Vitamin C: What Does It Do For Your Skin?

Vitamin C: What Does It Do For Your Skin? It’s no secret that Vitamin C is a skin care superstar, . Vitamin C benefits for Skin ingredient is celebrated for its ability to deliver a brighter complexion, even out skin tone and diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Here’s everything you need to know about Vitamin C and how to add it to your skin care routine. What Is Vitamin C? First things first: What exactly is Vitamin C? Also known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that is necessary for the growth, development and repair of all body tissues - including the skin. As Eminence Organics Lead Skin Care Trainer Natalie Pergar tells us: “Vitamin C is an incredibly effective nutrient for your body and an all-around savior for skin care. It’s been found to help prevent UV damage, reduce pigmentation, reduce inflammation and boost collagen production in skin.” We cannot produce Vitamin C and our bodies don’t store it; therefore, we can only receive its benefits by ingesting it (think chewable vitamins and fresh-squeezed orange juice) or by applying it topically (cue Vitamin C in your favorite skin care serums and moisturizers). Vitamin C is an incredibly effective nutrient for your body and an all-around savior for skin care. It’s been found to help prevent UV damage, reduce pigmentation, reduce inflammation and boost collagen production in skin. Popular sources of Vitamin C include: Citrus fruits such as lemon, orange and grapefruit Leafy greens such as kale, broccoli and spinach Tomatoes Strawberries Rosehip oil Seabuckthorn oil Vitamin C Benefits For Skin The benefits of Vitamin C for the skin are seemingly endless. One of its most important features is that it is able to mitigate skin problems before - and even after - they occur. According to Natalie: “One of the great things about Vitamin C is it both helps prevent and repair damage caused by our environment.” During the day, Vitamin C can provide additional protection against the aging effects of environmental stressors such as pollution, blue light and UV rays; at night, it’s rejuvenating properties can minimize the look of damage caused by free radical exposure. Here’s a closer look at Vitamin C’s many skin care benefits: Fights Free Radicals Heidi Waldorf, MD describes free radicals as “anti-oxygen bombs that trigger inflammation and cascades of damage” (SELF). These highly unstable molecules are missing an electron and, in an attempt to stabilize, steal electrons from otherwise healthy cells. This type of attack changes cell composition and triggers oxidative damage that presents as dryness, irritation and premature aging. How can free radicals be stopped? Neutralize the “bomb” - so to speak. Antioxidants donate an electron to free radicals before they can cause undue damage to the skin. In Waldorf’s words, they “put out the fuse.” Vitamin C is one such antioxidant that can neutralize and remove free radicals, thereby minimizing the visible impact of exposure to pollution, particulate matter and other types of environmental stress. Supports Skin’s Barrier Function One of the ways Vitamin C benefits overall skin health is by supporting the skin’s barrier function. The lipid barrier is an essential part of the skin’s outer layer and is often likened to mortar, holding together the bricks that are your skin cells. When healthy, it acts like your skin’s security guard: It keeps in the good by helping skin retain moisture and keeps out the bad by denying potential irritants (like troublesome free radicals). Studies show that Vitamin C enhances the production of barrier lipids and, by extension, the skin’s ability to protect itself from transepidermal water loss, keeping it healthy, happy and hydrated. Minimizes Fine Lines & Wrinkles Collagen and elastin are frequent victims of free radical damage. These structural proteins are responsible for the density and bounce associated with a youthful complexion. When weakened, they are unable to provide much-needed structural support and, as a result, the visible signs of aging (including sagging skin and fine lines and wrinkles) begin to develop. As an antioxidant, Vitamin C helps stave off the visible signs of aging caused by free radical damage. In fact, a 2007 study by the American Journal Of Clinical Nutrition found that women aged 40-74 who consumed high levels of Vitamin C appeared to have fewer fine lines and wrinkles and less overall dryness in their skin. Brightens Skin Vitamin C’s antioxidant quality also assists in minimizing the appearance of hyperpigmentation. When faced with stress, the skin defends itself by triggering cells called melanocytes to produce the pigment melanin. Vitamin C inhibits the function of tyrosinase, the enzyme that activates the skin’s melanocytes, thereby impeding melanin production and minimizing the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. This contributes to a brighter and more even-toned complexion. Boosts Skin Cell Regeneration Skin cell turnover is the process by which dead cells are shed from the skin’s top layer and new, fresh cells rise to the surface. One feature of healthy skin is its ability to efficiently turnover - a process that slows with age. With its acidic nature, Vitamin C is helpful in sloughing away dead and damaged skin cells, thereby speeding up the skin’s natural turnover process. This not only smooths skin texture, but also reduces dullness and minimizes the look of dark spots and hyperpigmentation. Increases Collagen Production In addition to extrinsic factors (like environmental stress), intrinsic - or biological - aging contributes to the decline of collagen. As you age, your skin’s stores of collagen naturally deplete and degrade, resulting in the visible signs of aging. Vitamin C not only activates the skin’s fibroblasts to produce new collagen, it also stabilizes the collagen you already have, helping skin stay firm, plump and youthful-looking for longer. How To Use A Vitamin C Serum Natalie tells us: “Vitamin C is essential in everyone’s routine. Your body doesn’t make this vitamin, so the only way to obtain its benefits is to apply it topically.” One of the best delivery vehicles for Vitamin C to the skin is a serum. Here’s how to use a Vitamin C serum in your skin care routine. Perform A Patch Test If you have sensitive skin, we recommend performing a patch test before adding a new ingredient to your skin care routine. Follow these steps with a licensed esthetician at your favorite Eminence Organics partner spa: Select a small area of skin that can be easily concealed (like your forearm or behind your ear). Apply a small amount of product and wait 24 hours. If no side effects occur, apply to your face. Discontinue use if you experience discomfort such as a rash, redness or hives. Add A Vitamin C Serum To Your Skin Care Routine Adding a Vitamin C serum to your skin care routine is simple. Vitamin C is typically formulated in a fast-absorbing formula,suitable for all skin types that can be used both morning and night. Skin care experts recommend applying 1-2 drops of serum to freshly cleaned and toned skin. Use your fingers to spread a thin layer of serum over your face and neck, then wait for it to completely absorb before applying your favorite facial oil and/or moisturizer. Vitamin C is essential in everyone’s routine. Your body doesn’t make this vitamin, so the only way to obtain its benefits is to apply it topically. Also shop at our friends online at: https://www.justshopnyc.com What To Look For In A Vitamin C Serum When choosing a Vitamin C serum, there are a few things to keep in mind. Pick a serum with: L-ascorbic acid (the most potent and effective variety of Vitamin C in skin care). A concentration of 10-20 percent. Below 10% may not be sufficiently potent and above 20% can be too powerful for most skin types. Complementary ingredients like Vitamin E and ferulic acid which enhance Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties and keep the formula stabilized. A dark or tinted glass bottle with airless delivery as Vitamin C is easily oxidized. Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum Eminence Organics Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum is a lightweight formula that can easily be added to any skin care routine. It includes two varieties of Vitamin C: L-ascorbic acid sourced from lemon and grapefruit as well as sodium ascorbyl phosphate (also known as Vitamin C salt. It is also formulated with Vitamin E and ferulic acid which, as mentioned, enhance its antioxidant properties and help retain potency. In terms of concentration, Natalie explains: “We formulated [this serum] specifically to 16% Vitamin C concentration, as our research showed this was the optimal amount to be non-irritating and still provide powerful antioxidant benefits.” Pro Tip: Enhance your routine with the Rosehip Triple C+E Firming Oil and Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Masque. The hydrating qualities of these complementary products add essential moisture and encourage the skin to absorb more Vitamin C over time, thereby enhancing the efficacy of the serum. Why Vitamin C + E Together? There’s a reason we combine Vitamin C, Vitamin E and ferulic acid. Natalie says: “Together, these ingredients provide additional protection against free radicals to further reduce the appearance of damage so skin stays healthy-looking, smooth and luminous.” According to Mindbodygreen, one study found that these two ingredients increase Vitamin’s C effectiveness eight-fold! As well as boosting potency, the addition of Vitamin E and ferulic acid helps to stabilize Vitamin C, which is a notoriously finicky ingredient. How To Store Vitamin C & Keep It Stable Vitamin C is a vulnerable ingredient that will break down if it is routinely exposed to air and light. Unless protected, it rapidly degrades and oxidizes, losing its antioxidant benefits. In addition to choosing a serum that is packaged in an opaque, air-restrictive bottle, store your Vitamin C serum in a cool, dark place to keep it protected. You can even go as far as storing it in the fridge to keep it fresh for longer. Are you ready to add a Vitamin C serum to your skin care routine? Visit Williamsburg Organics Spa to learn more about how this classic ingredient can benefit your skin. Schedule Your Consultation For more information on the above treatment and our new beauty products for your Face and Body contact us at Tel: 347-799-1221 Book an appointment online Now