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Vitamin C serum for healthy skin

Vitamin C serum for healthy skin

By AbikaPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Vitamin C serum for healthy skin
Photo by Vya Naturals on Unsplash

Vitamin C has many essential functions inside and outside the body. According to Allure's Readers' Choice Award survey, vitamin C serums are the most sought-after skincare products in the beauty industry. Vitamin C isn't only beneficial to the skin as a topical serum or cream. Adequate intake ensures that vitamin C achieves all its functions inside and outside the body. Achieving healthy skin from vitamin C is possible.

How exactly does vitamin C help the skin? Do we rub orange juice on the body? Luckily dermatologists have shared their expert knowledge about the benefits of vitamin C for the skin. Forbes, Allure, and Byrdie have published articles explaining why vitamin C is an effective skincare product. Including vitamin C-rich foods in your daily diet helps improve skin appearance.

Vitamin C and how it works.

The pure form of vitamin C is Ascorbic acid, a nutrient in many fruits and vegetables. The beauty industry uses several derivatives of this acid in skincare products. Derivatives are pure vitamin C combined with other ingredients to maintain stability, according to a cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat Cosmetics, Ron Robinson. The variant of vitamin C varies in pH and releases pure vitamin C when in contact with the skin.

Dr. Patricia Wexler, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist, describes vitamin C as a 'potent antioxidant.' Topical antioxidants aid in the natural repair process of damaged skin cells and neutralizes harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS), a type of free radicles. ROS damages the dermis of the skin and alters DNA. Renée Rouleau, celebrity esthetician and founder of her eponymous skincare brand, constructed an experiment to explain how Vitamin C protects cells.

He cut a slice of apple, and sprayed one half with vitamin C serum, leaving the other half normal. The half without vitamin C serum after three hours turned brown after oxidation. His experiment proved the protective action of vitamin C on cells.

Vitamin C undergoes irreversible chemical changes when exposed to air, light, and heat. It's necessary to store serums in air-tight, opaque bottles and a cool place.

Vitamin C works for the skin.

By Alexandra Tran on Unsplash

1. Vitamin C protects against environmental stressors

Your skin is exposed to many forms of free radicals in the environment, which cause harm to cells. Elements such as UV light, smoke, and even stress generate free radicals. free radicals damage cells, promoting skin dullness, wrinkles, and even cancers." Dr. Anna Guanche explains. Vitamin C's role as an antioxidant protects skin cells from these harmful effects and decreases the rate of aging. Joshua Zeichner, M.D., the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, added that vitamin C can help to protect the skin from precancerous changes from UV exposure. According to Tiffany Masterson, the founder of Drunk Elephant, vitamin C serums works best when used under sunscreen lotion. The best feature of this serum is it can be used on any skin type for an extended period, without side effects.

As you can tell the environment does cause significant harm to the skin. Although the skin is equipped to protect the body, there are certain problems it cannot prevent. Vitamin C is one nutrient that helps to protect the skin from the harmful elements of the environment.

2. Vitamin C promotes collagen synthesis.

Vitamin C plays an active role in the production of collagen and elastin says Dr. Howard Sobel, M.D. Ascorbic acid is a cofactor for two essential enzymes needed for collagen production, they are:

  1. prolyl hydroxylase, for collagen molecule stability
  2. lysyl hydroxylase, for structural strength

Collagen fibers are protein in the skin that helps to keep it plump and firm, reducing visible signs of aging.

By engin akyurt on Unsplash

3. Vitamin C lightens dark spots.

According to Drs. Guanche and Jennifer Herrmann vitamin C can lighten dark spots by blocking the pigmentation synthesis pathway. Whether the pigmentation resulted from a post-inflammatory reaction or sun exposure, vitamin C can inhibit melanin production, stopping the pigmentation. Dr. Wexler advises that continuous topical use helps prevent the formation of dark spots.

"It's a superior brightening agent that works to fade brown spots without altering normal skin pigmentation," -Dr. Sober.

By Apostolos Vamvouras on Unsplash

Vitamin C foods and how it impacts the body

Now that you understand how topical vitamin C enhances skin appearance, what can we use? Topical treatments are fast-acting and may appear to produce the best results. However, consuming vitamin C-rich foods in at least one meal daily can produce the same results. But it would take longer.

Vitamin C-rich foods that help to improve the appearance of the skin are:

  1. Citrus (oranges, lemons, grapefruits)
  2. Berries (strawberries, blueberries)
  3. Tomatoes
  4. Bell peppers
  5. Kiwi

What about topical vitamin C? There are numerous brands on the market, most of which are effective. Affordable vitamin C serum to help achieve a healthy skin look:

  1. No7 Radiance+ Vitamin C Glow Toner
  2. Eve Milan Brightening Vitamin C + CoQ10 Sheet Mask
  3. Vichy LiftActive Vitamin C Brightening Skin Corrector
  4. CeraVe Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
  5. Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum
  6. Soap and Glory In The Bright Of Day Vitamin C Gel Cream

This is a short list, there are many other products on the market. And if you already have a vitamin C serum that works for you. DO NOT change it.

In a Nutshell

Vitamin C serums are indeed assets to your skincare routine. Vitamin c's ability to lighten dark spots and promote collagen synthesis makes it a superior skincare product. Vitamin C also has minimal to no side effects on all skin types and works as an antioxidant. Several dermatologists have written about their support of vitamin C serum.

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About the Creator

Abika

I started writing because it was my way to vent. Now I absolutely enjoyed writing and sharing.

I also write at Medium, find me at:

Medium lisby230.medium.com

Twitter Healthwise94358280

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