VITAMIN C AND YOUR SKIN – NOT JUST GREAT FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM!

Adriana Gully,LA

Vitamin C is one of the key components necessary for the health of our bodies. It helps form and maintain bones, skin, and blood vessels. It is an antioxidant that helps remove free radicals and other substances from our body that damage our cells, helps heal wounds, and boosts our immune system. This water-soluble vitamin is essential to human beings, and we usually obtain it from the food we eat, especially fruits and vegetables. It has also emerged as a science-based, effective topical that can benefit our skin in a multitude of ways. It is now considered the gold standard of anti-aging.

Vitamin C and Your Skin

One of the reasons that vitamin C as an ingredient in skin care products has become so popular is because researchers found out that using vitamin C topically is more effective for the skin than consuming it. This ingredient is excellent for maintaining healthy skin. As a topical antioxidant, it protects your skin from environmental pollutants that cause skin damage and aging.

Here are some of the things that vitamin C can do for your skin:

• Hydrates
• Promotes collagen production
• Brightens
• Reduces hyperpigmentation and dark spots
• Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Helps with dark eye circles
• Reduces redness
• May protect against sun damage (in conjunction with sunscreen)
• Maintain and repair damaged skin

With all its benefits, who wouldn’t want to use vitamin C! Your Board-Certified Dermatologist or Licensed Aesthetician can help you determine the best vitamin C to incorporate into your skin care routine, depending on your skin type and any skin issues you might have.

What to Look for When Adding Vitamin C to Your Routine

Once you decide to add vitamin C to your skin care routine, there are a couple of things to consider. It has been proven that vitamin C in serum form is more effective than moisturizers or toners, and it gets absorbed into the skin more easily. Some types of vitamin C are more stable for this use. You want to look for ascorbic acid (also known as L-ascorbic acid.) Other derivates that are effective include ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.

Another thing to consider is the type of bottle the serum comes in and how it gets stored. Vitamin C naturally oxidizes when exposed to oxygen and breaks down when exposed to light. You want to ensure the product comes in a dark bottle, store it in a cool dark space, and seal your container tight to maintain the integrity of the product. It is also important to use your opened product within nine months to ensure you are receiving the full benefits. 

Getting the right product for you is essential, especially since there are so many different vitamin C products to choose from. Finding the right one can be determined during your skin assessment with your Vitalogy Skincare Provider. It all depends on your skin type, concerns, and daily lifestyle.

How do I use vitamin C as part of my routine? 

Vitamin C is easily integrated into your skin care routine. Typically, it is used as the first product after cleansing in the morning, so you get protection during the day. You don’t need much of it to get the vitamin C benefits. You will follow it with your other skincare products, and don’t forget to add sunscreen (with an SPF of 30 or more) as the last thing before makeup! 

When you first start using vitamin C, you might want to start slowly. Even though vitamin C is useful for all skin types, some sensitive skins may experience itchiness, redness, or dryness. If you experience these symptoms, start using it only a few times a week and work your way up to daily use. Don’t forget to use a moisturizer on top of the vitamin C serum. There are also lower concentrations you can start with.

We have several skin care lines that we recommend at Vitalogy Skincare. One of our top sellers is SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic®. If you want to learn more about vitamin C and how it can benefit your skin’s health, reach out to one of our Board-Certified Dermatologists, Licensed Physician Assistants, or Licensed Aestheticians. Our medical and cosmetic dermatology expertise will allow us to provide you with the best care for your skin and work with you to reach your skin care goals. Book an appointment today at any of our locations in the Central Texas area.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Adriana Gully, LA – Adriana is a Licensed Aesthetician working in our Vitalogy Skincare San Marcos location. She has been practicing cosmetic dermatology for over nine years and is certified in various cosmetic procedures, including microdermabrasion, microneedling, laser hair removal, and advanced laser treatments. She is also very knowledgeable about the skin care products that we carry. Her priority is getting results for her patients and helping them obtain healthier, more beautiful skin.