Vitamin C is a famous skincare ingredient, but it can be hard to produce and use because of its unstable nature. However, incorporating vitamin C in your skincare can make your skin appear brighter, more youthful and radiant.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C occurs normally in our bodies and getting an optimal amount of this nutrient is important for the normal functioning of our bodies. Vitamin C is water-soluble, which means that our bodies don’t produce or store it, but when we consume it it’s completely absorbed and it also helps our body to absorb other nutrients we consume.
The Unstable Nature
Vitamin C is highly unstable within formulations. As soon as it’s added to water it starts to degrade. The way the chemists have gotten around this is by creating stable vitamin C derivatives, which is what can be found in skincare.
What Does It Do?
Vitamin C can help with evening out the texture, polishing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and brightening the skin. It also protects the skin from the UVA damage from the sun and the free radicals from the environment. It is also known for its anti-pigmentation effects. Additionally, it helps reduce the signs of aging, as it boosts the production of collagen and elastin, which help the skin maintain its shape and stay firm.
How Does Vitamin C Affect Our Skin?
Collagen and elastin are both located in the dermis layer of our skin. Elastin allows the skin tissue to resume the shape after stretching, while collagen binds the cells together. Vitamin C adds hydrogen and oxygen to amino acids located in the collagen to increase collagen production.
How to Use Vitamin C?
When you start incorporating the vitamin C in your skincare routine it’s the best practice to start by using the products with the lower percentage of the vitamin and work your way up. This way you can see how your skin reacts to it, before committing to the products with a higher percentage.
Should You Apply Vitamin C During the Day or the Night?
It works well during the night as well as during the day. However, if you plan on using it during the day it is a good idea to apply sunscreen, because of its antioxidant properties.