Why Your Skin Needs Its Daily Dose Of Vitamin C

We are all familiar with the benefits of vitamin C as a key ingredient in our diets for its power in staving off winter colds & flus. You might also know that lately Vitamin C has been hailed as somewhat of a hero product in the skincare world, and praised by beauty editors from around the world… Here we delve deeper into the (many) reasons why!

Vitamin C is an extremely powerful antioxidant and an ally to your skin's natural regeneration process. Its main focus is the ability to neutralize free radicals caused by sun exposure and environmental factors, and to boost collagen and elastin synthesis (which can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles). But the benefits of Vitamin C don’t end here: this fantastic ingredient can also help treat UV exposure photo-damage, brightening and reducing hyperpigmentation - and even provide natural, mild exfoliation!

How does it work?In the same way that eating antioxidant-rich foods helps your body combat free radicals, antioxidants used topically in serum form do the same for your skin, helping to offset daily damage. Research confirms the effectiveness of topical application: a study published in 2015 in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology found that applying vitamin C to the skin increased collagen production among study participants in all age groups, after just 40 days of treatment.

Hero ingredient, hero products: the term to look for is ascorbic acid (also known as L-ascorbic acid), which has been proven as the most effective at penetrating the skin barrier. You can find it in serums like The Inkey List Vitamin C (with 30% pure L-Ascorbic Acid in a stable, waterless formulation) or in The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone, with vitamin C in a base of lightweight silicones for a smooth, spreadable texture.

Vitamin C effectiveness also increases when combined with other active ingredients. Turbo-charged Vitamin C serums we love are The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%, which contains both L-ascorbic acid and Sodium Hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid that boosts the skin's moisture for a plump and supple appearance), and Dermalogica Biolumin-C Serum, with Vitamin C and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, which helps to dramatically reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

How to use it: as a general rule, serums should be layered underneath your moisturizer. Apply your Vitamin C serum first, let it dry and follow up with a moisturizer with SPF. You can also get your dose of Vitamin C with a relaxing face mask, such as Seoulista Brightening Instant Facial!

We recommend introducing a Vitamin C serum to your skincare routine slowly, before building up to a daily or twice-daily tolerance. This is a powerful ingredient, so start with just a couple of drops in the morning, applied every other day (if you tend to have sensitive skin, start with a lower concentration on a test area first.) Just remember that, if you are currently using products containing glycolic or salicylic acid and retinol, you should leave some time in between before applying vitamin C to avoid any stinging or redness.

Discover the fantastic range of Vitamin C skincare heroes now available on BeautyFeatures.ie! We offer next day delivery when you order before 2pm – oh, and we are 100% Irish!