Benefits of Vitamin C Face Serum for the Skin

lisablackmore
Apr 30, 2024
4 min read

Vitamin C is a highly potent antioxidant. This means it helps your skin fight free radicals such as pollution and UV and it's why Vitamin C for the skin should always be a key part of your daily routine.

What does Vitamin C Face Serum do for skin?

It's a powerful antioxidant ... so it stops pollutants like cigarette smoke, pesticides and UV rays attaching to the skin and causing harm such as premature aging.

But it's not just an antioxidant, it also helps our skin to produce collagen aiding in both skin repair and the prevention of scars. This in turn helps us resist premature aging, it helps brighten the skin by encouraging cell renewal and it also aids hydration by reducing transdermal water loss. For those suffering from pigmentation and dark spots, Vitamin C in skin care can greatly improve the tone, pigmentation and texture of the skin. Likewise Vitamin C face serum can help reduce the inflammation associated with acne and aid in the control of sebum production.

So, in a nutshell...

"Topical vitamin C is a science-backed, dermatologist-favorite ingredient that may help slow early skin aging, prevent sun damage, and improve the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, and acne".

Source, Harvard Medical School Blog "Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health?"

Or for those who like me prefer a list of benefits for Vitamin C face serums...

Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
Protects and stimulates collagen production
Aids wound healing including pustules
Helps protect against sun damage
Reduces hyperpigmentation, brightens your complexion and evens skin tone
Protects against free radicals like pollution

And this is why I am a huge fan!

Of course Vitamin C is available in our food which is why a healthy diet is always an essential foundation when targeting skin rejuvenation. But Vitamin C is water soluble ... this means our body cannot store it and we need to ensure a continuous supply of it through our diet. Eating a diet rich in the following foods will help protect cells, maintain healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage and aid wound healing.

citrus fruit, such as oranges
peppers
strawberries

blackcurrants
broccoli
brussels sprouts
potatoes

As explained above, Vitamin C neutralises free radicals and improves collagen production but its often difficult for the body and the upper layers of the skin to receive a sufficient supply of Vitamin C to fully support the skin. Applying Vitamin C face serum topically to the skin helps it cope with environmental stresses such as pollution and internal ones such as alcohol.

Are there different types of vitamin C?

Yes! So many and this is crucial when it comes to skin care as Vitamin C face serums must be potent and stable otherwise their effectiveness will deplete when stored ... if only it was as simple as squeezing an orange on your face!

Ascorbyl palmitate - Limited potency

Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate - Most deeply penetrating

L-ascorbic acid - Most potent of all forms but requires stabilisation

Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate - Great for brightening but not so effective as an antioxidan

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate - Stable and gentle to the skin

Ethyl ascorbic acid - Limited collagen boosting properties

Ascorbyl glucoside - Less potent but great for boosting collagen.

I know...that is a lot of technical sounding words, so if like me, you are passionate about skincare but don't have a chemistry degree, read on.

According to Healthline's article "The No BS Guide to Vitamin C" the best Vitamin C Face Serum must have the following

L'Ascorbic acid (10-20%)
Vitamin E
Ferulic Acid
Airtight packaging
A dark / tinted bottle

And this is why I personally love the Medik8 range of Vitamins C face serums...

Medik8 Vitamin C Face Serum

I have been a huge fan of Medik8 Skincare ever since I started my skin care journey in my early 40's. I was introduced to it while receiving a course of microneedling and I do credit it with improving my skin significantly. I was an acne suffered in my 20's and early 30's and saw extreme exposure to UV rays as a solution ... it is not! The result, hyperpigmentation and acne scarring specifically on my neck. However, after a few months the hyperpigmentation on my neck significantly improved and my acne scarring is no longer visible except under a mag lamp.

I use their CSA protocol which is essentially Vitamin C in the morning followed by a high factor sun screen (yes I know, everyone skips this step but it really is sooooo important!). In the evening Vitamin A (Retinol) is incorporated into the skin care regime and is available in varying potencies. I will talk more about Vitamin A in a later blog but for now, my three favourite vitamin C treatments from Medik8 are...

C-Tetra Luxe Vitamin C Face Serum

Contains 14% Stabilised Vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) & Vitamin E and is supplied in a brown tinted bottle with a pipette style dispenser.

C-Tetra Eye

Contains 14% Stabilised Vitamin C (tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate) & Vitamin E and is supplied in a brown tinted bottle with a pipette style dispenser.

And my very, very favourite!

Super C Ferulic

Contains 30% Ethylated L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E & Turmeric Root Extract and is supplied in a brown tinted bottle with a pipette style dispenser.