Your 12 Fact Vitamin C Cheat Sheet
With almost countless benefits, it's with good reason that vitamin C is one of the most highly-regarded skincare ingredients available.
Its advantages include brightening skin tone, improving texture, aiding in the induction of collagen, diminishing pigmentation, and providing powerful antioxidant protection from cellular damage.
However, there are many misconceptions surrounding many skincare ingredients including Vitamin C, and with countless options and brands on the market you would be forgiven for being overwhelmed.
To help, this blog is your cheat sheet on Vitamin C skincare facts.
Fact No 1 – Absorption
Did you know Vitamin C is the most abundant anti-oxidant in human skin?
When we eat or drink, supplement Vitamin C, our skin only gets a tiny fraction of its value because it cannot be synthesised in our bodies.
We must therefore rely entirely on applying directly to the skin area.
So, pressing Vitamin C in serum form onto the skin allows our skin to absorb more of it in an effective way.
Fact No 2 – Reduce Inflammation
Yes, Vitamin C can help to reduce inflammation caused by acne.
As it promotes collagen synthesis it can also help aid skin recovery after an acne breakout.
Experience with three teenagers has proved this to me beyond doubt.
Fact No 3 – Sunlight
Vitamin C does not make your skin more vulnerable to sunburn.
In fact, Vitamin C may actually help decrease skin stress from UV light exposure.
Alpha hydroxy acids and retinols may interact with sunlight depending on dosage but not the trusty Vitamin C. However, it is always 100% recommended to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen when venturing out.
Vitamin C Brightening Serum with Kakadu Plum, Turmeric & Rosehip
Learn about Vitamin C Brightening Serum with Kakadu Plum, Turmeric & Rosehip
Fact No 4 – Enzymes
It helps with the formation of enzymes that regulate metabolic processes within the body.
For example, when taken internally it helps with the absorption of iron.
Fact No 5 - Hyaluronic Acid
Vitamin C and Hyaluronic acid are a match made in skin heaven. Together they take your skincare routine to the next level.
Hyaluronic acid helps keep skin moisturised and vitamin C protects from free radical sun damage and can help fade skin spots.
Fact No. 6 – Diet
Our bodies do not produce Vitamin C and we must source it through our diet or topically.
This is why living well is such an important part of an anti-aging skincare routine.
Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, brussels sprouts, broccoli and spinach.
Skin Perfecting Radiance Gel with Lilli Pilli, Licorice, Emu Apple and Vitamin C
Learn about Skin Perfecting Radiance Gel with Lilli Pilli, Licorice, Emu Apple and Vitamin C
Fact No 7 – Persistance
Did you know that once it is applied topically, Vitamin C is instantly absorbed and will stay in your outer skin layers for 72 hours?
Fact No 8 – Exfoliator
While Vitamin C may best known as a skin brighter, as an acid it also helps gently whisk away dead skin cells. This leaves the face looking smoother, brighter and feeling softer.
Fact No 9 – Stability
When it comes to skincare, not all Vitamin C is made the same, and there are several important factors to keep in mind. From a molecular level, Vitamin C is a relatively unstable ingredient is prone oxidation) when it comes into contact air.
This why the base ingredient is transformed to be stable within a skincare formulation. L-ascorbic Acid is the most reactive form and more stable forms include Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.
Vitamin C Skin Perfection Kit
Learn about Vitamin C Skin Perfection Kit
Fact No 10 – Concentration
Many factors go into working out the propositions of each ingredient that goes into a skincare formation. I have always thought when it comes to actives, more does not always mean better and a lot depends on what you want to get out of the product.
Unless supervised by a dermatologist, do not go beyond a concentration of 2.5% – 10% for daily use and always patch test when you begin. When products have concentrations of L-Ascorbic Acid that are too high, skin can experience irritation.
Fact No 11– Is Vitamin C Vegan?
Yes, vitamin C is a vegan ingredient and either synthetically derived or from natural sources such as Kakadu plum and hibiscus.
Fact No 12– Vitamin C Products Benefit All Types of Skin
The Vitamin C benefits extend to all skin types, including sensitive and dry skin. The routine is what is important for skin type including patient introduction of changes and consistent application.
A final thought
Most of the myths about Vitamin C relate to sensitivity and interaction with other ingredients and environmental factors such as sunlight.
At the end of the day, your skin is so important it is good to be cautious and when in doubt ask a doctor or dermatologist.
There is a lot of good research on Vitamin C, so it is easy to get good advice and bust myths.
And of course, if you skin becomes irritated, stop using a product and find out why!
