Directly squeezing lemons onto your face to harbor all of vitamin C in one go, just because it’s all hyped around social media?
Well, the hype is justified, not the above mentioned style of application! (for details, refer FAQ’s below)
Needless to say, vitamin C is an absolute gem in skincare! Wondering why? Let’s take you through the amazing benefits Vitamin C brings to your skin when used religiously!
Top 9 Benefits of Vitamin C For Skin
Vitamin C is quite a diversified and effective ingredient in its topical form for skincare. Here’s why we just can’t stop talking about it!
1. Fights Free Radicals
Typically, Vitamin C boasts of its antioxidant properties. This implies the fact that it fights free radicals (toxins) from the environment that reacts with your skin ultimately damaging it.
Topical vitamin C (especially EAA) consequently halts the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which leads to skin aging.
2. Helps in Treating Acne
With its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant qualities, vitamin C helps to reduce inflammation and speeds up the healing of acne lesions.
Many research studies have elucidated that vitamin C has antimicrobial properties that help to fight propionibacterium that cause acne.
Vitamin C derivatives like sodium ascorbyl phosphate are found to be an excellent ingredient for acne-prone skin.
3. Soothes skin damage by sun
When your skin is exposed to the sun for longer durations, it leads to the formation of free radicals in the skin promoting oxidative stress. This damages the skin causing sunburns and skin irritation.
So this is where vitamin C comes into picture. Owing to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it gives relief from inflammation and also boosts skin healing. This further promotes cell turnover wherein the damaged skin cells are replaced by the new and healthy cells.
4. Boosts Skin Hydration
To attain smooth and plump skin, hydration is extremely important. Many skin specialists explain that Vitamin C retains moisture and improves the overall hydration of your skin.
It further aids in building certain lipids in your skin surface while preventing loss of moisture.
Ethyl ascorbic acid is one of the most stable derivatives of vitamin C. It is loaded with lots of antioxidants and has an incredible absorbing ability due to which it is used in a lot of skincare products.
5. Enhances Skin Texture
Vitamin C is known for its collagen synthesis capacity. Collagen is responsible for elasticity and firm skin.
Thus, a regular and consistent use of topical vitamin C gives you an enhanced skin texture with improved elasticity from boosted collagen in the skin cells.
6. Effective on Hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C also acts as a wonderful anti-pigmentation agent. It hinders the functions of the main enzyme tyrosinase which is responsible for the formation of melanin, a pigment liable for skin, hair & eyes color. Thus, reducing hyperpigmentation with regular usage.
Several research studies have found that the use of topical formulation containing Vitamin C (EAA) has a significant effect on decreasing pigmentation.
7. Prevents Premature Aging
Skin elasticity diminishes with the progression in age. Apart from that, exposure to UV rays, dehydration, and certain other environmental and genetic factors are responsible for premature aging.
This is where the role of vitamin C (Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate) arises. It helps in the production of collagen, a key protein that gives structure to the skin and accelerates the formation of fibroblast. This boosts firmness in the skin and fills in the fine lines and wrinkles, visibly.
8. Acts As a Mild Sunscreen
UV (Ultraviolet) rays from the sun are one of the biggest enemies of your skin. Exposure to UV rays may result in permanent skin damage.
Top dermatologists explain that vitamin C has a protective effect against sunburn. Various pieces of studies explain that the wonderful antioxidant properties of vitamin C helps in collagen production, which improves the condition of sunburn.
9. Gives a Radiant Look
Vitamin C when used topically in a consistent manner has the ability to impart that radiant look to your skin.
With its mild exfoliating abilities, it helps in getting rid of dead skin cells. Another added property of this diversified ingredient is that it hinders the excess melanin production which happens due to overexposure to the sun. As a result, it fades the dark spots and corrects uneven skin tone to give you that bright and dewy look.
FAQs related to Vitamin C application
1. Vitamin C For Skin – Topically or Orally?
Vitamin C is naturally present in foods from our daily diet like oranges, lemons, berries, kiwis, strawberries, etc. It delivers a good dose of antioxidants for the overall inner health of the body when eaten regularly.
However, while ingested orally, due to its water-soluble property, vitamin C is not retained in the body long enough to hit the skin cells. Thus, a topical source of vitamin C like serums and toners is much more beneficial to act on the skin as compared to oral ingestion.
Generally, vitamin C is present in skincare products in these three major forms –Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate. So skincare experts emphasize on knowing your skin type, for best results.
2. Why not direct use of lemons on skin?
The direct use of citric foods on bare skin can trigger irritation and allergic reactions. This is because it is acidic in nature and does not target the concern specifically. It stays on the skin but does not penetrate.
This is why topical forms of vitamin C like serums are concentrated to suit your skin and heal your concerns. Additionally, Vitamin C based serum formulas have low molecular weight which lets it penetrate deeper into the skin to target the specific issues of your skin.
3. How frequently should I use it?
For best results, it is recommended to use the topical forms of vitamin C in your morning as well as night skincare regimens. But if you are new to it, try using it on alternative days for the skin to get a hang of it.
4. Is it good for oily acne prone skin?
Contrary to the popular belief, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is one such amazing derivative of vitamin C that is best suited for oily and acne prone skin. You can use it once or twice a day on clean skin to harvest the best out of it.
5. Will it not cause skin irritation?
Skin irritation is caused when you pick a product without knowing your skin type and probably the one with wrong concentration levels. So always choose the serums tailored to your skin type.
For example, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is one such derivative of vitamin C which is suitable for normal skin type but if you have sensitive skin type, you should opt for its another derivative; Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP). As mentioned above, SAP is specially formulated for sensitive oily acne prone skin types.
Also Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate is the new generation vitamin C derivative which is suitable for all skin types.
P.S.
Now you know how vitamin C proves to be a one stop solution for multiple skin concerns. And when used religiously, vitamin C and its derivatives have the potential to improve your skin’s health in a wholesome manner! Let’s emphasize once more that to unlock that healthy, effective and radiant skin, always and always go for the vitamin C curated for your skin type.
While you pick the right vitamin C for your skin, do not miss out on sealing it with a broad spectrum sunscreen. Dermatologists recommend that suncare is imperative especially after you apply vitamin C, else the sun rays might trigger skin irritation defeating its purpose. So make a wise move and double your protection to get the best out of your skincare products!
