Vitamin C for skin is a popular ingredient in many skincare routines and products. It’s a very popular topic and there’s so much information out there that it can sometimes be confusing. Today I hope to clear some few things up on vitamin C.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C ingredient or ascorbic acid as it’s sometimes labeled is often used in skincare. It is an anti-aging ingredient primarily. Mainly it is found incorporated within serums and moisturizers and other beauty products.
Vitamin C for skincare has lots of other good benefits as well, such as skin brightening. It’s also one of the most powerful antioxidants that protect the skin against environmental factors, free radical damage, aging, wrinkles, all that kind of stuff. It’s a perfect all-rounder, making it a very popular ingredient.
There are several types of vitamin C that can be found on the market and on labels. They all pretty much do the same thing; however, some are more potent than others. Furthermore, some are better suited for particular skin types compared to other types.
It’s worth noting that when it’s in its purest form, say in the serum when antioxidants are exposed to light and air too frequently, they break down. The substances oxidize. So, it’s best to keep these products in airtight packaging. In a cupboard, in their boxes, keep them out of light.
Benefits of vitamin C for Skin?
Pretty much everything especially according to a lot of brands’ claims. There also are varying opinions, especially between dermatologists, beauty gurus, and influencers. Here are different main benefits that people claim vitamin C gives. Some of which I have personally experienced as well from using vitamin C in my skincare routine.
Vitamin C can fade hyperpigmentation
This is a big one for people who have acne scars. So that’s the brown spots, dark spots leftover from acne, sun damage, and scars from blemishes. Basically, Vitamin C can slow down melanin, production which is responsible for making the skin that bit darker. So it fades these dark spots and evens out the skin tone.
Vitamin C for anti-aging
Vitamin C for skincare is an ingredient that helps the skin age more slowly. It does so because it can promote collagen production which is tied to the firmness of our skin, as well as the elasticity of the skin. As people get older, collagen production in the skin slows down. Using vitamin C helps give the skin a boost on collagen production and makes the skin feel a little tighter and firmer.
Vitamin C for protection against sun damage.
Sun damage cannot be overlooked when striving for healthy skin. Sun damage is caused by free radicals. Vitamin C is able to protect the skin because it’s full of antioxidants.
Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory
The benefits of Vitamin c in skincare also includes its use in fighting inflammation. It reduces redness as well which can come from sun damage or maybe bad acne, puffiness, and itching. Vitamin C can reduce the appearance of redness and itchiness.
How to use vitamin C?
Vitamin C for the skin can be found in different forms and products. One of the most popular forms is in a serum. Serums usually come in the bottle, usually a glass bottle and they come with a little dropper or pipette. This is because serums are highly concentrated.
Vitamin C in serums is not the purest form of the ingredient, however, it’s the most potent form in skincare. It has a more of a treatment feel to it and it’s something used after a toner and an essence but before the moisturizers.
Vitamin C can also be found in moisturizers. Many skin care product manufacturers have also been incorporating small amounts of vitamin C in moisturizers for a long time. However, the recent interest in Vitamin C has caused advertisements on the ingredients in their products to increase.
Vitamin C-infused moisturizers are usually good for daily use, twice a day. The quantity of vitamin C, in the moisturizer, isn’t as strong as it’s in the serum. You can expect to note some brightening effects as well as get the anti-aging benefits from the moisturizer.
Vitamin C is also included in exfoliators as well, especially peeling gels. Not very sure whether it’s able to do much when used in exfoliators but hey, it’s included as an ingredient.
Vitamin is also included in cleansers, and this gives you that brightening effect as well. Also, it can have a soothing factor when it’s incorporated into a cleanser.
Who can use vitamin C?
When it comes to skin type, vitamin C is good for all skin types, depending on which way it’s used and what kind of form of vitamin C you are using.
Vitamin C serums especially can have like a tingling, burning effect on your skin. Not burning, but it’s kind of a warm feel. If you have very sensitive skin or you don’t want your skin to feel warm and hot you can look for vitamin C in a milder form.
An example is magnesium ascorbic phosphate. This type of vitamin C doesn’t have that stinging sensation and is perfect for irritated skin or sensitive skin.
When can you use vitamin C?
When to use vitamin C for skin depends on the type of vitamin C product you are using. As an example, if you have vitamin C in cleansers and moisturizers, use them every day, once or twice a day. Vitamin C can be used in the morning or at night.
There are different people on both sides of the aisle when it comes to the use of Vitamin C either at night or in the morning. The only thing that is critical is that if you use Vitamin C in the morning, you must use sunscreen with a high SPF.
Personally, I feel like using it once per day at night is sufficient especially if you have included other active ingredients in your skincare routine
What products can be mixed with vitamin C?
One of the reasons some people have avoided vitamin C in their skincare routine is because they find its use complicated. Some even feel it’s almost dangerous because it sounds like a chemical.
One of the things you should avoid mixing with Vitamin C is all BHAs, AHAs such as salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids. In essence, Vitamin C is an unstable acid, and mixing it with any of these products will render it completely useless. So, use them in the morning, if you’re going to use vitamin C in the evening.
Niacinamide should also not be mixed with Vitamin C because it creates an acid that is a recipe for trouble. When mixed the two products cause redness and can trigger an acne breakout. Furthermore, the Niacinamide prevents Vitamin C from doing any good to the skin because it cancels out its effect. It’s important to note that when used separately, Niacinamide and Vitamin C are awesome for treating scars and blemishes on the skin.
Retinol should also not be mixed with Vitamin C. When the two are mixed together they can cause peeling, irritation, and redness. If used during the day, the mixture can lead to UV damage and skin burns because it increases the skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
All other products that don’t contain these ingredients can be mixed with Vitamin C.
Conclusion
Vitamin C for the skin is useful in most people’s routines. It provides its users with many benefits and has helped many people achieve the beautiful skin that they desire. Have you tried Vitamin C for your skincare and what was the outcome?
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