It Generally Helps Boost Wound Healing
Given its effects on sunburn, it should be no surprise that topical vitamin C application can speed up overall wound healing. Healthy wound healing reduces your risk of inflammation, infection, and scarring.
In fact, having a deficiency in this key vitamin can make wounds take longer to heal.
A found that taking vitamin C supplements had a positive effect on skin healing and growth by boosting antioxidant levels in the body and the skin.
This is partly because wound healing is associated with collagen formation, and vitamin C boosts collagen production.
Although topical vitamin C is generally well tolerated, all skin products have the potential to cause side effects.
You should always do a patch test to assess your risk of allergic reaction. Heres how:
When its time for a full application, follow the instructions on the products label.
Its possible to have a skin reaction after repeat exposure, so its best to introduce new products one at a time, spaced out by a few weeks.
Vitamin C serum is typically applied once or twice per day. A good rule of thumb is to cleanse, tone, apply vitamin C serum, and then moisturize. Be sure to apply skin care products with clean hands.
Who Shouldn’t Use Vitamin C Products
Vitamin C has only been studied in adults and is not recommended for children. Always read the ingredient list before purchasing a vitamin C product. If you have sensitivity or a known allergy to any of the ingredients, consider a patch test or consult your doctor before use. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, consider using a formulation that also fights oils, or contains ingredients like salicylic acid that fight breakouts.
Benefits Of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient, which means your body cant make it and you must get it from outside sources. In addition to protecting your cells against oxidative damage, vitamin C is also needed to make collagen and neurotransmitters, and it assists in the metabolism of protein. Adults need 75 to 90 milligrams of vitamin C a day.
Itâs a water-soluble vitamin, so your body doesnt store vitamin C, and any excess you get from a supplement is excreted in your urine. That being said, its recommended that you not take more than 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C a day. Too much vitamin C may cause stomach pain or diarrhea.
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It Helps Reduce Redness And Even Out Your Skin Tone
Vitamin C has also been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory agent through its antioxidant capacity, according to a . This means it soothes your skin and can reduce puffiness.
Vitamin Cs anti-inflammatory action may help:
- neutralize free radicals that cause oxidative damage
- optimize the immune system to discourage an inflammatory immune response
The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C can also help reduce redness, which in turn can create a more even complexion.
The combined reduction of dark spots, redness, and irritation makes for a clear, smooth skin tone.
The Benefits Of Vitamin C With Rose Hips For The Skin Tone
Rose petals and hips â the berries underneath the petals â are used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes, especially for their anti-aging benefits and to help alleviate skin irritation. Rosewater is used as an astringent, and rose hips are combined with other ingredients such as vitamin C in lotions or cosmeceuticals to soothe, moisturize and tone skin, according to Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Rose hips are one of the richest sources of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant often used to heal and protect skin.
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Derms Say Vitamin C Is The Ultimate Brightening Anti
While some skincare ingredients are shrouded in obscurity, others are much more familiarone of the latter being vitamin C. It’s so ubiquitous in brightening products, wrinkle-reducing eye creams, anti-aging serums, and other treatments that whether you’re just dabbling in skincare or you’re the friend everyone texts for advice, we’re willing to bet you’ve heard of the powerful antioxidant. But if you have yet to incorporate a vitamin C product into your skin routine, allow us to convince you of the many reasons why you should. Ahead, experts share all the need-to-know details about vitamin C, including its benefits and the most effective ways to use it.
Keep reading for the complete guide to the popular antioxidant ingredient.
Vitamin C
Type of ingredient: Antioxidant
Main benefits: Protects against free radical damage, evens skin tone, and promotes collagen production.
Who should use it: Vitamin C is not recommended for those with extremely sensitive skin and can be problematic for those with oily skin. Herrmann recommends asking your board-certified dermatologist which brand may be best suited for your skin type.
How often can you use it: Herrmann recommends using vitamin C daily or every other day.
Works well with: Vitamin C works well with complementing antioxidants like vitamin E and ferulic acid, which will boost the efficacy and stability of the molecule.
Should Vitamin C Tingle On Application
If previous experiments with vitamin C left you with tingling skin, be warned. Skincare products should never cause skin to tingle because tingling is a clear sign of irritation and is almost always a problem for skin, Begoun advises. The reason some people may experience tingling is if they are applying a vitamin C product with high concentrations of ascorbic acid that have been formulated with a very low pH which is always a problem for skin. But it might not solely be the formula to blame for the sensation. Vitamin C can also cause tingling if you have a damaged barrier which is the result of using harsh scrubs and cleansers, applying skincare products that contain irritating ingredients, or have advanced sun damage.
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First Off What Is Vitamin C
As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin C is “a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals,” explains board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D. “Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.”
So, in the same way that consuming antioxidant-rich foods aids your body in fighting off free radicals, topical antioxidants do the same for your skin by helping to offset daily aggressors like UV damage and exposure to air pollution. Quick refresher course on antioxidants: They prevent or reduce damage to our cells by neutralizing the production of highly reactive molecules called free radicals. In other words, antioxidants help keep our body and our skin cells healthy.
This free-radical-fighting power isn’t just important for helping to keep signs of premature aging at bay. In neutralizing these free radicals, vitamin C may also help protect skin from precancerous changes caused by UV exposure, Joshua Zeichner, M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, previously told Allure.
What Is Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for many different functions in the body, and it also happens to be great for the skin. It helps to boost collagen production, fight free radicals, and brighten the skin.
When it comes to skincare, vitamin C is most commonly found in serums and creams. It can be applied directly to the skin or added to your regular moisturizer. Vitamin C is most effective when used in concentrations of 10-20%, and it should be applied in the morning before sunscreen for best results.
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It May Help Soothe Sunburns
In addition to minimizing redness, vitamin C accelerates cell turnover, according to a 2017 review . This replaces the damaged cells with healthy new ones.
Topical application of vitamin C, in combination with vitamin E and other compounds, has also been shown to reduce injury due to UV irradiation , notes the above 2017 review. This combination also decreases the inflammation induced by excessive UV exposure.
Its important to note that researchers found that vitamin C alone is only minimally effective at reducing sunburn on its own.
How To Use Vitamin C Serum On Face
Ready to incorporate Vitamin C face serum in your skincare routine? Here is the step-by-step process you need to follow:
- Step 1- Cleanse: Use a face cleanser to thoroughly cleanse your skin and ensure it is free from any impurities. Splash your face with cool water. Then, pat dry your face to prep it.
- Step 2-Toner: Use an alcohol-free toner with gentle and hydrating ingredients to remove all the residue of the face cleanser and refresh your skin. Take it between your palms and dab it all over your face and neck.
- Step 3- Vitamin C Serum: Take a few drops of Organic Vitamin C serum in your palms and gently dab the product into your face. This step gives a hydration boost to your skin.
- Step 4- Moisturise: Top it off with your daily face cream or moisturiser. Massage your face for 2 minutes with it.
- Step 5-Sunscreen: Last but not least, use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more to protect your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays and prevent sun damage.
Bonus Tip: Always have a gap of 15-20 seconds after each application of the skincare product. This ensures the previous product is absorbed thoroughly for the next step.
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What Ingredients Shouldnt Be Mixed With Vitamin C
Though vitamin C is generally safe to use in most circumstances, there are a few ingredients youll want to avoid cocktailing it with. Because vitamin C is an acid, you shouldnt combine it with other skin-care acids such as alpha-hydroxy acids like salicylic acid, and beta-hydroxy acids like lactic and glycolic acids. Mixing with other acids at the same time can change the vitamin Cs pH and render it useless, Dr. Chiu says. Plus, using multiple acids on your face all at once is a recipe for angry skin.
For similar reasons, youll also want to avoid using benzoyl peroxidea well-known acne fighterat the same time as vitamin C. Benzoyl peroxide oxidizes the vitamin C and also makes it less effective, says Dr. Chiu. Instead, use benzoyl peroxide at night and vitamin C in the morning, or use them on different daysthey just shouldnt be layered onto your skin at the same time.
Might Lighten Dark Spots
Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots. But experts say it will take more research to confirm how well vitamin C creams work.
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What Is Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Ascorbyl Teraisopalmitate is a clinically proven oil soluble derivative of Vitamin C, that is highly effective in treating and protecting the skin and converts into Vitamin C within the skin cell. Vitamin C is notoriously unstable and can easily become pro-oxidant if used at high levels, causing cellular damage.
*Oxidation is a destructive process , and when you put a pure vitamin C on your skin, it will cause oxidation and skin damage at high levels. Ascorbic Acid is extremely senstive to light and heat which cause oxidisation very quickly.
Issues with the use of pure Vitamin C aka Ascorbic Acid:
– Vitamin C is an unstable molecule, undergoes rapid oxidation, and almost half of it gets degraded within 30 minutes which is why earlier traditional formulas needed to have higher percentages
– Ascorbic Acid requires low pH environment to be able to penetrate the skin, which can cause irritation such as peeling, stinging and excessive dryness.
We wanted to avoid potential irritation to the skins barrier and ensure that we could use this ingredient in a formulation suitable for all. Ascorbyl Teraisopalmitate benefits in some studies has shown 3-4 times better penetration than ascorbic acid and is known to remain in the skin cells 40 to 60 times longer than ascorbic acid. Ascorbyl Teraisopalmitate Vitamin C benefits for the skin are also known to produce better results than ascorbic acid, even when used in doses 25 times lower.
Vitamin C Benefit #: Topical Use Helps Promote An Even Skin Tone
Aside from wrinkles, one of the most noticeable signs of skin aging is an uneven skin tone due to discolorations like age spots. These discolorations result from disruptions to the skins natural production of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. Melanin production naturally slows with age, but chronic exposure to stressors and free radical damage can speed up this process, resulting in the premature formation of age spots, sun spots, and other discolorations. Studies show that topical vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of these discolorations, which helps to give skin a more even, youthful appearance.
To help correct the appearance of individual or widespread discolorations, we recommend incorporating Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution into your daily skincare routine. This potent serum, which contains activated vitamin C and white birch extract, helps boost radiance and even your skin tone. Its clinically-demonstrated to help correct a wide range of dark spots and discolorations, including age spots, sun spots, and post-acne marks.** Its suitable for all skin types and can be used as an all-over serum or a spot treatment for individual dark spots to help promote brighter, more even-looking skin.
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Who Shouldnt Use Vitamin C Products
Vitamin C has only been studied in adults and is not recommended for children. Always read the ingredient list before purchasing a vitamin C product. If you have sensitivity or a known allergy to any of the ingredients, consider a patch test or consult your doctor before use. If you have acne-prone or oily skin, consider using a formulation that also fights oils, or contains ingredients like salicylic acid that fight breakouts.
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Vit C As A Depigmenting Agent
When choosing a depigmenting agent, it is important to differentiate between substances that are toxic to the melanocyte and substances that interrupt the key steps of melanogenesis. Vit. C falls into the latter category of depigmenting agents. Vit. C interacts with copper ions at the tyrosinase-active site and inhibits action of the enzyme tyrosinase, thereby decreasing the melanin formation. Vit. C also acts on the perifollicular pigment. However, Vit. C is an unstable compound. It is therefore often combined with other depigmenting agents such as soy and liquorice for better depigmenting effect.
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Fiction: Vitamin C Serums Are Not Suitable For Sensitive Skin
At Kiehls our Vitamin C serums are carefully formulated to be gentle enough for sensitive skin and are tested on panels of 50% sensitive skin individuals. When first beginning to use a Vitamin C serum, start with a once-daily application and gradually build to twice a day. Always consult with your dermatologist when incorporating new skincare products into your routine.
Top 6 Benefits Of Vitamin C Serum For Face & Side Effects
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that boosts collagen production in your skin, protects it against free radical damage and has anti-ageing benefits. But lets be honest. We cant go about applying orange peels and lemon juice on the face directly.
Guess what? We have tons of organic skincare products with the benefits of vitamin c for the skin and one is Vitamin C serum for the face.
If youre still in doubt about the wonderful benefits of Vitamin C serum for skin, look no further. We have got you covered for everything that you need to know about Vitamin C serum, its side effects and more.
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How To Use A Vitamin C Serum And Reap Its Benefits
Saedi says to apply a few drops of serum to your face after you wash and dry it. A little bit goes a really long way, she says. She recommends putting it on every morning, all year round. It has some benefits with sun exposure, so it helps to apply it in the morning as the first layer of protection, she says. She says to then layer on your moisturizer and sunscreen. Serums are better than drops of vitamin C boosters added to your moisturizer, Saedi says. Vitamin C drops may not be as potent as serums, and mixing them with moisturizer may dilute the effects.
Store your bottle in a cool, dark place away from extreme heat, such as a bathroom cabinet, as opposed to on your counter. Storing a vitamin C serum correctly is integral to its success, Schlessinger says. A good rule of thumb is to toss the serum six months after its been opened and to keep the serum in a cool, dark place. If youre using it according to the instructions, itll likely be gone before the six months is up. If not, youll want to throw it out. When vitamin C is used past its shelf life, it can actually have negative effects, Schlessinger says. More on that next.
Prevent Wrinkles And Fine Lines
It so depressing, when your skin shows aging signs such as wrinkles. Vitamin C works beautifully to prevent and reduce these unwanted signs by enhancing collagen synthesis in your body. Two study results found that a higher intake of vitamin C was associated with good skin appearances and topical application of vitamin C for 12 weeks has been shown to decrease the wrinkling of the skin, smoothening of the skin, and increase the production of collagen.
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