Beauty

Sometimes, Cs Are Good: All The Benefits Of Vitamin C

Vitamin C (antioxidant): Wrinkle-Guzzler and Radiance-Inducer (synonyms). Touted as a turbo-charged antioxidant, Vitamin C is not one to shy away from the spotlight—it basks in it in all of its show-stopping glory. For this water-soluble vitamin, indications of aging are fodder, and spots, dullness, and pigmentation are prey. Even though it’s talked about enough, it’s time to remind ourselves why this star-studded vitamin has cemented itself as non-negotiable in any skincare regimen. Here are 10 science-backed Vitamin C benefits for the skin.

Benefits Of Vitamin C For The Skin

It’s Relatively Safe

Vitamin C is safe in the way that it adapts to varying types of skin: oily, dry, or combination. Most of us can incorporate the antioxidant into our routines without experiencing any sort of a reaction or side-effect. Of course—those with sensitivity or reactivity must exercise caution when applying the formula topically. You might experience stinging, redness, and dryness—but it’s unlikely.

It Can Reduce Pigmentation

There’s a reason why Vitamin C is identified as a brightness-inducing ingredient. It’s because it boasts a slew of properties that fade pigmentation, melasma, age-related spots, and sun-spots on the skin by impeding the production of melanin (the substance that’s responsible for the colour of your skin). As these spots diminish in appearance, your brightness is reinstated over time.

It Can Soothe Inflammation

Thanks to the vitamin’s anti-inflammatory properties, it can reduce inflammation, puffiness, and redness on the skin—and some studies indicate that it can fade scars, reduce acne, heal wounds, and lend a healthy-looking, even-toned radiance to your skin in the process. It’s also said to treat skin-related conditions called inflammatory dermatoses.

It’s Compatible In Nature

Vitamin C can work in sync with other actives like retinol, Vitamin E, Ferulic Acid, and SPF as well—this means that you don’t have to worry about these ingredients reacting incompatibly with one another.

Stimulates Collagen Production

And here’s why Vitamin C is put on a pedestal—its expertise in anti-aging. By stimulating the production of collagen—a protein that’s responsible for the elasticity of your skin—it maintains the tightness and firmness of your skin, and prevents lines, sagging, and wrinkles from making their existence known.

It Sun-Proofs The Skin

Since Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants, it can fight off cancer-causing, wrinkle-inducing, dullness-triggering free radicals caused by exposure to the sun. This promotes the appearance of clear and radiant skin.

It Can Treat Dark Under-Eyes

Vitamin C can treat A.M under-eye inflammation and puffiness thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties; but it can also reduce darkness in the area because by strengthening the thin and delicate under-eye skin, and making it more elastic and resilient in nature.

It’s Hydrating

Vitamin C is pretty refreshing. It helps our skin retain moisture, and keeps it plump and healthy without letting it become too oily or too dry. Hydration is key to youthful and healthy-looking skin.

It Can Prevent Sunburn

Apart from treating redness and inflammation resulting from sunburn, Vitamin C can accelerate the turnover of cells too. This means healthier cells in place of sun-damaged ones. In conjunction with Vitamin E, it can treat sunburn effectively.

It Promotes Better Skin Texture

Because it stimulates the production of collagen, and promotes the appearance of wrinkle-free skin with improved elasticity, skin-texture experiences an improvement too—clear, smooth, and supple.

How Do You Use Vitamin C In Skincare?

You’ll find that most Vitamin C-infused products are serums; but the antioxidant is condensed into other vehicles of potency like toner, face-wash, and exfoliators too. Here are a fe0000w things you must keep in mind while using Vitamin C:

You can use Vitamin C in conjunction with a lot of actives: Vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, Vitamin B, and niacinamide are a few of them. If you’re using it with Retinol, make sure you’re not layering them on together—you can apply Vitamin C in the A.M, and Retinol in the P.M. A Vitamin C skincare routine is nuanced and structured.
Avoid mixing with AHAs like Salicylic Acid and BHAs like Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid.
The most effective and stable form of Vitamin C is Ascorbic Acid. You should look for products that work this variation into their formulas.
Vitamin C is extremely unstable: exposure to light and oxygen can render the formula inactive, and trigger it to oxidize rapidly before turning into a DHAA (dehydro-ascorbic acid), and degrading to acids that irritate the skin.
You must ensure that it is delivered to you in a container that is opaque, and a lid that is tight-fitting—just so it doesn’t lose its potency once opened.
It’s safe to use during pregnancy.
For better absorption, apply Vitamin C on damp skin—not too wet and not too dry
Absorption of Vitamin C is largely contingent on its pH level. If you have normal skin, look for one with a low pH of approximately 3.5 for optimal absorption. If you have sensitive skin, you should use a formula with a pH of 5 to 6.
Though Vitamin C isn’t notorious for triggering side-effects, look out for stinging, redness, and burning—and make sure you’re conducting a patch-test before making the product a part of your routine.

Apart from going on about Vitamin C benefits for the skin, we’re rounding up some of the best Vitamin C skincare for you to invest in this summer. Here are 5 of our all-time favorite Vitamin C skincare products.

MyGlamm 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum

MyGlamm 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum enriched with Pomegranate and Licorice

Clinically Tested, Highly Concentrated Face Serum with Vitamin C & Natural Extracts

₹599~~₹799~~

This Vitamin C-infused formula’s expertise isn’t just limited to skin-brightening. Remember that this ingredient is an all-powerful antioxidant that can soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles, reduce pigmentation, and fight the effects of free-radical damage. Laced with 15% highly-concentrated Vitamin C in the form of Ascorbic Acid (one of the most effective and stable forms of the vitamin) as well as other age-repelling antioxidants like pomegranate, marula oil, and licorice, the elixir absorbs into the skin seamlessly because of how lightweight and non-greasy it is, and infuses the cells with hydration and moisture thanks to Hyaluronic Acid, chamomile plant-extracts and aloe-vera. That’s why building a Vitamin C serum skincare routine is so important.

MyGlamm 1% Retinol Age-Defying Serum

MyGlamm 1% Retinol Age-Defying Serum enriched with Caffeine and Aloe Leaf Extract

Clinically Tested, Highly Concentrated Face Serum with Retinol & Natural Extracts

₹319~~₹799~~

Retinol is the ultimate wrinkle-scavenger, and that’s why this power-packed formula is a cult-favourite. Punctuated by the ever-potent Vitamins A, C and E, this age-defying serum fades lines and wrinkles while enhancing the tone and texture of your skin. Thanks to its inclusion of antioxidant-laden actives like caffeine and aloe-leaf extracts, U.V-induced damage isn’t a worry. And because it’s infused with Hyaluronic Acid, ceramides, and Allantoin, you will not experience any degree of dryness, peeling, and irritation in the short-term and long-term—in other words, the best anti-aging serum for dry skin and the best anti-aging serum for sensitive skin.

And that was the tea on Vitamin C for the skin.

FAQs

Does vitamin C help reduce wrinkles?

Yes—that’s why it is regarded as an anti-aging elixir. It promotes the production of collagen, and diminishes signs of aging—that manifest as sagging, wrinkles, and lines—in the process.

Can vitamin C improve skin, and is it good for clear skin?

Yes—Vitamin C improves the texture and tone of your skin. It heals wounds, treats acne, reduces pigmentation, diminishes signs of aging, and brightens your complexion—amongst other things. This promotes the appearance of smooth, crease-free, and clear skin. All you need is Vitamin C for good skin.

Is vitamin C good for acne scars?

Not only can Vitamin C treat acne, it can fade acne-related scars too. Collagen is essential for rebuilding healthy skin, and since Vitamin C increases the synthesis of collagen, it can help reduce the appearance of scars.