful antioxidant) and Ferulic Acid.’ That’s why you will find that these three ingredients are formulated together in Vitamin C serums.
Apply the serum twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. In the day time, apply Vitamin C serum on your clean and dry skin. Follow it up with a moisturizer and sunscreen. At night before hitting the bed, you can apply Vitamin C serum, followed by a moisturizer.
This is how Vitamin C helps to achieve skin that is radiant, hydrated and firm resulting in picture-perfect skin.
Also Read : 7 Reasons Why Vitamin C Has Become a Game Changer in Our Skincare Routine
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