A water-soluble vitamin that is found in every household around the world and is loved by people who want to keep their skin healthy and hydrated is Vitamin C. It facilitates the growth of tissues in our body as well. Unfortunately, we cannot produce Vitamin C on our own and therefore have to rely on fruits, vegetables, supplements, or other products to bless our skin with the benefits of it. So, let us take a look at why Vitamin C should be an active ingredient in our skincare.

Why is Vitamin C needed via cosmetics? Can diet not be sufficient?

The food that we eat everyday contains a lot of vitamins and minerals and Vitamin C happens to be a part of it as well. However, consumption of Vitamin C in such a manner even through fruits and vegetables that are rich in Vitamin C is not enough for our skin. It has been proven that certain medical conditions can even reduce the absorption of Vitamin C in our body. Therefore, topical application of Vitamin C becomes extremely necessary in this world where our skin gets exposed to severe pollution everyday. In order to maintain the youthfulness and radiance of the skin, it is important we provide it with products that contain Vitamin C. 

Benefits of including Vitamin C in our skincare routine

Vitamin C is regarded to be a magical product for all the benefits it can give within just a single week of regular application. 

• Antioxidant production- This vitamin has an enormous amount of antioxidants and can help in restoring the youthfulness of the skin. It is not a secret that Vitamin C helps in tissue repair and collagen synthesis which is very essential for healthy skin. 
• Collagen production- As vitamin C is highly acidic it is extremely useful in skin healing processes. As Vitamin C produces collagen and elastin, it facilitates skin regeneration and tightening of the skin. Beauty brands are obsessed with collagen because it helps in delaying the ageing process of the skin and can also prevent dark pigmentation to a great extent.

Let us take a look at some other major benefits of Vitamin C in detail- 

1.  Facilitates in preventing wrinkles and fine lines– It increases the production of collagen in our skin and prevents the formation of fine lines and wrinkles in our skin. Their skin became smooth and fine lines began to decrease along with an increase in collagen production in their skin.

2. Protects from the harmful rays of the Sun-  Vitamin C which has a lot of antioxidants can protect the skin from such harm. Combining Vitamin C along with Vitamin E can be extremely useful in protecting the skin from the harm that sun rays can do to us.

3.  Helps in keeping the skin hydrated- Vitamin C can undoubtedly save the skin from dryness and provide it with the required amount of moisturization. It can retain water and prevent the skin from becoming dry or oily. Therefore, if your skin becomes extremely dry and flaky, apply Vitamin C regularly to see the change for yourself.

4.  Aids in the process of wound healing- Everywhere we come to read that Vitamin C helps in collagen production but what is the science behind it? Vitamin C contains an item called ascorbic acid and that is the main component that can activate the production of collagen. Ascorbic acid helps in the healing of wounds rapidly by activating the production of collagen. To get better results one must apply it topically rather than ingest it orally. A combination of Vitamin C and Vitamin E has also been known to help patients with bed sores or burns.

5.  Improves elasticity of the skin- It is a well-known fact that topically applying Vitamin C facilitates the production of collagen and elastin. However, the produced collagen and elastin helps in making the skin more tight and firm.

6.  Reduces dark pigmentation of the skin- Dark pigmentation or hyperpigmentation of the skin is caused by an increase in the production of melanin. Melanin is a pigment that furnishes colour to our skin and must be celebrated for providing our skin with a beautiful brown or dark colour. Melanin has some other benefits as well but anything in excess can cause more harm than good. Hyperpigmentation is generally harmless but it is not welcomed or appreciated by most people who are conscious about their beauty. The topical application of Vitamin C can help in reducing the dark patches to a great extent.

7.  Helps in reducing inflammation- Vitamin C has certain anti-inflammatory properties and it acts as an antioxidant as well. It helps in reducing the signs of inflammation like rashes, redness of the skin, skin irritation etc. Topical application of Vitamin C can help in various skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis etc.

Therefore, incorporating Vitamin C in our daily skincare routine is quite essential. It is the product that provides a solution to many of our skin problems and it is quite safe to apply. There are different functions that Vitamin C does and choosing the correct formula can be a little tricky. Here is a complete guide on how to choose a perfect formula for the results you must desire.

• Ascorbic Acid– Ascorbic Acid is present in almost all of the brightening serums that are available in the market. It has the potential to reach the deeper layers of the skin and facilitate brightening and collagen production, to begin with. If it is properly formulated at a pH of less than 4then this type of Vitamin C has great anti-ageing benefits for normal skin types. A pH of 5-7 is ideal for the people who have sensitive skin. Coming to the part of concentration, one must choose a low concentration of about 10% for dull or uneven tone and a concentration of about 15% to 20% should be chosen for pigmentation. L-ascorbic acid is more beneficial for people with normal or oily skin and people with sensitive or dry skin can face irritation if they apply it.

• Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate– This is lesser effective than ascorbic acid when it comes to the brightening of the skin but it suits all types of skin and does not cause irritation. L-ascorbic acid can directly penetrate the skin but Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate gets converted into ascorbic acid when it is applied to the skin. This whole process reduces its effectiveness but at the same time, it can save those who have sensitive skin as it is never likely to irritate. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is more stable than ascorbic acid as it does not behave erratically when exposed to light, air or water.

• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate– It is one of the most stable forms of Vitamin C and can hydrate the skin very well and help in treating skin irritations as it has certain anti-inflammatory properties. One should opt for its water based formulas to get optimum results. Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate or MAP also works wonderfully on acne prone skin as it is very effective in preventing oxidation which causes blackheads. MAP helps in correcting skin discoloration that is caused by acne scarring and gives an even skin tone.

• Sodium Ascorbate- Sodium Ascorbate falls under the category of mineral salts. Sodium Ascorbate helps in correcting skin discoloration and scavenges free radicals. It gets converted to ascorbic acid when applied to the skin but is more stable than it and does not cause skin irritation.

• Calcium Ascorbate- Another mineral salt of ascorbic acid is Calcium Ascorbate and it plays a very crucial role in collagen synthesis, antioxidant defense and repairing of tissues and wounds. It is also known for reducing the appearance of fine lines and dark spots. It hydrates skin to a great extent and also has a neutral pH which in turn ensures that the skin does not face any sort of irritation.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate- This derivative of Vitamin C is an all rounder and helps in brightening the skin remarkably. This too does not cause irritation to the sensitive skin and aids in collagen production, reduces hyperpigmentation and improves the overall texture of the skin.

Potential risks of Vitamin C

1.    Itching

2.    Redness

3.    Skin Irritation

4.    Tingling sensation upon application

Experiencing slight burning or a tingling sensation upon applying the serum is quite normal if it goes away within some time. However, if these sensations last for along time and cause swelling or hives on the skin then the serum must be removed immediately and the person must thoroughly wash their skin with water and it matters still do not cool down then a dermatologist must be consulted as soon as possible.

Tips for choosing the right Vitamin C product

Just like any other antioxidant, Vitamin C is sensitive to light and air, that is, it reacts when it is exposed to light or air. It can degrade and even become ineffective in the due course of time. Thus, one must be careful with the packaging and formulation to get the best results for their skin. Therefore, these are the things people should check before buying a Vitamin C product-

• Packaging- One must make sure that the packaging is airtight and opaque.
• Colour- The product must be pale or white as Vitamin C becomes brown or orange when it gets oxidized or is exposed to air.
• Water content- The product should contain little or no water until and unless the product contains stabilizing ingredients like Vitamin E and ferulic acid.
• pH Level- The proper pH level for the different forms of Vitamin C and skin types has been discussed above and one must adhere to them while choosing their product.

Vitamin C is indeed a blessing for the skin and is a must have for anyone trying to improve the health of their skin or want to make it more presentable. The complete guide to choose the proper formula for every skin type and requirement has been provided in this article. Good luck caring for your skin and hope that you have brushed up your skills to handle all the compliments that are coming your way for a healthy, clear, and radiant skin!