Our skin tends to continually evolve, thanks to factors like seasons changing, aging, sun and pollution exposure, hormones, diet, skincare routines, and more. Sometimes, skin can appear dull or like it’s lost its glow. If you’ve noticed that your complexion is looking a little less bright lately, you may want to consider adding vitamin C to your daily routine.
This vitamin brings so many benefits to your skin, including protecting it from sun damage. Vitamin C also steps in to minimize dark spots and the appearance of wrinkles. Plus, it can boost your own natural collagen production.
There are a few ways to ensure you get more vitamin C, like specific certain foods, taking a supplement, or picking out vitamin C serum or other skincare products containing the vitamin. If you opt for skincare products, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about the power of vitamin C for glowing skin.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a type of nutrient as well as an antioxidant. Antioxidants fend off damage from free radicals found in things like smoke or pollution, making the vitamin a great tool to have in your beauty arsenal. Beyond skincare, vitamin C is great for the health of your blood vessels and muscles.
There are multiple types of vitamin C, some of which are found in food or supplements. One type of vitamin C is ascorbate phosphate, which is typically the form used in skincare. That’s because it’s an artificially made form of the vitamin and tends to last longer in skincare products.
Benefits of vitamin C for your skin
When it comes to skin health, vitamin C holds a wealth of benefits. Take a look at some of the potential benefits of using vitamin C in your skincare routine:
- Fends off damage from sunlight
- Reduces the appearance of dark spots (or hyperpigmentation)
- Minimizes wrinkles
- Increases collagen production
- Speeds healing of wounds
- Reduces the appearance of scars
How to get glowing skin with vitamin C
Vitamin C brings a powerful slew of skin benefits, as you can see. So, what products should you look for to help you get glowing skin? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are a few things you may want to look for.
First, you may want to add a vitamin C serum to your skincare routine if you haven’t already. There are so many types of vitamin C serums, each of which addresses varying skin needs, from acne to dry skin to serums made especially for sensitive skin. Specific serums even focus specifically on boosting your skin’s glow by incorporating — you guessed it — vitamin C.
Of course, adding products to your skin isn’t the only way to harness the health benefits of vitamin C. Plenty of foods are rich in this particular vitamin, and consuming them can also give you a glow-up. For instance, you might try a quinoa-based dinner bowl with avocado, which contains multiple vitamins, including vitamin C.
Another way to boost vitamin C intake for glowing skin? Try out a supplement. You could choose a supplement that only includes vitamin C, or you could pick one that incorporates a handful of other nutrients. Or, you may want to try out a multivitamin containing vitamin C if you feel you could use an overall dose of essential vitamins and minerals.
What to know about vitamin C in skincare products
If you opt to use skincare products containing vitamin C, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind. First, consider your skin type before picking out a serum or moisturizer. For example, a product may be more suited to oily skin or dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, incorporate new vitamin C products slowly in case they cause irritation.
Speaking of irritation, you’ll want to be cautious when also using retinol. Vitamin C and retinol, when used together, might irritate your skin or bring on extra redness.
You’ll also need to be cautious about how and where you store any products with vitamin C. When vitamin C is exposed to light, it could become damaged, meaning your product won’t work as it should. The same goes for exposure to air. It’s best if you store your vitamin C products in a dark place like a closet and be sure to seal it up tight to minimize its exposure to air.
Vibing with vitamin C
As you’ve read, vitamin C can protect your skin from sun damage, minimize wrinkles, boost collagen production, and more to give you a glowing complexion. To reap all those benefits, you could add foods or supplements rich in vitamin C or try out a skincare product (or two!) containing the vitamin. Just be sure to store those skincare products properly, and you’ll be on your way to glowing skin in no time.
