5 Benefits Vitamin C Has On Your Skin

We’re all searching for that “holy grail” product, the one that really improves and changes the appearance of our skin. So many people have been duped into buying well-marketed skincare products that sound amazing but don’t really work. 

With all of the social media available today, it’s easy to be taken in by products that don’t live up to the hype. Being able to look at ingredients with a critical eye can help you make an educated decision and spend your money wisely. 

MiamiMD is here to take a deep dive on one of those ingredients, vitamin C, so you can separate the fact from the fiction.

Benefit #1 : Vitamin C Can Help Minimize the Appearance of Sun Damage

When ultraviolet (UV) radiation comes into contact with your skin (whether they come from the natural sun or a tanning bed), it creates free radicals. 

Free radicals, which are unstable atoms that contain an unpaired electron, are ultimately one of the main contributors to both aging skin and skin damage. Because they have that unpaired electron, they seek out and latch on to any other nearby atoms in an attempt to help balance themselves out. The result of those free radical atoms bouncing all over the body causes damage and, over time, this damage continues to compound until it is impossible to ignore the visible changes to the skin. 

In contrast, vitamin C is an antioxidant, which is the natural antidote to free radicals. It binds with those free radicals and neutralizes them, helping slow down their impact on the skin by stopping them from latching on to the other atoms around them. That means the skin can continue with its natural regeneration process, repairing and renewing itself as it normally would, without the barriers that free radicals create. 

It’s important to note that vitamin C does not protect you from sun damage. You’ll still need to incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine, especially when you expect to have sun exposure. 

Benefit #2 : Vitamin C Can Help Soothe and Calm the Skin

The skin can become red and irritated incredibly easily. Skin conditions as well as allergic reactions and simple sensitivity can lead to skin that leaves much to be desired. Not only that, but red, inflamed skin also makes a poor canvas to apply makeup, and can even be painful. 

Irritation and redness occur due to the body’s natural response to anything that it perceives as a threat. It’s part of the natural healing process that the skin goes through, but that doesn’t make it welcome. Sometimes, if the body is out of balance for any reason, it loses its ability to produce the anti-inflammatory chemicals that are needed to counteract that response. 

Vitamin C works as a natural soother, working to calm the skin and reduce redness. It has also recently shown to be inversely related to one of the main inflammatory markers, known as c reactive protein (or CRP). That means that the more vitamin C that is found in the body, the lower the amount of CRP. It really is a science-powered vitamin!

Be aware that some redness and sensitivity may be common when first starting a topical vitamin C regimen. This will naturally reduce as your skin gets used to it, unless you have a specific sensitivity. Starting low and slow can help you minimize some of those issues. 

Benefit #3 : Vitamin C Can Help Reduce the Visible the Signs of Aging

Perhaps the most impressive benefit of vitamin C is its role in collagen production. 

Collagen, a fibrous protein that forms connective tissue, naturally decreases in production as the skin ages. With less collagen in the skin, it starts to sag and lose its volume and elasticity. That’s why skin looks so much different when you’re in your 40s than when you’re in your 20s — it isn’t the skin itself that is sagging but the connective tissue underneath it that isn’t present in large enough quantities to support it the way that it used to. 

Vitamin C plays a critical role in the production of collagen, which helps the skin become firmer and reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It is also fairly acidic in nature, which supports the skin’s elastin production as well. Not only does it stop the sagging, it also makes skin appear to be more full, less rough, and more hydrated. 

Collagen really is a key component to youthful looking skin, and vitamin C can help make it happen. 

Benefit #4 : Vitamin C Can Help Reduce the Appearance of Dark Spots

Dark spots, also referred to as hyperpigmentation, can happen to anyone, at any age and at any time. However, they are far more likely to occur in the spring and summer on people who spend more of their time outdoors. 

The spots are usually due to one of three different reasons, all of which lead to an increase in the production of melanin (a dark pigment) in the skin.

The first cause of dark spots is a condition known as melasma. While this is typically a reaction to sun exposure, it can also be the result of hormones, which is why it can be common in pregnant women. Instead of one single spot, melasma occurs in more of a patchy pattern. Melasma also tends to be more of a chronic condition, taking anywhere from months to years to fade on its own.

Sun spots are another commonly occurring hyperpigmentation issue. They are most commonly triggered by the free radicals that happen as a result of exposure to ultraviolet radiation or environmental pollutants. 

And finally, there is post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which also tends to be the most common. This type of dark spot happens as a result of a blemish, like a pimple, an injury, or even a mosquito bite. It also tends to happen more in people who have darker skin. 

Vitamin C can work as a natural remedy to all three, although you shouldn’t expect quick results. 

When used topically, vitamin C works to gradually reduce the appearance of dark spots until they ultimately fade away.

Benefit #5 : Vitamin C Can Make for a Glowing Complexion

One final benefit of vitamin C is its ability to support hydrated, glowing, dewy skin. 

When used topically, vitamin C can smooth the texture of the skin and naturally improve its overall appearance. It also works hand in hand with moisturizer, helping the skin retain its moisture content without making it overly oily or greasy in appearance. It works from the inside out, stopping the skin from drying out or becoming dull. 

You can’t fake dewy skin with highlighter or other makeup products. It happens solely as the result of proper hydration, which also helps minimize visible signs of aging by reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. 

With the popularity of skin trends like the Korean glass skin trend, giving yourself a smooth, blank, hydrated canvas helps you build your own brand from the ground up.

How To Use Vitamin C

Although vitamin C has some amazing potential, you won’t want to just jump right in and use it at a high concentration. Vitamin C is at its most effective when combined with other skincare ingredients and used topically, which also minimizes the risk of any potential sensitivity or reaction that it may cause when you first start using it.

If you’re a new vitamin C user, start low. You may also want to use it once or twice a week at first, instead of going all in. Let your skin get used to the vitamin C and work up to what will be your normal usage. This will also give you the ability to judge whether or not you will have any kind of reaction, which is always a possibility with new skincare products. 

Always make sure that you’re using a skincare product that has undergone third party testing, as well. This is just one more way that you can be sure that the product you’re using on your skin meets (or exceeds) industry standards for safety. Don’t spend your money on products that can’t be proven to be safe, invest only in the best.  

In Summary

There is a reason that vitamin C is such a legendary component in any successful skincare routine. The benefits are many and have been scientifically proven to work, which is why MiamiMD has chosen to include it in our products!

Whether you are seeking to slow down the signs of aging, reduce dark spots or redness, or just create a brighter complexion, investing in a product that contains vitamin C is something you can and should confidently spend your money on. 

You can get started with adding vitamin C into your beauty regimen either topically with MiamiMD’s Dark Spot Corrector, or consider taking it as part of our nourishing Total Beauty Matrix!

Sources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18952164/

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/24/cnn-underscored/how-to-get-rid-of-dark-spots-on-face/index.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/