What Is Vitamin C Good For
01. What is Vitamin C?
- An iconic ingredient with many clinically proven benefits
02. What does Vitamin C do for the skin?
- Its a powerful antioxidant that battles free radicals
03. What kind of Vitamin C should you use?
- Ascorbic acid is the most stable and effective form of vitamin C in skincare
04. When and how should you use Vitamin C?
- Vitamin C products can be used both day and night
05. What to know when using Vitamin C
- The fresher the product, the more effective it will be
Vitamin C is an iconic ingredient for one simple reason: It works. Turns out that its not just for fending off colds its also a clinically proven and efficacious ingredient that you can add to your skincare routine. Vitamin C is frequently recommended by dermatologists because of its multiple benefits, such as:
- Protecting your skin from UV damage
- Stimulating collagen production
- Fading dark spots
Plus, Vitamin C is safe to use on most skin types and it is often favoured over more irritating anti-aging ingredients such as retinol .
Sounds pretty good, right? But before you head to the drugstore to stock up on vitamin C serums and moisturizers, read on: Here, Dr. Sonya Abdulla, a Toronto based dermatologist, shares her take on the benefits of vitamin C for your skinand everything you need to know about using this powerhouse ingredient.
It Helps To Lower Scars And Scratch
In a singleexamine, vitamin C gel utilized to the pores and skin made surgical scars much less noticeable. Within the experiment that included 80 individuals, half of them put the vitamin-infused silicon gel on their wound day by dayfor six months after their stitches have beeneliminated. Afterward, their scars have beenmuch lessseen than these of the individuals who had not used the product.
How Do I Choose The Best Vitamin C Face Serum
When choosing a vitamin C face serum, it is important to consider a number of factors, including your skin type and your main reasons for using the face serum. Skin type is an important factor as not all serums will work well for all people. Some serums are formulated for oily skin, while others are formulated for dry skin, so it’s important to choose a face serum that fits your skin or is described as being good for all skin types. It is also important to consider the goals that you wants to accomplish by using this serum and to search for a product that is formulated to help users meet these goals.
One of the most common reasons that people use vitamin C face serum is to improve skin tone. Vitamin C is believed to help even the tone and also bring a brightness to the complexion. This can be helpful for people who are trying to fade scarring on the skin that may be the result of accidents or acne. It can also be helpful for people who are trying to fade spots and freckles that are the result of sun damage.
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C Your Way To Better Skin What Does Vitamin C Serum Do For Your Face
Popping that vitamin C supplement is great for giving your immune system a boost. Staying on top of your vitamin C intake is extremely important, not only during cold and flu season but throughout the year. With that said, vitamin C can do so much more for you than just help you fight off a cold.
Vitamin C serum when applied as a topical treatment is absorbed directly into the skin. Of course, its not going to assist with boosting your immune system, however, it does help support other areas such as your skin and outside your body. What does vitamin C serum do for your face? Simply put, its the triple crown of skincare serums. Vitamin C serum helps Protect, Correct, and Repair.
Can I Use Vitamin C Serum Every Day
‘Yes, vitamin C serum can be used every day. I would recommend using it in the morning as it will working synergistically with your sunscreen to improve your skins protection from sunlight,’ suggests Dr Shotter. ‘Sensitive skins may need to build up their tolerance to vitamin C serums by starting with using it on alternate days.’
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What Is Vitamin C And What Is It Used For
Vitamin C, a common name for “ascorbic acid, is one of the best known vitamins, most studied and appreciated from the point of view of benefits. It is a water-soluble antioxidant that first of all protects from the attack of free radicals, but also helps in the synthesis of collagen which serves to strengthen bones, cartilage, muscles and to promote the absorption of iron, folic acid and vitamin E. Severe vitamin C deficiency can even cause imbalances that require medical attention. The best known use of vitamin C is undoubtedly to prevent the common cold, but not everyone is of this opinion, although some studies have shown a significant reduction in the risk of developing colds in individuals accustomed to taking vitamin C daily. . In addition, in subjects who experienced a cold while taking vitamin C “there was a significant reduction in the duration of the disease. Here’s how it works.
- Facilitates the healing of fractured bones and wounds.
- It is useful in the treatment of anemia and urinary tract infections.
- It contributes to the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the bone marrow.
- It delays cellular aging by keeping the tissues young.
Dont Limit Yourself To Serums
The most common way to get vitamin C in a skin-care routine is in a serum. But you dont have to limit yourself! If youd rather not add an extra step to your regimen, know that you can also get vitamin C in cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliants, and even sunscreens, Dr. Hogan says.
Some of her favorite non-serum ways to get vitamin C include Ole Henriksen the Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser , Clinique Fresh Pressed Pure Vitamin C Powder , and Revision Vitamin C Lotion 30% .
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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When Should You Use Vitamin C Serum
Though dermatologists recommended a few different Vitamin C serums, they do agree on a few things, like when you should apply Vitamin C serum in your skincare routine. Apply your Vitamin C before your moisturizer for the best results, says Annie Tevelin, green beauty expert and founder of SkinOwl. Let it dry for one minute before applying a moisturizer with SPF.
If the serum has turned brown, return it and cease any use of it. Absolutely do not use if it has turned brown.
– Susie Wang, cofounder of 100% PURE
Theres no real consensus among skincare experts on whether youre better off wearing your serum in the morning or at night. Think of it in the daytime as another layer to protect your skin again free radicals and UV, and at night as a way to undo oxidative damage from the day, says dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse of Rapaport Dermatology. Whenever you wear your serum, Wang recommends beginning with a lemon water rise to prep the skin with a light dosage of Vitamin C to start.
Switch To A Vitamin C Derivative
Skin Inc Supplement Bar Vitamin C Serum
Vitamin C derivatives are a good alternative to L-ascorbic acid because they are more stable and resistant to oxidation, so they’re less prone to degrading and changing colour in the bottle . They also tend to be gentler, due to their non-acidic pH levels.
Some of the best vitamin C derivatives include:
- Ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, found in Joanna Vargas Rescue Serum
While vitamin C derivatives are great for fighting free radicals and brightening, keep in mind that they’re less proven than L-ascorbic acid in terms of increasing collagen.
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What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Immune System
The most important function of vitamin C for the immune system is to promote the production of lymphocytes and phagocytes, which are white blood cells that help protect the body against infections.
Vitamin C also protects leukocytes from the harmful effects of free radicals, which helps them to act more effectively.
As a result, vitamin C has been used for many years to prevent scurvy in sailors. Maintaining a normal level of vitamin C can also speed recovery from flu and cold, but does not prevent them.
Vitamin C is an anti-inflammatory, it helps get rid of free radicals that can damage cells and tissues. It also allows you to use vitamin C for wound healing, because reduced inflammation promotes faster healing.
It is known that vitamin C as an anti-inflammatory agent can reduce coughs and wheezing in smokers by reducing oxidative stress.
Vitamin C can also speed up recovery from sore throat, all thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
The anti-inflammatory properties of vitamin C can also help with allergies by reducing inflammation, swelling and related symptoms that occur as a result of an allergic reaction.
How Do I Apply Vitamin C Serum To My Face
‘Vitamin C should be applied after cleansing and toning, but before applying anything creamy in texture. I recommend applying vitamin C serum with your fingertips rather than the palm of the hand, as your will waste a lot of product on your palms. Dab small amounts over the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose before massaging in with the fingertips,’ advises Shotter.
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You Can Use Vitamin C With Retinol But Be Cautious
In the past it was thought that you should avoid using vitamin C products with retinoids at all costs. And that is still sort of true. They work best in different skin environments, so using them at the same time may make both less effective. And because they can have similar effects on the skin, experts do still advise against using these two ingredients together, Dr. Hogan says.
Using them in the same part of your routine can cause irritation, Dr. Lamb says, but its okay to use them on the same day at different times. Experts generally advise using vitamin C products in the morning and retinoids at night.
Difference Between Face Serum Moisturizer And Face Oil
While they can all be used to treat the skin, serums, face oils and moisturizers each have a slightly different purpose. A face oil is thicker in consistency than a serumwhich is most often a water-based formulaand its primary purpose is to nourish, protect and moisturize the skin.
Meanwhile, a moisturizer uses a thicker formula to create a hydration-locking barrier. This prevents the skin from drying out and helps to retain moisture.
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The Ability To Scavenge Free Radicals And Dispose Of Toxic Oxidants
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that can neutralise and remove oxidants, such as those found in environmental pollutants and after exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This activity appears to be of particular importance in the epidermis, where vitamin C is concentrated in the skin. However, vitamin C is only one player in the antioxidant arsenal that includes enzymatic defences as well as other non-enzymatic defences . Most intervention studies carried out to determine the capacity of antioxidants to prevent oxidative damage to skin have used a cocktail of these compounds . Vitamin C is particularly effective at reducing oxidative damage to the skin when it is used in conjunction with vitamin E . This is in accord with its known function as a regenerator of oxidised vitamin E, thereby effectively recycling this important lipid-soluble radical scavenger and limiting oxidative damage to cell membrane structures .
The central role for vitamin C and other antioxidants pertinent to the skin. The interdependence of vitamins E and C, and glutathione, in the scavenging of free radicals and regeneration of the reduced antioxidants, is shown. Vitamin E is in the lipid fraction of the cell, whereas vitamin C and glutathione are water-soluble and present in the cytosol.
The Power Of Vitamin C
Before digging deeper into the serum itself, it is important to know what all the vitamin does in general. It is an essential vitamin that is found in a number of foods and plants. It is also a key ingredient in repairing damaged tissue and the production of new cells. This is why it is so helpful in boosting your immune system. It helps give you that needed boost in immune cells and increase their ability to fight off cold and flu germs. It also helps repair muscle tissue after a workout and provides reinforcement to other areas of your body.
Because vitamin C is typically consumed, most research was initially focused on studying the vitamin within the body, not outside. So while the vitamin can help repair certain cells, including skin cells, from the inside, a topical solution will help ensure it is absorbed by the specific area. Its similar to caffeine. Caffeine can help improve your complexion, reduce dark circles around your eyes, and tighten up the skin, but youre not going to see this kind of result by drinking a cup of coffee. The amount of coffee youd need to drink for the caffeine to actually improve your skin would likely kill you . So, instead, caffeine is used as an ingredient in a number of beauty products.
And this is where a vitamin C serum comes in. To fully take advantage of vitamin Cs power and make sure your skin receives all the benefits, the vitamin is concentrated down into a topical serum for applying directly to your skin.
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Vitamin C For Face And Neck Aging: Best Way To Use It For Anti
Applying vitamin C to your face and neck can reduce the signs of skin aging, improve tone and texture and protect against UV radiation.
However, the type of vitamin C and the way it’s applied to your face and neck can make a huge difference in your results. Learn how to use vitamin C for your face and neck to prevent and reverse the signs of skin aging.
PLUS: Check out my before & after pictures below!
Diy Vitamin C Serum Face Mask Recipe For Increased Collagen Production
By Anna Young
Not many people are aware of this, but vitamin C is actually an essential antioxidant that is also known as ascorbic acid. One of the reasons why its so important to get enough vitamin C is because it has a direct influence on whether or not your body is able to produce adequate amounts of collagen naturally. While there are of course the obvious ways to get more vitamin C , you can also follow this recipe for making a DIY vitamin C face mask that helps to increase natural collagen production. Youll need to combine vitamin C in powder format with a couple of other beneficial ingredients in order to make the mask, and then leave it on overnight while you sleep in order to maximize the benefits it provides.
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What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Face
Briefly: all the pieces. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it protects pores and skin cells from damaging free radicals brought on by UV publicity.
It additionally inhibits melanin manufacturingwithin thepores and skin, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out pores and skin tone, and improvepores and skin radiance. Lastly, vitamin C helps to restoreinjury from solarpublicity and collagen loss by encouraging wholesome cell turnover and regeneration, says Wexler.
Surprising Benefits Of Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is a clear, gooey substance that is naturally produced by your body.
The largest amounts of it are found in your skin, connective tissue and eyes.
Its main function is to retain water to keep your tissues well lubricated and moist.
Hyaluronic acid has a variety of uses. Many people take it as a supplement, but its also used in topical serums, eye drops and injections.
Here are 7 scientifically backed benefits of taking hyaluronic acid.
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What Does Vitamin C Do For Your Face: Benefits And Side Effects
What does vitamin c do for your face? Vitamin C is ascorbic acid thats not produced by the body. Its found in various food sources and is considered a vital vitamin. The only way to get it is through a diet and taking vitamin C through supplements. Citrus fruits are known to be high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is a magical nutrient. It can help boost immunity, protect against cancer, and skincare.
When And How Should You Use Vitamin C
Some active ingredients, like retinol, are recommended to be used at night due to their photosensitivity, but vitamin C products can be used both day and night. Vitamin Cs neutralizing effect on pesky free radicals makes it the perfect skincare ingredient to add to your daytime routine. If you have acne-prone skin, vitamin C works wonders on acne scarring and pigmentation. Vichy LiftActiv Peptide-C Ampoule Serum is a 10-day treatment containing 10% pure vitamin C that targets marks and sunspots. The super-vitamin also has anti-aging properties. Enter Vichy LiftActiv Collagen Specialist Advanced Anti-Aging face moisturizer. This hydrating combination of vitamin C, phyto peptides and Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water softens wrinkles, firms skin and targets skin discoloration while brightening the complexion. Simply apply any of these forms of vitamin C products all over your face in the morning under your daily sunscreen.
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