Vitamin C for face is the new buzzword. Vitamin C is being touted as a potent anti-ageing serum. The antioxidant properties play a key role in keeping the skin healthy. But how does Vitamin C support skincare? Read through to know the science behind Vitamin C for skin, the innumerable Vitamin C benefits for skin and how to pick the best Vitamin C serum for skin.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient. It is a potent antioxidant that helps neutralise the body’s harmful free radicals. It thus plays a crucial role in wound healing and controlling infections.
Being abundantly present in the skin, it safeguards the internal body from environmental contaminants and thus boosts the immune system. Its role in neutralising body toxins makes it a potent anti-ageing compound.
Vitamin C Benefits for Skin
The properties and attributes of Vitamin C help the skin in several ways. These are:
1. Hydrating the Skin
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient. It dissolves in water and is then transported to different parts of the body. It hydrates the skin well. Also, the presence of vitamin C in the skin decreases transepidermal water loss and allows the skin to retain its moisture content. Well-hydrated skin is less prone to wrinkles and fine lines.
2. Reducing Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is the presence of spots or patches on the skin. Vitamin C on face works proactively to correct sun spots and age spots and inhibits the production of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin colour. This results in an even-toned skin.
3. Aiding in Supple and Youthful Skin
Vitamin C is known to boost collagen production as it aids in collagen synthesis. Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that promises the skin its elasticity, suppleness, and youthful appearance. As collagen levels are tied to the skin’s firmness, this prevents the sagging of the skin.
4. Promoting Skin Brightness
Vitamin C possesses great antioxidant properties. It reverses the effect of damage caused to skin due to exposure to environmental contaminants. Vitamin C serum for skin helps reduce dullness and tanning and safeguards the skin from environmental stress, leading to bright and radiant skin.
5. Correcting Under-Eye Circles
Vitamin C serum hydrates the under-eye area. This helps smooth out fine lines. Also, its role in inhibiting the production of melanin helps correct dark under-eye patches.
6. Supports Wound Healing
Vitamin C supplements accelerate cell turnover. This replaces the damaged cells with new and healthy ones. Vitamin C for the skin is an established treatment for reducing inflammation, combating infection, and correcting skin scarring.
7. Reducing Skin Redness
Inflammatory skin conditions, excessive sun exposure, and hormonal conditions can result in blotchy and red skin. Vitamin C for the face helps reduce the effect by healing damaged capillaries that cause skin redness.
How to Use Vitamin C for Skin?
Vitamin C is vital for our body. It is essential for varied functions and plays a key role in keeping the skin healthy. Being a water-soluble vitamin, it gets transported to body tissues. The unabsorbed or unused Vitamin C is excreted in the urine. Therefore, daily intake through food or supplements is important.
1. Foods or Supplements
Women require 75 mg of vitamin C per day, whereas an adult male requires a daily intake of 90 mg of vitamin C. The nutritional intake can be met through foods rich in Vitamin C. Citrus fruits like oranges, amla, berries and lemons are excellent sources of Vitamin C.
2. Topical Application
Although a diet high in Vitamin C helps meet the daily requirements of the body, However, topical application is recommended to enjoy maximum Vitamin C benefits for skin,
The topical application of Vitamin C is directly absorbed into the topmost layers of the skin. Thus, it starts working instantly to confer Vitamin C benefits for skin.
Vitamin C is an active ingredient in a range of skincare products. These include:
- Cleanser
- Toner
- Vitamin C serum
- Moisturiser
- Sunscreen
How to Use Vitamin C for Face?
The topical application of Vitamin C is safe and well-tolerated. Vitamin C has an excellent safety profile and is compatible with all skin types. However, it is always recommended to undergo a patch test to assess the risk of allergic reactions.
To do a patch test, apply Vitamin C serum to a small portion of your forearm. Wait for 24 hours for any side effects or allergic reaction. In case of no adverse effects, apply it to your face.
Tips to Follow While Using Vitamin C for Face
- Repeated exposure to the product can have a skin reaction. So, start slow.
- Read the product label carefully for any other ingredient you are allergic to.
- Do not use all new products together. Space them at least two weeks apart.
- Vitamin C serum uses must not exceed twice per day.
- Cleanse and tone your skin before applying Vitamin C serum. Moisturise your skin thereafter.
- Make sure you apply skin care products with clean hands.
- Make sure you check the expiry date. Vitamin C in expired skincare products is likely to be oxidised. This is unsafe for use.
Potential Side Effects of Vitamin C on Face
Vitamin C is highly acidic. Its use can cause skin irritation in some people, especially in those who have sensitive skin. Other common side effects of Vitamin C serum uses include redness, itching, and tingling sensation. While the side effects settle quickly, in case they fail to subside, wash the face immediately to remove the serum.
How to Choose the Right Vitamin C Face Serum?
The market is flooded with Vitamin C serum rolled out by popular skincare brands. While all claim to confer the best skincare results, it is important to understand the subtle differences between each product to help pick up the best one for your skin type and current need.
Here are things to consider while buying a Vitamin C face serum:
1. Check Vitamin C Concentration Level
Dermatologists recommend a 10%-20% concentration level of Vitamin C in a serum. While a Vitamin C serum for skin with a higher concentration will be more effective, it can also cause side effects due to its highly acidic formula. Therefore, opting for moderate-strength serums will work best.
2. Check for the Type of Vitamin C
Three derivatives of Vitamin C are used in skincare products – L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Vitamin C face serum with L-ascorbic acid is the most potent form of vitamin C for oily and normal skin types. However, people with dry skin must prefer Vitamin C serum with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. People with sensitive skin must opt for ascorbyl palmitate, a fat-soluble derivative of vitamin C.
3. Watch Out for the Combination Ingredients
Once you check for the concentration level and type of Vitamin C in the serum, read carefully about the combination ingredients. While add-ons like Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, zinc, and tyrosine will prove to be power boosters, avoid products that contain ingredients you are allergic to. Also, the inclusion of niacinamide in Vitamin C serum will render it less effective.
4. Read the Expiry Date and Check Packaging
The date mentioned against “use by” is extremely important in the case of Vitamin C for face. Expired products will not be efficacious. Also, don’t ignore the packaging. Molecules of Vitamin C break down on exposure to air, light, and heat. They can ruin the essence of Vitamin C serums. So, prefer bottles that are opaque and airtight. Also, bottles with a convenient air pump spray mechanism will protect the contents from exposure to air even when it is opened.
Conclusion
Thanks to powerful antioxidant properties, Vitamin C for face works wonders. Abundantly present in the skin, Vitamin C is important for keeping the skin healthy. It hydrates the skin, reduces hyperpigmentation, confers supple and youthful skin, promotes skin brightness, corrects under-eye circles, reduces skin redness, and supports wound healing. These attributes make Vitamin C a potent anti-ageing agent.
While Vitamin C serum use is broadly considered safe for all skin types, a high concentration level of Vitamin C in skincare products can cause skin irritation and a tingling sensation. It is, therefore, advisable to use Vitamin C serum with moderate strength. The Vitamin C concentration in the skincare product must not exceed 20%.
