Vitamin C is an antioxidant used in facials to brighten, restore, and smooth the skin. In addition, vitamin C is also known for its role as an anti-aging aid and protects the skin from the effects of heat, sunlight, and moisture.
Benefits of vitamins for facial skin
Vitamin C is considered an indispensable nutrient in the facial skin care process with the role of anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory and helps to improve texture, and skin tone, provide water and moisture to the skin, and reduce the risk of aging. premature skin aging.
Supplementing with vitamin C for the body can be from fruits, vegetables, daily nutrition… However, this is not the only way to get the benefits of this nutrient for the body. Besides, vitamin C is also formulated as a main ingredient in skin care products such as lotions, cleansers, serums, and vitamin C serums…
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in protecting skin health. Topical vitamin C is clinically proven to have a variety of antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-toxin effects. So this nutrient also offers many skin benefits, including the following:
- Create collagen to help keep skin youthful and plump: Collagen is a structural component of skin, hair, muscles, and tendons and plays an important role in keeping the skin youthful and smooth. With the increase in age, collagen production slows down, the skin will begin to appear to wrinkle and sag. Vitamin C applied topically on the face helps to speed up the production of both collagen and elastin, keeping the skin plump and firm, preventing premature aging of the skin, and restoring a youthful, smooth appearance to the skin. skin.
- Brighten skin, fade dark circles: Dark circles appear under the thin skin of the eyelids when insomnia or not sleeping well. A study conducted by scientists showed that vitamin C helps to reduce and prevent dark circles under the eyes by strengthening the protection of the delicate delicate skin under the eyes. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C help increase skin elasticity, protect and conceal and blood vessels beneath the skin.
- Reduce Freckles and Hyperpigmentation: Hyperpigmentation is a condition characterized by the development of dark spots on the skin – usually due to overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and pressure from the environment. Although harmless, hyperpigmentation can make the skin look older and worse. Research from scientists shows that vitamin C’s antioxidant properties play an important role in reducing freckles and hyperpigmentation, preventing signs of aging caused by sun damage. Vitamin C also inhibits the production of tyrosinase – an enzyme that aids in the production of melanin and prevents hyperpigmentation. Beauty Vitamin C does not affect normal skin color, it does not lose normal skin pigmentation, but only removes abnormal melanin pigments caused by sun damage.
- Skin hydration: Without enough moisture, the epidermis (top layer of the skin) dries out, leading to itching, scaling, and premature aging. Hydration is an important process for keeping skin healthy and youthful. Fortunately, vitamin C has been clinically proven to help skin retain water, keeping it plump and smooth, and preventing it from becoming too dry or too oily. The researchers also found that those who were supplemented with vitamin C to their facial skin experienced significant improvements in skin moisture and elasticity.
- Reduce acne and skin redness: Pimples, uneven skin tone, and redness can be caused by factors such as inflammatory skin conditions (eczema, rosacea..), sun exposure, and internal medicine. Vitamin C helps to beautify the skin and has been shown to play a role in reducing redness thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to heal damaged capillaries that cause redness on the skin, for smoother and more even skin tone.
How to use vitamin C in facial skincare
Whether your skin condition is dry, oily, or combination skin, vitamin C is beneficial for skin health, helping skin stay healthy and younger for longer. There are two ways to use vitamin C in beauty and skincare: dietary supplements and topical use.
Supplement vitamin C through diet: Foods rich in vitamin C such as oranges and berries bring many health benefits. While it is true that you can get large amounts of vitamin C by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, dietary vitamin C in general will not provide enough to help you see a noticeable improvement in your skin. tell. This is explained by the amount of vitamin C in the diet cannot be concentrated in high concentrations in the skin. This is the reason for the need to use topical vitamin C in skin care.
Topical use of vitamin C: Topical vitamin C is absorbed directly into the top layers of the skin, helping them to act immediately in their role of smoothing the skin, reducing wrinkles and freckles, and protecting the skin against harmful effects. free radicals. Topical vitamin C is formulated in the form of moisturizers, serums, and serums, which the serum has the effect of moisturizing the skin more, easier to absorb into the skin, so it is recommended by dermatologists to use. Studies have also shown that vitamin C is best incorporated into a skincare routine when used as a topical serum. Even serums containing vitamin C as low as 1% still provide antioxidant protection and benefit the skin.
A daily skincare routine with vitamin C is done according to the following steps: Makeup remover and face wash, exfoliator, toner, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, and sunscreen. For best results, you should use topical vitamin C 1-2 times per day in the morning and evening. Make sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen after using vitamin C during the day.
Besides the amazing benefits for your skin and body, vitamin C can cause certain side effects or risks. This vitamin is generally safe when used systemic or topically on the skin. However, some people with sensitive skin or allergies may experience yellow discoloration.
Some people may experience irritation such as stinging, itching, and dryness after using vitamin C. This can be improved by applying a layer of moisturizer on top of the vitamin C serum in addition to your daily skin moisturizer. In case you have sensitive skin, you should start using vitamin C with a lower concentration to observe the skin’s reaction, use it every other day or a few days then increase the frequency higher to avoid redness and potential irritation.
Thus vitamin C is one of the effective and safe skincare ingredients. Sufficient vitamin C content in the body through nutrition and topical use of vitamins on the skin helps to protect and strengthen the body’s resistance, reduce the risk of skin aging, and keep the skin healthy. and smooth.