Skincare Ingredient Spotlight: Vitamin C
Raise your hand if you’ve ever searched for a specific skin concern before: how to brighten your skin, how to even out your skin tone, how to reduce under eye circles… and the list goes on! 🤚
Many of you have likely read that vitamin C is the answer to any and all of these skin concerns. Vitamin C is one ingredient that is small but mighty: it is included in many of my favorite skin care products, and for good reason! I’m giving you the low down on this miracle worker today 👇
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential vitamin that the body can’t naturally produce. Vitamin C is necessary to the body for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues.
It’s involved in the formation of collagen, absorption of iron and the proper functioning of the immune system. You’ll find vitamin C in a lot of your favorite foods, including citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruits, strawberries, kiwi and leafy greens like kale or spinach.
Aside from being an essential vitamin for a healthy life, vitamin C also provides amazing antioxidant abilities that the skin can benefit from. It’s a highly-reactive free radical, which allows the vitamin to work hard in your body to protect your cells from oxidative stress.
All that to say: vitamin C is great for your skin and your overall health!
5 Benefits of Vitamin C For The Skin
Vitamin C is safe for all skin types and works well in tandem with active ingredients in other products, such as retinols and SPF. Some of the most well-known benefits of vitamin C include:
Anti-Aging
Collagen is linked to the elasticity and firmness of your skin. Unfortunately, collagen production throughout your body depletes over time, resulting in wrinkles and fine-lines (see - it happens to everyone)!
This is where vitamin C comes in. Vitamin C is a necessary component in the formation of collagen. By applying it directly to your skin, you will be able to boost collagen production which will in turn, combat these signs of aging and make your skin more youthful overtime.
Combat Hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C actually impedes melanin production on the skin, which can help fade any hyperpigmentation and discoloration on your face. Hyperpigmentation occurs due to the overproduction of melanin in certain areas of your face - but vitamin C works to inhibit melanin synthesis (I know, we’re throwing a lot of big words at you).
The gist: Vitamin C will help reduce the hyperpigmentation of your face from sunspots, acne scars and age spots. A win!
Promote Even Skin Tone
Vitamin C is a proven anti-inflammatory, thanks to its antioxidant capacity - meaning it will help soothe your skin, reduce puffiness and even out your skin tone. The anti-inflammatory properties in vitamin C will work to reduce redness, dark spots and irritation, making for an even skin tone and smooth skin.
Hydrates Skin
Vitamin C has been shown to have a hydrating effect on the skin by decreasing transepidermal water loss, which allows your skin to retain natural moisture better. This will leave your skin plump and hydrated, creating a brighter and healthier complexion.
Reduce The Appearance of Under Eye Circles
Along with hydrating the rest of your face, vitamin C will provide the hydrating and plumping effects to your undereyes, which will reduce the appearance of pesky under eye circles. The same way discoloration and redness are reduced due to vitamin C, the discoloration and darkness under your eyes will be evened out.
Is Vitamin C Good For All Skin Types?
If you have extremely sensitive skin, it’s best to stick to products that don’t have highly reactive forms of vitamin C, especially products that contain more than 20% concentration of vitamin C.
If you’re concerned about how your skin will react to any product, I recommend performing a test on a small patch of skin, to see how it reacts prior to application to the entire face.
Best Vitamin C Serum?
You know I have an excellent product recommendation that won’t let you down (& yes, it’s Rhonda Allison).
The Rhonda Allison C-Peptide Complex. This vitamin C and peptide complex will provide the potent collagen support that will help with anti-aging, an even skin-tone, and firming your skin. If you’re looking for an extra boost of hydration when using this serum, I love to pair it with the Rhonda Allison Amino Peptide Hydration. This light and creamy moisturizer will work together with the vitamin C to boost skin elasticity and trap moisture for smooth and supple skin.
Shop Skincare Products With Gameela Skin
You can shop the product recommendations above, and more, through Gameela Skin (both online and in-stores)! Whatever your skin concerns may be, I can provide you with a recommendation to meet your skincare needs.
Contact Gameela Skin today to learn more about skincare treatments, product recommendations and products available for purchase.