You may be familiar with Vitamin C as a dietary supplement, but did you know that it can have great benefits in skincare products, too? Not only does Vitamin C help improve immune function, but it also may be the key to healthy skin.
This article will go over what Vitamin C is, its benefits, and its different forms, so keep reading to learn more about this powerful skincare ingredient.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient for the human body. It’s a water-soluble vitamin often found in citrus fruits, such as oranges or lemons, which is necessary to repair tissue, and form blood vessels, muscles, cartilage, and collagen in bones. It also boosts the enzymatic production of certain neurotransmitters, which are signals that your brain uses to communicate with your body.
In fact, early research studies have shown that low levels of Vitamin C have resulted in higher levels of belly fat, and it is well-known that the lack of Vitamin C will cause a disease called scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums and the reopening of previously healed wounds.
In short, Vitamin C is a crucial vitamin necessary to sustain human life.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Anti-Aging
Vitamin C is in almost all effective anti-aging skincare products due to its spectacular skin benefits. It’s an antioxidant, increases collagen production, and evens the skin tone.
Antioxidant
Vitamin C is a well-known antioxidant that provides protection against oxidative stresses such as free radicals. Free radicals are particles in the air caused by pollution or even natural processes in the body. These free radicals can damage skin cells, causing skin thinning, leading to crepey, paper-like skin that easily folds and wrinkles. Additionally, antioxidants protect the skin against specialized UV rays emitted by the sun, leaving your skin free of sun spots and other signs of aging.
Increased Collagen Production
Perhaps one of the largest benefits of Vitamin C is the increase in collagen production. Collagen is an essential material produced by your body that could be considered the “building blocks” of all tissues in the body, including your skin. As we age, collagen production decreases, leaving skin unable to bounce back as usual. By increasing the amount of collagen in the skin once again, you’ll notice less pronounced fine lines, wrinkles, and sunken-looking eyes. A boost in collagen production also leads to plumper, thinker, and more youthful skin.
Even Skintone
Vitamin C naturally inhibits excess melanin production in dark spots, leaving your face hyperpigmentation free. This isn’t saying that you’ll lighten your natural skintone, but Vitamin C regulates melanin production and leaves your skin glowier, brighter, and more even. This vitamin will help reduce the appearance of sun spots, acne scars, and other dark spots caused by excess melanin production by interacting with tyrosinase, an enzyme that is responsible for the amount of melanin produced.
Different Forms of Vitamin C
Now that you know the benefits of Vitamin C in skincare, it’s important to recognize the different kinds and what they’re used for.
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid is a naturally derived form of Vitamin C, typically from corn glucose. It is the purest form of Vitamin C. While Vitamin C is highest in purity in citrus fruits, it’s much cheaper to create ascorbic acid from corn. Ascorbic acid is very potent and often causes irritation, especially for people with sensitive skin types. Unfortunately, it’s very rare to find organic ascorbic acid. This is problematic because corn is a crop that has one of the highest rates of pesticide usage and is grown from GMO seeds that may cause more harm than good. Avoid ascorbic acid unless it says ‘organic’ on the label, whether you’re looking for topical skincare use or for dietary supplementation.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a less irritative form of Vitamin C that is notably more stable and safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin types. It reaps all of the anti-aging benefits of Vitamin C without potentially causing damage, plus there are a lot more organic versions of it on the market. When it is absorbed into the skin, it’s actually converted into ascorbic acid, which is why it’s considered less powerful. However, with a high concentration, sodium ascorbyl phosphate is just as beneficial as ascorbic acid without any of the side effects. You will rarely see sodium ascorbyl phosphate in the dietary vitamin section, but you should definitely be on the lookout for this Vitamin C form in the skincare aisle.
Where to Find Vitamin C Skincare Products
NuOrganic is proud to present our Super C Serum. With a 20% Vitamin C concentration level, our serum is one of the most powerful yet least irritating Vitamin C serums on the market. The difference is that we use organic sodium ascorbyl phosphate instead of ascorbic acid, which is safe for sensitive and acne-prone skin types. This morning and night serum leaves your skin looking plump, youthful, and glowy and also decreases hyperpigmentation, allowing your skin to take its true bright form.
Our Super C Serum also contains Vitamin E, which deeply penetrates the top layer of the skin and induces deep, replenishing hydration that lasts all day. Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory that reduces the redness of blemishes and decreases the appearance of rosacea. It also contains ferulic acid; in fact, Vitamins C, E, and ferulic acid are known as the ‘triad of skincare’ because they boost each other's properties. Ferulic acid, like Vitamin C, is a shield against free radicals.
It also contains Swiss apple stem cells that help revitalize the skin from the inside out by increasing collagen production and boosting the healing of your skin. You can read more about our plant stem cells on our blog. *link plant stem cell article*
About NuOrganic
At NuOrganic, our goal is to provide healthy skincare products that combine nature and science. We only use organic ingredients and never put anything artificial or use harmful fillers in our products.
You can learn more about us by visiting our homepage or checking out our full product collection to unlock the skin of your dreams.