If you’re one of the millions of individuals dealing with skin concerns, chances are you’ve tried just about everything to achieve a radiant complexion.
From fancy skincare products to viral beauty treatments that claim to tap the fountain of youth, the market is full of tips, tricks, and fads, all promising the clear complexion of your dreams.
Well, what if we told you that vitamin C just might be the answer to your skincare woes — would you be interested? Thought so.
In this post, we’re exploring all things skincare to uncover the many ways vitamin C may help.
What Is Vitamin C?
First things first — what exactly is vitamin C anyway?
Also known as l-ascorbic acid or ferulic acid, vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin and potent antioxidant that can be found in a number of different foods, including:
- Citrus (like lemon, oranges, and grapefruit)
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts)
- Potatoes
You can also get the essential antioxidant from supplements, such as Good to Glow — our skin-lovin’ formula of vitamin C and vitamin E that gives your skin the ultimate glow.*
In addition, vitamin C is commonly used in topical skincare products (think creams, lotions, and serums).
What Is Vitamin C’s Role in Skincare?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps support cell health against free radicals — which are unstable atoms that are highly reactive — on the skin. With this in mind, here are some common sources of free radicals:
- Pollution
- UV exposure
- Smoking
- Poor diet
- Stress
Fortunately, vitamin C is able to help combat these exposures by protecting your epidermis (your top layer of skin) and keeping your complexion looking clear, vibrant, and healthy.
What Are the Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin?
From fine lines and skin aging to elasticity and dark circles, vitamin C products just might be the thing that helps you ease your top skin concerns and achieve a glowing complexion. Here’s how:
1. It May Reduce the Appearance of Signs of Aging
Signs of aging can show up on the skin in various ways, such as:
- Loss of skin elasticity
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dark spots
- Discoloration
These are all natural side effects of the aging process, and vitamin C may help minimize the look of these skin concerns.
Dark spots and pigmentation issues can occur due to excess melanin production. What’s melanin, you ask? In short, it’s a pigment that gives human skin (and hair) its color and is produced by skin cells called melanocytes.
Many factors can alter the production of melanin in your body and manifest into dark spots. Dark spots are generally harmless, but if you want to achieve a more even skin tone, vitamin C acts as a brightening agent and can reduce the appearance of dark spots and discoloration without altering the natural color of your skin.
The antioxidant effects of vitamin C may also help support an overall healthy skin barrier, in turn supporting proper skin elasticity and a youthful-looking complexion.
2. It Helps Support Skin Against Damage
Because vitamin C has known antioxidant properties, it can help support your skin cells against stressors and irritants — like pollution and UV rays.
We’re not saying a topical vitamin C formulation will work as a substitute for daily sunscreen, but it might work alongside your SPF to provide even more protection and support for skin health. Simply apply your vitamin C serum before your moisturizer or SPF, and go on with your day.
3. It May Soothe Breakout-Related Irritation
Things like genetics, hormones, and age are all risk factors for breakouts, but that’s not all — certain strains of bacteria may also trigger blemishes and irritation.
Thankfully, vitamin C’s power as an antioxidant allows this essential nutrient to assist in combating irritated and angry skin for a soothing effect. You see, facial redness via breakouts is generally caused by irritation, so vitamin C can be especially helpful in evening out a blotchy complexion.
In addition to applying vitamin C to your skin, you may also find it beneficial to take a probiotic, which a growing body of evidence suggests may help ease breakouts.
Not sure where to find a good quality probiotic? We recommend Clear Skin Probiotics — our shelf-stable formula that has been clinically tested to clear blemishes and support your gut-skin connection.*
Made with love and doctor-backed ingredients like chaste berry, all you need is one capsule a day to give your skin’s microbiome the support it needs to reduce pimples, improve skin pores, and prevent dryness. Combine with Gut Feelings Probiotic for complete microbiome care.*
How Can You Make the Most of Vitamin C for Skin?
If you’re interested in starting to use vitamin C for its plentiful skin benefits, there are a few things you can keep in mind to make the most of it.
For one thing, consistency is key with any skincare practice — if you want the results, it requires patience, and staying committed to your skincare lineup is essential. When starting out, you can ease your skin into things by using your vitamin C topicals once every other day and eventually work up to daily use if you have sensitive skin.
Additionally, vitamin C pairs well with most common skincare ingredients — but not all. Specifically, you should avoid combining topical AHAs or BHAs with topical vitamin C, as this can lead to skin irritation by upsetting your skin’s natural pH.
Conclusion
So, how does vitamin C help the skin?
Thanks to the essential nutrient’s talent as a powerful antioxidant, topical vitamin C just might be what you need to achieve your skin goals. This is because it’s known to fight free radical damage, boost wound healing, and brighten the skin.
Interested in giving vitamin C a try to soothe your breakouts and skincare woes? While generally regarded as safe, it’s always a good idea to speak with a dermatologist or medical professional before making any changes to your skincare routine — especially if you’re presently using a topical blemish treatment. And remember, vitamin C is only part of the battle to get clearer skin!
At Love Wellness, we bring you expert-backed clean solutions for when your body needs a little extra love.
Sources:
Skin conditions by the numbers | AAD
Vitamin C | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Vitamin C - Consumer | National Institutes of Health
Hyperpigmentation: Age Spots, Sun Spots & Liver Spots | Cleveland Clinic
The effect of probiotics on immune regulation, acne, and photoaging | PMC