What is Vitamin C Serum?
You've probably heard about vitamin C serums if you're interested in skincare. Vitamin C is one of the top substances on the market for anti-aging assistance and the secret to preserving a smooth, even, glowing complexion. Even while you presumably get vitamin C in your diet, there is no way to ensure it reaches your skin. So the most straightforward approach to get these advantages is to use serums and other topical treatments. Continue reading to discover more about introducing a new product, adding vitamin C serum to your regimen, and other topics.
How Vitamin C Works?
Free radicals always surround you. This is because they are brought on by exposure to typical environmental aggressors, including smoking, pollution, and UV radiation from the sun. According to Snell, "free radicals cause an inflammatory reaction in the skin." "That will manifest as wrinkles, black spots, uneven skin tone, uneven skin texture, and dull, tired-looking skin."
Fortunately, the antioxidants in your skin fight against these free radicals and stop oxidation. According to Snell, "antioxidants neutralize the electron of a free radical." An antioxidant tames the free radical and prevents it from further harming the skin. The most prevalent antioxidant in the skin is vitamin C. By providing electrons to neutralise harmful free radicals; it defends against oxidative stress.
According to Snell, this contributes to improving what is currently in place. "Because it's assisting in reversing sun damage, you'll see a visible improvement in skin tone, texture, and dark patches. Additionally, vitamin C affects the skin's melanin, which helps lighten dark spots and noticeably balances skin tone."
How Vitamin C Benefits Skin Health
The antioxidants in your skin, which you get through eating foods high in antioxidants, are excellent at shielding your skin from free radicals, but a long day in the sun tends to deplete them. Topical antioxidants may help with that.
Your skin will always benefit from a serum top-up since it's possible that dietary nutrients can't simply get to the skin's outermost layers. According to independent studies, topically administering Vitamin C prevents photo-aging, maintains the skin's natural collagen, and targets pigment that causes dark spots. These effects keep skin visibly firm.
Benefits of Vitamin C Serum
There are several Benefits of using vitamin C on your skin. Vitamin C, as an illustration:
- is safe for most skin types
- provides hydration
- can brighten your skin
- can reduce redness
- can reduce hyperpigmentation
- can reduce the appearance of under-eye circles
- promotes collagen production
- may help prevent sagging
- may protect against sun damage
Is Safe for Most Skin Types
Its safety record is great for vitamin C. As a result, most individuals may utilize topical vitamin C for a long time without suffering any side effects.
In concentrations exceeding 20%, vitamin C may cause mild skin irritation, according to a 2017 assessment of the literature. As a result, its concentration in skin care products often varies between 10% and 20%.
Provides Hydration
The majority of healthy skin and organs have high concentrations of vitamin C, which suggests that vitamin C builds up in the body through circulation, according to a 2017 assessment of the literature. According to review authors, the ascorbic acid type of topical vitamin C penetrates the skin the best.
A 2022 study found magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, another vitamin C derivative used in skin care, had a moisturizing impact on the skin. It improves moisture retention in your skin by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). A 2019 research found that a serum that decreased TEWL by 19% and enhanced skin barrier function included Deschampsia Antarctica extract, Ferulic acid, and vitamin C.
Can Brighten Your Skin
Vitamin C may smooth the skin's surface to lessen dullness and remove pigmentation (more on this below!). Skin looks younger as a result of this.
The usage of vitamin C has been shown to suppress the synthesis of melanin, according to a 2017 study. The pigment responsible for giving skin its color is melanin.
Vitamin C may aid in lightening hyperpigmentation and dark spots by preventing the development of melanin. It could also aid in making your skin seem more radiant.
It Helps to Reduce Redness
A 2015 analysis found that vitamin C's ability to serve as an antioxidant also allows it to act as an anti-inflammatory agent. This indicates that it might lessen puffiness while calming your skin.
The anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin C may benefit:
- neutralize the oxidative damage-causing free radicals
- improve immunological function to prevent an inflammatory immune reaction
Vitamin C's anti-inflammatory qualities may also aid in reducing redness, which can lead to a more uniform complexion. A clean, smooth skin tone results from eliminating dark spots, redness, and inflammation.
Fades Hyper Pigmentation
Vitamin C may lighten hyperpigmentation since it suppresses melanin formation. Melanin overproduction in certain skin regions leads to hyperpigmentation, including sunspots, age spots, and melasma. Additionally, it may take place in regions that have recovered from acne.
Tyrosinase activity is suppressed by vitamin C, which prevents melanin production. Therefore, it is often used in dermatology to lighten hyperpigmented skin lesions. Although there are few trials, it has also been used to treat gingival melanin hyperpigmentation (gum hyperpigmentation).
Having acne issues? There are further solutions for treating acne-related hyperpigmentation besides vitamin C serums.
Reduces the Under-Eye Circles
Vitamin C serums may reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles by moisturizing and plumping the skin around the eyes. Some claim that vitamin C may help lessen the discoloration brought on by under-eye circles, even though vitamin C is more helpful in reducing general redness.
A modest 2019 investigation on three dark circle treatments found that vitamin C monotherapy significantly reduced the pigmentation of under-eye circles. Some subjects did, however, also describe a burning sensation. Using a cold compress and retinol in your skin care regimen are two other methods to reduce under-eye bags.
It is recommended to stay with items made particularly for the region beneath your eyes since it is delicate and thin.
Promotes Collagen Production
A naturally produced protein that dwindles with time is collagen. Therefore, fine lines and wrinkles may result from low collagen levels. Through collagen synthesis, vitamin C is widely recognized for increasing collagen synthesis. In actuality, collagen production is dependent upon vitamin C.
This is because vitamin C is a necessary cofactor for the two enzymes needed to produce collagen: Lysyl hydroxylase offers structural support, whereas prolyl hydroxylase stabilizes the collagen molecule. The consumption of certain foods may also increase collagen synthesis.
Prevents Skin Sagging
Elasticity and hardness of the skin are related to collagen synthesis. Therefore, your skin may start to droop as your collagen levels decline.
According to a 2017 study, using a vitamin C serum may increase collagen formation and have a tightening impact. This is true whether the drooping is brought on by oxidative stress, normal aging, or drastic weight reduction. This indicates that it may aid in minimizing the appearance of drooping skin, giving your skin a tighter, toned appearance.
Protects Against Sun Damage
Depleted vitamin C levels in the skin are linked to prolonged exposure to oxidative stress by contaminants or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Additionally, vitamin C levels are lower in older or photodamaged skin, while it is unclear whether this is a cause or an effect.
Free radicals are a class of chemicals that cause sun damage. These are atoms in which one electron is absent. Free radicals are atoms that seek other atoms from which they might "take" an electron, which can seriously harm the skin. Antioxidants abound in vitamin C. Healthy skin cells are shielded from free radical damage by antioxidants, which "give" these radicals an electron to make them harmless.