Everything You Need to Know About Vitamin C in Skin Care

Vitamin C is a perennial favorite in the beauty industry due to its bright and firming properties.Frequently by dermatologists, this ingredient takes advantage of multiple skin cares, is safe to use on all skin types, and does not have the same potentially skin-irritating side effects as other active ingredients, such as: Recommended for Retinol..

Want to see what Vitamin C can do for you? A cosmetic surgeon, Visage Clinic Dr. Shannon Humphrey, Cosmetic Dermatologist and Medical Director, in Toronto Carruthers & Humphrey Vancouver shares everything you need to know about using powerful ingredients in your skin care routine.

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that, when applied topically, has antioxidant properties on the skin (think of it as fading hyperpigmentation) and boosts immunity when taken. It has an effect. “It’s important to get enough vitamin C in your diet, and vitamin C levels correlate with eating fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Humphrey. She suggests combining dietary vitamin C with topical application for best results.

What are the benefits of Vitamin C skin care?

Vitamin C has long been regarded as a staple of skin care, as it is not a one-trick pony and has multiple skin effects when used properly. “Vitamin C protects the skin from UV damage, suppresses pigmentation (goodbye, dark spots!), Maintains the integrity of collagen and elastic fibers, and promotes collagen synthesis,” says Humphrey. ..

Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant that minimizes sunburn damage and suppresses the skin’s pigmentation process, melanin formation. “”[It] It detoxifies, brightens and evens out the skin, strengthens the walls of blood vessels in the skin and provides anti-inflammatory effects, “says Du Péré.

How do I choose the right prescription for my skin?

To get started, both Duperet and Humphrey say that using Vitamin C serum is the most effective way to maximize the benefits of the ingredients. “Aqueous-based formulas such as serums are highly absorbent and easy to apply, making them suitable for home use,” says Du Péré.

Each skin care product contains different percentages of vitamin C, so it’s worth seeking advice from your doctor or skin care professional. But to get you started, Du Péré says you should look for a stable 10% to 20% L-ascorbic acid (a specific form of vitamin) mixed with Vitamin E for better absorption. increase.

If you are new to this, look for a product that contains tetrahexyldecyl ascorbic acid, a stable form of vitamin C. Duperet states that this form is less irritating to the skin and generally tolerates all skin types.

When do you use Vitamin C?

Some active ingredients can only be used at night, but vitamin C can be used during the day. In fact, it is usually recommended for daytime use for free radical protection, which is what your skin generally needs more during the day due to contamination and UV rays.

Humphrey said that the best way to use it is to apply a few drops of Vitamin C serum to freshly washed skin every morning, followed by a moisturizer. Wide spectrum sunscreen.. “Vitamin C has a retention effect, so using it once a day can affect your skin for up to 24 hours,” Humphrey says.

Do you need to slowly incorporate it into your skin care?

Some more potentially irritating skin care ingredients like retinol require a slow introduction into your skin care routine, while Vitamin C requires less attention. Vitamin C is not a common irritant for most skin types, but Du Péré recommends starting with daily activities using products that are infused with ingredients only a few times a week.

If you feel a slight tingling sensation when applying, it is perfectly normal. “Vitamin C can be used on all skin types, but the low pH of the product can cause a slight stinging sensation,” Humphrey says. “”[People] Sensitive skin may feel better than others, but all patients can benefit from adding vitamin C to their regime. Finding the best formula for your skin.

I have read that vitamin C is unstable. What do you mean?

That is, Vitamin C is water-soluble and breaks down when exposed to oxygen.

Due to this property, products containing Vitamin C are difficult to formulate, and it is more difficult to maintain their efficacy when the bottle is broken and opened. To keep the product as effective as possible, Humphrey recommends storing Vitamin C skin care at room temperature and away from direct sunlight. She also recommends looking for formulations packaged in dark glass containers or opaque packaging that help improve stability and reduce oxidation.

If you’re not sure how long Vitamin C will last after opening, look for packaging information. “Some prescriptions last only one month, while others last up to three months, but they are usually not products that can be left on the shelves for six, nine, or twelve months,” she says. Remember that fresh Vitamin C products are more effective.

When buying skin care, do more expensive vitamin C prescriptions rival better results?

necessarily. Another consequence of vitamin C instability is that brands must spend more time and money on research to ensure that their products are storage stable and properly absorbed by the skin. That is-and the cost is often passed on to consumers. “The prescription I saw and the reasonable scientific evidence behind it [slightly higher] Price points, “says Humphrey.

But higher prices alone are not enough. “When you look at a formula, it’s proof, not money,” Humphrey says. “We need clear scientific evidence that the product is stable, so when it’s opened and applied to the skin, it actually still contains vitamin C and penetrates the skin.”

Skimming packages aren’t too far away when it comes to finding high quality products, so look for recommendations from experts and do your research. Find the brand that posted the photos before and after the survey, along with the survey results. Also, please be careful of your skin as it may take 2-4 weeks a day for results to be obtained. If it starts to look bright, it’s a sure sign that your Vitamin C product is working.

Originally released in 2020. Updated in 2022