Many people like to take care of their skin because it determines how they feel and how they look. Without a good skincare routine, your skin can look dull and tired and is more susceptible to breakouts and irritation. But one of the top things that many dermatologists recommend for skincare is products formulated with vitamin C. Here is everything you need to know about vitamin C and its benefits for the skin.
Why is Vitamin C the Holy Grail for Skin?
Dermatologists emphasize how vitamin C is the holy grail for skin because of its many great benefits. Vitamin C promotes the production of collagen (a protein that has important roles for the skin including structure and elasticity) which helps build a supportive skin structure. If collagen breaks down it can result in skin blemishes, dark spots, sagging skin and wrinkling. Thus, vitamin C, through collagen production, reduces the appearance of sagging, improves wrinkles and diminishes fine lines. As well as this, vitamin C blocks the enzyme responsible for melanin (or pigmentation) production. This helps fade dark spots, treat hyperpigmentation, and brightens skin overall. The antioxidant also prevents the oxidation of existing pigmentation, so the skin doesn’t become darker.
In addition to its benefits in improving dark spots and wrinkles, vitamin C neutralizes free radicals (that are often caused by toxins, pollution, the sun, dust, etc.) which helps protect against sun damage. Products formulated with vitamin C also aid the skin’s regeneration process and repair damaged skin cells, restoring the skin to its original condition. This is particularly helpful if you are suffering from sunburn or irritation.
Much like a moisturizer, vitamin C supports the function of the skin’s natural barrier and prevents moisture loss, improving the skin’s texture and keeping it hydrated and healthy. Thus, vitamin C is also good for helping repair and preventing dry skin. Vitamin C also has inflammatory properties and reduces redness and inflammation. It does this by optimizing the immune system to discourage inflammatory immune responses. This combined with its ability to neutralize free radicals, even out skin tone, and reduce fine lines and wrinkles makes way for clear and healthy skin.
With all of these amazing benefits, it’s no surprise that dermatologists emphasize the importance of vitamin C in skincare and liken it to the holy grail.
Adding Vitamin C To Your Skincare Routine
Vitamin C can appear on skincare product labels under different concentrations such as l-ascorbic acid and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. L-ascorbic acid is the most effective form of vitamin C as it is more active in the production of collagen and reduces the damage caused by UV rays. However, this concentration of vitamin C is better suited for oily to normal skin whereas skincare products formulated with water-soluble vitamin C (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) is recommended for sensitive and dry skin as it is less irritating.
Either way, adding serums or moisturizers formulated with vitamin C to your skincare routine will have so many benefits for your overall skin health. You will notice positive changes in no time! There is no denying why dermatologists claim that vitamin C is the holy grail of skincare.
