For most people, the first thing that likely comes to their mind while thinking about Vitamin C is either an image of tangy, citrusy fruits or its ability to build strong immunity and keep you healthy. But did you know? This popular vitamin also offers several benefits when applied topically to the skin. In fact, recently, Vitamin C has emerged as one of the most well-known active ingredients in the skincare industry and is widely touted by skin experts for its antioxidant and glow-boosting properties.
Given the skincare benefits that it offers, Vitamin C truly deserves a place in every skincare routine. You should incorporate this ingredient into your skincare routine STAT to tackle concerns like pigmentation, dullness, and acne, and to enhance your overall skin health and radiance.
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid is a water-soluble antioxidant with protective and free radical fighting capabilities that play a crucial role in enhancing skin health. It is also one of the most abundant antioxidants found naturally in the skin. However, increasing age and prolonged exposure to external conditions such as pollution and the sun deplete this antioxidant in the skin. Therefore, this antioxidant has to be obtained through topical application of Vitamin C-enriched skincare products.
Benefits Of Vitamin C For Skin
- It helps stimulate collagen: Vitamin C helps stimulate collagen synthesis and is essential for balanced collagen production. A healthy collagen supply can help even out the skin texture and make it clearer.
- It helps reduce hyperpigmentation: Vitamin C helps tackle increased melanin production in the body which results in dark patches on the skin. The topical application of Vitamin C can help decrease melanin synthesis and treat melasma and age spots.
- It slows down signs of skin ageing: Wrinkles and fine lines are signs of ageing and can be caused prematurely due to oxidants from UV exposure, pollution, and smoking. Vitamin C helps counter the signs of ageing by protecting the skin from oxidants.
- It helps reduce skin inflammation: Skin inflammation usually occurs in conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Its symptoms include dryness, itching, and pain. The anti-inflammatory properties of Vitamin C help reduce inflammations caused by these skin conditions and also prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
- It promotes wound healing: Vitamin C can help enhance the migration of dermal fibroblasts in the skin. These fibroblasts help promote wound healing and prevent permanent scars as well.
Does Vitamin C Work For All Skin Types?
The best part of this antioxidant is that it suits all skin types. In fact, it delivers multiple benefits and tackles several skin concerns, from dark spots to dullness, and wrinkles to loss of firmness. However, in some cases, people may experience temporary irritation when applying Vitamin C to their skin for the first time, but don’t worry, as this easily resolves over time, once the skin acclimates to it.
To be safe, conduct a patch test over a small area of your skin before incorporating the ingredient into your skincare routine. If you don’t see any signs of irritation or allergy, you can continue using Vitamin C-enriched skincare products worry-free.
How To Incorporate Vitamin C In Your Skincare Routine
You can use Vitamin C every day, both in your morning and evening skincare routine. To reap the most benefits out of your Vitamin C-rich skincare routine, you need to follow four essential skincare steps—cleanse, tone, treat, and moisturise. Following these four skincare steps can help your complexion in good shape and also target problem areas like dark spots, dryness, and acne.
Step 1: Cleanse
Cleansing the face should be the first step in your skincare routine as it helps clear away excess oil, dirt, and impurities and unclogs pores. Use a natural Vitamin C face wash with orange peels, Canadian willow herb, and Pro-Vitamin B5 to gently cleanse and detox your face. While the orange peels lightly exfoliate the skin and remove dirt and grime, Vitamin C and Canadian willow herb repair damage caused to the skin by sun exposure and pollutants and soothe irritation and inflammation. Pro-Vitamin B5 helps improve hydration and elasticity of the skin and makes it appear radiant and plump. Make sure to use this cleanser regularly to get smooth, fresh, and clear skin.
Step 2: Tone
Many people debate whether they need face toner in their skincare routine or not. The truth is that toner is an essential part of a skincare routine that helps keep your skin totally clean and dirt-free while delivering an extra dose of active ingredients to the skin.
You may consider adding a natural Vitamin C daily toner to your skincare routine to refresh your skin, remove any residual dirt and makeup traces, and balance the pH levels of your skin. Vitamin C-based face toner contains astringent properties that help soothe and hydrate the skin, tighten pores, and eliminate excess shine to give an oil-free and balanced complexion.
Step 3: Treat
Serums are designed with potent and active skincare ingredients that penetrate deep into the skin layers and help both treat and protect against different concerns like dullness, ageing, and dark spots. Adding a natural 10% Vitamin C face serum to your skincare routine can help protect your skin against sun-induced damage caused by free radicals, repair the skin texture to reveal an even-toned and smooth complexion, and enhance hydration and radiance in the skin.
Step 4: Moisturise
Your skincare routine should end with moisturising your skin. A good moisturise can help keep your skin soft and hydrated and also strengthen the protective barrier. Use a natural Vitamin C face cream infused with ingredients like ferulic acid, squalane, and willow herb to promote collagen synthesis in the skin, enhance skin regeneration, and reduce dull and dark spots. Applying a face cream can also improve the hydration levels in your skin and make it appear youthful and plump. Make sure to massage the moisturiser as you apply it to increase its absorption, and efficacy, and to improve blood circulation.
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that offers several benefits to the skin. Incorporating it into your skincare routine can help address several skin issues at once. Once you have built a skincare routine with Vitamin C products, make sure to follow it consistently to see visible results such as clear, glowing, and plump skin.
