One of the most talked about serums in the health and beauty industry is vitamin C. Vitamin C is ideal for people of all ages and skin types and the benefits are numerous. Let’s take a closer look at vitamin C.
Benefits of vitamin C serums:
- Provides protection from sun damage and harmful UV rays. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to strengthen your skin. It can help supplement your UV protection. It is not a sunblock, be sure to apply your sunblock after applying your serum.
- Fades dark spots and brightens skin. Hyper-pigmentation, which is a condition where darker patches of skin form as a result of melanin buildup, can be slowed down when using vitamin C. Some vitamin C serums act as a natural bleaching agent.
- Stimulates collagen. Collagen is an essential protein in your skin that breaks down over time. It causes skin to lose firmness. Increased collagen production can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Prevents the aging process. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals (air pollution, cigarette smoke) so they cannot harm your skin.
- Heals your skin. It can reduce redness from sunburn and aid in speeding up recovery from small cuts.
- Lightens under-eye circles. You may find vitamin C in your eye creams.
- Prevents acne. Free radicals or pollution can cause inflammation. Inflammation can block your skins pores. When this happens the skin traps dirt, oil, or bad bacteria in the pores.
Reiterating, vitamin C can brighten hyperpigmentation caused by acne, and help fade acne scars by stimulating collagen. Vitamin C cannot cure acne but it can help to calm the immune system rather than stimulate it.
Side Effects of Vitamin C Serums:
- Can cause an allergic reaction. This is rare, but if it manifests your skin will react by hives, or small red bumps.
- Serums sometimes trigger acne. This is usually because some serums have additional ingredients in them that help to preserve the products. Generally, it is not the vitamin C causing the breakout.
- Can cause itching and redness. This can happen to those who have more sensitive or reactive skin. This normally occurs when you are using a vitamin C with a lower ph-balance which means higher acidity.
How to Use Vitamin C
After cleansing and toning apply a few drops to your face, neck, and décolletage. We recommend applying in the morning to get the best level of protection against oxidative damage from sun exposer, but may be used in the morning and evening. Apply your moisturizer/sunblock next. You should start seeing changes in skin texture and brightness within 3 weeks. In 8-12 weeks you should start noticing improvements with dark spots and wrinkles. Some vitamin C serums oxidize, when this happens the product will turn brown and you should throw it away. This will not harm you but it won’t be effective. So remember to use your vitamin C daily.
Beautycounter provided an excellent write-up on vitamin C in the Asterisks
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