Vitamin C: What Does It Do For Your Skin?
It’s no secret that vitamin C is a skin care superstar. This powerhouse 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 freshly-squeezed orange juice) or by applying it topically (cue vitamin C in your favorite skin care serums and moisturizers). 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
Kakadu plum
You might think that oranges have the highest concentration of vitamin C, but surprisingly, Kakadu plum has 30 to 50 times the amount of vitamin C in comparison. Eating this superfruit or applying it topically may potentially aid in reducing the appearance of dark spots, enhancing skin radiance and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. The Superfood Booster-Powder uses this tart fruit as a potent botanical source of vitamin C to help promote healthy-looking skin and minimize the appearance of dark spots. You can read this guide on superfoods for skin for more information.
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, its 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.
