The days are soaked in golden colors and nights hold calmness and twinkling stars. This is the summer time!
Your soul does love the golden vibe of summer but perhaps your skin might turn a little unhappy. This is because, during summer the sun rises high in the sky and hits the ground at a higher angle. The irony is, summer is more about beach times, picnics, vacations, and travelling diaries. And your skin pays off the most for summer fun by enduring tanning, sun burns, dark spots, and more severe damage.
We are introducing you to one stop solution for all summer skin woes. Topical vitamin C is loaded with many potent antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and collagen boosting components that will give a boost of radiance and glow to skin.
Top 5 Benefits of Vitamin C
1. Strengthens your skin's tolerance to sun exposure
In summer, it is inevitable to avoid complete sun exposure. Interestingly, vitamin C can save you from becoming a victim of sun rays.
Many research studies claim that topical vitamin C can provide protection against sun damage. Vitamin C acts as a mild sunscreen for skin but this does not mean you can replace vitamin C with sunscreen. But, by combining Vitamin C and sunscreen, you can double the skin protection from sun damage.
Vitamin C possesses powerful antioxidant properties that counteracts UV free radical damage and protects against oxidative damage.
2. Removes tan to promote glowing and radiant skin
Tanning is one of the most common skin problems that almost everybody gets during this season. Tanning occurs when your skin increases the melanin production as a defence mechanism against hot sun rays. This process leads to darkening of skin.
Vitamin C is a magic potion to get rid of skin tan. In addition to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C has natural skin brightening and skin renewal properties. Using vitamin C in topical form helps to lighten darker skin areas and even out skin tone.
3. Protects the skin and stop hyperpigmentation from becoming darker
Not only tanning but intense sun rays can worsen up existing hyperpigmentation due to high UV index.
Vitamin C derivatives like Ethyl Ascorbic Acid show promising results to clear any form of hyperpigmentation. As vitamin C hinders the function of tyrosinase enzyme to prevent excess melanin production.
In addition, AHA (Alpha hydroxy acids) present in vitamin C helps to lighten uneven pigmentation and smooth out skin texture with its mild exfoliating properties.
4. Boosts collagen production to avoid photoaging (premature ageing caused by UV rays)
UV rays emitted by the sun are found to be responsible for destroying skin protein - collagen and elastic. These proteins play a major role in maintaining skin elasticity and firmness. Due to their damage, skin loses its elasticity and becomes wrinkled and saggy.
Vitamin C gives anti ageing benefits to skin by boosting the synthesis of collagen proteins. Research suggests that vitamin C application can help to prevent and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
5. Helps with acne through its anti inflammatory properties
Intense UV rays and overactive sebaceous glands are the main culprit behind frequent breakouts in summer time. By incorporating the vitamin C serums in your skin care regimen, you can benefit your oily/acne prone skin in various ways.
Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help to calm redness and irritation caused due to acne breakouts. Not only this, vitamin C has the ability to heal the acne lesions by boosting skin healing process.
Discover the best forms of vitamin C for your unique skin type
Ethyl Ascorbic acid (EAA)
Ethyl ascorbic acid is a water soluble, stable and one of the highly effective forms of vitamin C.
This vitamin works best on the dark spots, melasma and dull complexion. To perk up dull skin and clear the hyperpigmentation issues, it has strong action. It acts by inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase enzyme which is responsible for the production of melanin pigment.
As an antioxidant, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid provides strong protection against free radicals, which can speed up skin ageing.
The most significant benefit of this vitamin is that it combines the benefits of collagen structure repair and synthesis of new collagen. Daily application of this vitamin can promote more radiant and youthful skin.
This derivative of vitamin C is known to be stable, safe, and non irritating as compared to L ascorbic acid (pure form of vitamin C). However, people with sensitive skin type should do a patch test or start with lowest concentration, as it might cause irritation.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP)
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate appears to be a good choice for people with sensitive or acne prone skin types.
In general, this vitamin C derivative is less likely to cause irritation which makes it safe for acne prone/ sensitive skin types. What happens is that sodium ascorbyl phosphate converts to ascorbic acid when it enters the skin. And this makes it less active and gentler for sensitive and acne prone skin.
According to a study published in International Journal of Cosmetic Science, this vitamin C derivative has a strong antimicrobial action against propionibacterium acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.
It has superbs antioxidants and collagen boosting properties, thus working to improve skin texture, provide firmness, and prevent premature skin ageing.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate is a new generation vitamin C. What makes it different from other forms is that it is well tolerated by all skin types including dry, sensitive and acne prone skin. Being oil soluble in properties, it easily passes through skin' s outer layer which is composed of lipid (oils).
It is a great vitamin C form for the night skin care routine. At night, it aids in your skin' natural regeneration process. Like other forms of vitamin C, it has a great impact in preventing fine line and wrinkles formation as premature ageing signs.
Along with its potent antioxidant and collagen boosting properties, it helps to keep your skin healthy, supple and glowing in the long run.
How many times in a day should you use vitamin C?
For optimal skin benefits, one time application of vitamin C is enough if you are using vitamin C products with potent and ideal concentrations. This is a good ingredient for both the AM and PM skin care regimen.
Through its antioxidant and photoprotective properties, vitamin C works to protect your skin from free radicals generated by sun rays, pollution and other factors during day time. Whereas in night regimen, vitamin C functions to neutralize free radicals, boost collagen productions and aids in skin repair and renewal.
Vitamin C application in morning skin care routine should always be followed by a broad spectrum with minimum of SPF 30 or higher.
3 different ways to add vitamin C in skin care regimen
Vitamin C is a potential game changer in skin care. Its overtime usage can manifest to achieve smooth, youthful and glowing skin. Using vitamin C is important all year round. But, we must know the importance of incorporating it into our skin regimen especially in summer times when skin tends to receive huge free radical damage by intense sun rays. These free radicals are liable for spurring hyperpigmentation, early ageing, sunburns and acne too.
Among the list of vitamin C products, choose the one that ensures to leave your skin happy and vibrant.
