An ode to Vitamin C in the beauty world
And some advice on products to include in your skincare routine
G-Club
April 4th, 2024
April 4th, 2024
On April 4th, we celebrate Vitamin C Day, a day dedicated to the most beloved ingredient by beauty experts and beauty addicts. The reason? It's a precious ally in skincare thanks to its anti-aging and photo-protective properties. It's the most powerful antioxidant in cosmetics, capable of generating new collagen, neutralizing the damage of free radicals, and protecting the skin from UV rays and other environmental factors, evening out the tone, reducing dullness and dark spots, and preventing wrinkles. Moreover, vitamin C contributes to the efficiency of the immune, hormonal, and nervous systems, is essential for the health of cartilage, bones, skin, and hair, and aids in iron absorption. Unfortunately, the body cannot produce it, so it's necessary to obtain it through diet. It can be consumed through fruits and vegetables such as citrus fruits, kiwi, berries, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, and peppers, or applied topically through creams and serums. How to navigate through the many products?
What is Vitamin C used for?
Vitamin C can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thanks to its role in collagen synthesis, a protein that provides support and structure to our skin. As we age, collagen production naturally decreases, causing sagging and wrinkles that vitamin C helps to reduce, keeping the skin firm and elastic. If you feel that your complexion looks dull and grayish, vitamin C can help because it's rich in antioxidants and, with consistent use, has the property of inhibiting the overproduction of melanin, making it a perfect choice for those who want brighter skin and want to lighten dark spots.
Against Environmental Stress Factors
Being a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C protects against the effects of free radicals caused by environmental aggressors such as exposure, pollution, stress, and smoking. The result is healthier and younger-looking skin, with a radiant and firm appearance. This doesn't mean that one or two drops of serum can replace sun protection. Vitamin C should still be paired with SPF. In fact, it performs best when combined with sunscreen because it enhances its effectiveness. Additionally, vitamin C accelerates the movement and production of fibroblasts, the cells that bind our tissues together, facilitating the skin's repair process. Therefore, it's useful in case of irritations, minor burns, and even acne.
Vitamin C for Hair
We've learned that vitamin C helps the appearance of the skin, but did you know it has the same effect on hair? This substance promotes blood circulation throughout the body, including the scalp and follicles, helping to counteract hair loss and accelerate regrowth. Furthermore, by stimulating collagen production and reducing pH, it revitalizes the hair fiber along its entire length and protects it from breakage and split ends. Its repairing action against environmental stress proves useful in protecting the hair from the harmful effects of sunlight.
How to Incorporate it into Your Skincare Routine
Vitamin C can be used both in the morning and at night, depending on your routine. In any case, it should be used every day because it remains in circulation for only 24 hours and should be applied after exfoliation and before moisturizing. If we've never tried it to avoid sensitization, it's better to introduce it gradually, starting from three times a week. Patience and consistency are required because it takes several weeks to see an improvement in skin tone. For rejuvenated and flawless skin, it's useful to integrate vitamin C with other ingredients. Some examples? Niacinamide, vitamin B, hyaluronic acid, ferulic acid, and vitamin E that increase its effectiveness in providing nutrients to the skin.
What to Look for in Vitamin C Product Labels
Its purest form of vitamin C is ascorbic acid, also known as L-ascorbic. If we have oily or normal skin, this is the term we should look for among the ingredients of our products. If, on the other hand, we have dry and sensitive skin, it's better to opt for magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble form of vitamin C, less irritating and generally better tolerated. Equally important is checking the concentration, which should be between 10% and 20%. Generally, experts recommend starting with a low concentration and then moving on to those between 15% and 20%.
The Best Vitamin C-Based Products
YEPODA The C-Boost Hero
29€
ISDN Isdinceutics Flavo-C Forte
27,90€
PAULA'S CHOICE C15 Super Booster
59€
DIEGO DALLA PALMA Vitamin C Kit
39,90€
PIXI Vitamin C CapsuleCare
26€
LANEIGE Lip Sleeping Mask
23€
KORFF Hydra Energy C Facial Cream Sorbet
44€
ROUGJ Anti-Dark Spot Face Sunscreen SPF50+
22,90€
LANCOME Rénergie Yeux H.C.F. Triple Serum
152€
Among the most interesting current proposals are the Vitamin C line from Diego dalla Palma Milano, a beauty ritual also available in a full-size kit version with a 30ml illuminating vitamin C serum and two energizing illuminating masks, the anti-spot face sunscreen cream SPF50+ from Rougj, an excellent ally for the early spring days thanks to vitamin C and vitamin PP, and the new illuminating serum The C-Boost Hero from Yepoda, which is rechargeable and contains 15% vitamin C along with other excellent ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ascorbic acid. Korff offers Hydra Energy C, a skincare line based on vitamin C that provides moisturizing, anti-aging, and illuminating action. Not enough? The revamped C15 SUPER BOOSTER from Paula’s Choice returns in a new and improved version, renewing its formula to reduce the risk of irritation and maximize benefits. It now contains 15% pure vitamin C, vitamin E + ferulic acid, with ergothioneine and peptides. The results are visible from the first applications: brighter and healthier-looking skin day by day.