What is Vitamin C in Skincare?

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient. It comes from citrus fruits or can be synthetically produced in skincare. Unlike other vitamins, our body cannot produce Vitamin C, it needs to obtain it externally. It is a powerful antioxidant, needed for healthy skin.

Antioxidants prevent free radical damage to our skin. This is damage that results from environmental factors such as pollution and UV rays. There are many more benefits to using vitamin C in skincare.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Brightening

Vitamin C is best known for it’s ability to brighten our skin. Vitamin C is acidic, when applied to our skin it gently buffs away dead skin cells, revealing a smoother complexion.

Boosts the Protection of your SPF

Applying Vitamin C daily along with your SPF boosts your protection. This is due to the antioxidant effect on our skin; neutralising free radicals to prevent free radical damage from environmental factors including UV and Infra Red rays. Vitamin C products are best applied in the morning to protect our skin from this damage.

Reduces Environmental Damage

As well as protecting against damage from UV and Infra Red rays, Vitamin C also protects against other damaging environmental factors such as pollution and smoke. Exposure to these factors can cause inflammation and collagen breakdown.

Reduces Lines and Wrinkles

There are also anti-aging benefits to using Vitamin C. Vitamin C stimulates collagen production. Collagen is our skins natural building blocks. Our levels naturally decrease from our late 20s and reduction increases much more with age. By stimulating collagen production, our skin will appear firmer, with lines and wrinkles refined.

Helps Fade Pigmentation 

Vitamin C can inhibit the effects of tyrosinase, an enzyme needed in the production of melanin, the dark pigment in our skin. Melanin production can be uneven from sun damage causing hyperpigmentation patches to develop. Using Vitamin C will also even skin texture and tone, fading hyperpigmentation.

Reduces Inflammation

Often skin can be red and irritated due to an impaired barrier. Vitamin C helps to repair our skin’s barrier and so will relieve associated symptoms.

Diminishes Dark Circles and Puffiness

Vitamin C in skincare products for the eyes is beneficial for the reduction in dark circles. Dark circles will benefit from the brightening effects whilst pigmentation under the eyes can also be reduced. Anti inflammatory properties help to reduce the appearance of puffiness and lines and wrinkles will be diminished with increase in collagen production.

Forms of Vitamin C in Skincare

L Ascorbic Acid

This is the purest form of vitamin C. It is water soluble and very active, it can be unstable to oxidisation when used alone. SkinCeuticals have a patented formula, only they can use this combination of pure L ascorbic acid, acidic pH within the 2.0-3.5 pH range with a concentration between 10%-20%

No one else can use this formulation. Scientific research has backed this formula. SkinCeuticals are known as the industry leaders when it comes to antioxidants. SkinCeuticals has found the ideal penetration by adding Ferulic acid to their antioxidants.

Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (BV-OSC)

This type of Vitamin C is oil soluble, dissolves in oil so is less irritating to the skin. It is able to penetrate easily through the skins barrier, so no need for higher percentage strength. This form is used by Dermaquest.

Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate

This form of Vitamin C is the most stable. It is less irritating so sensitive skins can benefit from this form. Agera use this form in their range.

Vitamin C in Homecare

Dermaquest C Infusion Cleanser

A daily use antioxidant cleanser with vitamin C, reduces free radical damage, brightens skin and reduces fine lines and wrinkles.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/product/dermaquest-c-infusion-cleanser

Dermaquest C Infusion Serum

Applied daily, increases firmness by promoting and protecting collagen and elastin production.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/product/dermaquest-c-infusion-serum

There are 4 day time use Skinceuticals antioxidant serums, including one for the eyes. They all provide the benefits of antioxidants.

Skinceuticals Serum 10

Combining 10% L Ascorbic Acid with Ferulic acid, this daily use antioxidant is perfect for sensitive skins. We recommend it for anyone in their twenties and early thirties as it reduces the early signs of ageing.

Skinceuticals AOX Eye Gel

Antioxidant eye gel to protect against environmental damage. Combines L Ascorbic Acid with Phloretin and Ferulic acid.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/?s=Aox

Skinceuticals Phloretin CF

Providing advanced protection against environmental damage, this antioxidant combines 10% L Ascorobic acid with Phloretin and Ferulic Acid. Phloretin derived from green apples helps to improve skin tone and reduce hyperpigmentation. Ideal for anyone 30 and above due to it’s anti ageing properties.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/product/skinceuticals-phloretin-cf-serum

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic

Provides advanced protection against the environment. Combining 15% L Ascorbic acid with Ferulic acid and Vitamin E, this antioxidant provides anti ageing benefits, ideal for anyone 30 and above. Vitamin E adds moisture to the skin, ideal for dry and mature skin.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/product/skinceuticals-ce-ferulic-serum

Agera Microderma RX System

A weekly exfoliating treatment with Manesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C). A two step treatment-

Step 1 gently buffs away dead skin cells whilst Step 2 with Lactic acid dissolves crystals and dead skin cells, leaving a bright, smooth complexion.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/product/agera-rx-microderma-system

Boost from within

Advanced Nutrition Programme

Skin Vit C

Brightens skin and protects against free radical damage from the environment whilst supporting collagen production. Ideal to combine with topical use Vitamin C.

https://shop.beyondskinclinic.com/product/skin-vit-c

Are all Vitamin C products the same?

No, we only use cosmeceutical products. Cosmeceuticals are different from regular cosmetics as they are:

• Higher strength
• Medical grade formulations
• Extensively clinically tested and researched
• Able to penetrate deeper in the skin

Book an Online Consultation where we can advise which Vitamin C products you could benefit from.