Benefits of vitamin C in skincare

Have you ever looked at the label of your skincare products and been surprised to see different vitamins such as A, E and C mentioned, leaving you wondering about their possible benefits and uses? Well, it’s no surprise that vitamins are great for the maintenance of your overall body’s health and play a vital role in its optimal functioning. As such, they also play an indispensable role in promoting healthy, glowing and radiant skin. 

One of the most important of these is Vitamin C and it definitely deserves a place in your skincare regime. It brings a lot of benefits to the table by keeping your skin healthy and youthful, making it an absolute must for any skincare routine aimed at making the skin appear its absolute best. 

If this has piqued your interest, and you want to learn more about what vitamin C can do for your skin, keep on reading!

What is vitamin C?

Before we dive into the benefits of vitamin C, we must first understand what it really is. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is naturally found in our skin. It helps in the production of collagen, a protein that promotes skin elasticity and helps to neutralize free radicals that lead to problems such as early aging, cardiovascular diseases and even cancer. Vitamin C also offers protection against environmental damage, pollution and sun damage. 

As we age, the appearance of dark spots on our skin becomes more visible which makes it appear dull and uneven. Products that are formulated with vitamin C help in fading and evening out these dark spots, helping your skin achieve a youthful and brighter look. The best thing about vitamin C is that it has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help in healing the skin and is suitable for all skin types.

What are the benefits of vitamin C in skincare?

• It helps fade hyperpigmentation and evens out skin tone: Hyperpigmentation such as sun spots, uneven skin and melasma occurs when there is an overproduction of melanin, a pigment responsible for color in certain areas of the skin. Vitamin C is known to prevent the production of excess melanin in the skin which in return helps in reducing hyperpigmentation. The anti-inflammatory properties that are present in vitamin C also help in reducing redness and inflammation while also helping to even out the skin’s complexion. The combined reduction of redness, dark spots and irritation makes the skin clear, smooth and even.

• Protects skin from sun damage: Sun damage is caused by small molecules known as free radicals and since vitamin C is rich in antioxidants it helps in fighting off or neutralizing these free radicals. Thus in turn helps in protecting the skin from sun damage. It has also been proven that vitamin C is very effective in minimizing the damage from the harmful UV rays and also helps in soothing any kind of skin irritation caused by the sun’s harsh rays. 

• It helps boost wound healing: Since vitamin C is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, it is no surprise the effect it will have on the healing of a wound. Using vitamin C for wound healing will reduce the risk of inflammation, infection and scarring. 

• It reduces the appearance of under eye circles: Fine lines and wrinkles are a natural consequence of aging. As we age, our skin’s ability to produce enough collagen gets affected, resulting in reduced skin elasticity and sagging skin. Our eyes are the most sensitive part of our body and take the greatest hit when it comes to early signs of aging. The nourishing properties of vitamin C helps in smoothing out the fine lines and wrinkles by plumping up and hydrating the under eye area. 

• It promotes collagen production: Collagen is a protein that is naturally found in our skin. However, it depletes over time and reduced levels of collagen cause fine lines and wrinkles to become more prominent. Vitamin C has properties that boost the production of collagen, helping to reduce skin sagging and giving it a sculpted and firmer look. In fact, collagen production can not happen without the existence of vitamin C. 

Takeaway

Vitamin C is best known for its properties that help in healing wounds, fading blemishes and keeping fine lines and wrinkles at bay. However, for it to work effectively, consistency is the key! Incorporate vitamin C into your skincare routine the way it suits you and works for you. However, do give it some time to show results before writing it off as it really is a miracle ingredient.