Benefits of Vitamin C in Skincare

Vitamin C is among some of the best ingredients for our health. Because of its antioxidant properties, both dietary consumption and topical application of Vitamin C have beneficial effects on the skin. While Vitamin C can be found in everyday foods such as broccoli, strawberries and tomatoes¹, it can also be found in certain skin care products such as serums, creams, and moisturizers. Topical application of Vitamin C is the most direct way for your skin to reap these antioxidant properties².

 What Is Vitamin C? 

Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is a vitamin essential for normal bodily function. While most plants and animals can make their own Vitamin C, humans must obtain Vitamin C through natural sources such as food³. Some of the primary benefits of Vitamin C for the body include protection from eye disease, prenatal health problems, and heart disease. Vitamin C also supports a healthy immune system.

 Skin Benefits of Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in our skin and co-exists to protect our skin from free-radicals. Products with Vitamin C offer reparative properties, and can help treat an array of skincare concerns such as darks spots and anti-aging. Below are some specific skincare concerns that may be addressed by incorporating Vitamin C into your skincare routine:⁴

•  Prevention of skin damage  - Vitamin C minimizes the look of our skin’s aging process. It prevents wrinkles from looking more pronounced, and it delays melanin production to brighten dark spots for a more youthful appearance.

•  Added moisture  - Having adequate levels of Vitamin C in your skin can protect against dryness by helping to prevent trans-epidermal water loss.

•  Maintain   skin health  – Vitamin C can help reduce skin fragility as it helps prevent certain deficiencies such as impaired wound healing. By applying topical Vitamin C, you are specifically targeting for nutrient delivery through the skin.

 Vitamin C for Anti-Aging 

Vitamin C has antioxidant properties that make this vitamin the ideal choice to help reduce the visible signs of aging. Some benefits on Vitamin C for anti-aging include reducing surface texture, sallowness, roughness, as well as improving skin laxity (reduce skin sagging). Additionally, topical Vitamin C from skincare also improves your skin’s molecules and minerals that provide structure to your cells.⁵

 Vitamin C for Wrinkles 

Vitamin C is great at helping to maintain our skin’s structure as it helps support our skin’s natural collagen molecules; this is necessary in stabilizing the outer layer of our skin, also known as the epidermis. Studies often assess skin health by the changes in depth or the number of wrinkles on an individual. In order to preserve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Vitamin C products also help hydrate the skin through forming a barrier that helps decrease trans-epidermal water loss.

 Vitamin C for Dark Spots 

Dark spots, or "hyperpigmentation," appear on our skin for a variety of reasons and can affect anyone. These flat, brown spots are usually due to frequent exposure to the sun, and can develop on our skin at any point in life.⁶ Dark spots can be improved through Vitamin C treatments by brightening the skin.⁷

 How to Use Vitamin C in Skincare 

You can enjoy the benefits of Vitamin C by incorporating it into your skincare regime as topical treatments. The following Neutrogena products containing Vitamin C are each different in tackling specific skin concerns, and can be used both day and night to improve the overall appearance of your skin:

•  NEUTROGENA® Rapid Tone Repair 20% Vitamin C Serum Capsules  – this anti-aging serum contains 20% Vitamin C, and helps reduce the look of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. This oil-free, fragrance free, and alcohol-free product is perfect for those who have sensitive skin.

•  NEUTROGENA® TRIPLE AGE REPAIR® Moisturizer SPF 25  - This moisturizer contains Vitamin C and HEXINOL technology to help repair the signs of aging. It also acts as a sunscreen.

These are just a few of the many Vitamin C skincare products available from Neutrogena. Browse all products containing Vitamin C [here](/search/site/vitamin c) and find the product that works best for you.

 Benefits of Vitamin C with Other Ingredients 

Vitamin C offers many benefits on its own. However, it can be even more effective in the treatment of targeted skin concerns when combined with other ingredients. Some of the other ingredients that typically pair well with Vitamin C for skincare purposes include:

• Vitamin B - Vitamin B promotes cell renewal, aids collagen maintenance, reduces skin irritations, and preserves skin moisture.⁸

• Vitamin E - Vitamin E contributes to the antioxidant defense of the skin and prevents free-radical damage.⁹

• Retinol - Retinol improves the skin's production of collagen, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and improves the skin's color and tone.¹⁰

Each of these ingredients add its own advantage to skincare products and can create improved treatments when used together¹¹—you can layer your moisturizer with a vitamin serum such as the Neutrogena Hydro Boost^® Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This product contains glycerin and Vitamin B5 to smooth your skin and keep it weightlessly hydrated for 24 hours.

Vitamin C is among the most beneficial ingredients in the skincare industry, and is used to combat signs of aging, wrinkles, dark spots, improve water retention, and much more. Neutrogena is proud to offer multiple skincare products that contain Vitamin C and other useful ingredients. Our products are customized to meet the specific needs of our customers. Visit Neutrogena.ca to learn more about our skincare products.

Sources:

1. https://www.webmd.com/diet/foods-high-in-vitamin-c#2

2. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/15/cnn-underscored/vitamin-c-benefits-for-skin/index.html

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3673383/

4. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C

5. https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/27/4/402/257852

6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/age-spots/symptoms-causes/syc-20355859

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3673383/

8. https://www.tricitymed.org/2018/08/b-vitamins-secret-good-skin-health/

9. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-E

10. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/retinoid-gel-and-cream-treatments#1

11. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.13305