Benefits of Topical Vitamin C in Skincare

Everyone knows that vitamin C is an essential ingredient for a healthy immune system, but did you know it's important for your skin as well? When we consume Vitamin C, it is distributed throughout the body and enough Vitamin C can provide our skin with vitality, antioxidants, and surface-level immune resistance. However, Vitamin C has even greater benefits for your skin when applied topically. 

Applying Vitamin C to your skin provides protection from free radicals, helps to remove dead skin and reduce signs of aging, and brightens your complexion. In this blog post, we are delighted to explore the different sources of topical Vitamin C for skin care and how to get the most out of your products to achieve optimal results for your skin.   

Definition of Topical Vitamin C 

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a nutrient often found in citrus fruits that your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscles, and collagen. It is also a well-known antioxidant and vital to your body's immune system and healing process. 

Topical vitamin C is a form of topical skincare treatment that incorporates vitamin C in the form of a serum, lotion, or cream. It is designed to be applied directly to the skin, where it helps fight against free-radical damage and signs of aging.   

Skin-Care Benefits of Vitamin C 

Vitamin C is a vital part of long-term healthy skin. Just eating foods and supplements rich in Vitamin C can boost your immune system and provide some of that valuable damage-resistance to your skin. Topical Vitamin C, however, allows your skin to absorb the full benefits of this antioxidant-rich ingredient, along with a few bonus benefits that come with skin-smoothing acids and nourishing serum blends. 

Fights Free Radical Damage 

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radicals and prevents related skin damage from external aggressors like harsh climates, environmental elements, and pollution.  

Free radicals are a type of unstable molecule that causes a breakdown in certain compounds within our bodies, especially your skin where many free radicals come into contact with your body. Free radicals can cause your skin to break down, while Vitamin C is well known to fight against and neutralize free radicals. It does this by stabilizing the unstable molecules so they are no longer harmful. 

Reduces Signs of Aging 

One of the essential elements of visible aging is collagen loss. Skin with more collagen tends to be more plump, bouncy, and resilient, but as we age past our mid-twenties, we start making less and less collagen within our bodies. Vitamin C is essential to collagen production and retention, especially in your skin. When applied topically, Vitamin C can support collagen production and retention in your skin as well as protect your skin from damage. 

Brightens Complexion 

Vitamin C not only helps to firm your skin naturally through collagen production, it can also brighten your complexion by promoting healthy cellular turnover. This means that dead skin and new skin cells cycle at a healthily rapid pace so that the surface of your skin is always new and fresh—no ashen or dull complexions here!   

The Best Sources of Vitamin C for Skin Care 

How do you go about applying Vitamin C to your skin? While a daily application of lemon juice is refreshing, it's also sticky (we've been there) and must be washed off. The two best ways are to eat foods or supplements that are high in Vitamin C, or Vitamin C-focused skincare. 

Some of our favorite examples of Vitamin C skin products include a Vitamin C Cleanser, which helps to refresh your skin and promote natural exfoliation,  a Hydrating Antioxidant Cream to provide all-day protection, and Vitamin C Serums to promote that all-day glow. 

Topical Vitamin C Serums 

When you're looking for the benefits of topically applied Vitamin C, whether it’s antioxidant skin protection or a healthy glow, the most common way is with a Vitamin C serum. These specially formulated skin care products are designed to deliver the visible benefits of Vitamin C directly to your skin with the added benefits from other skin-loving ingredients.  

Vitamin C serums combine the rejuvenating benefits of ascorbic acid with a natural blend of moisturizing skincare ingredients that absorb rapidly and keep your skin feeling soft, protected, and refreshed all day. 

Foods High in Vitamin C 

You can also provide your skin with shared Vitamin C by eating foods that carry a significant amount of ascorbic acid. Everyone knows about the high Vitamin C content found in citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and Japanese yuzu, but you can also find ascorbic acid in many other fresh produce options. Significant amounts of Vitamin C are in foods like: 

• Tomatoes 
• Most types of peppers 
• Broccoli and cauliflower 
• Cabbage 
• Brussels sprouts 
• Guava 
• Cantaloupe 
• Strawberries 
• Kale 
• Kiwis 
• Lychees 
• Papaya 

And this is still just the tip of the iceberg. You can build a very rich menu of Vitamin-C-rich foods so that your body and skin are nourished with every meal. 

How to Use Vitamin C Effectively in Your Skin-Care Routine 

When adding topical Vitamin C to your skincare routine, it's important to approach your skin with an eye toward science. Vitamin C is surprisingly powerful, especially when blended with serums designed to rejuvenate and refresh your skin. Each person's routine will be a little different, so don't be afraid to experiment to find out exactly what works best for you. 

Choose the Right Formula & Concentration for You 

Your skin is unique, so the right skincare products will also be unique to you. When choosing a topical Vitamin C formula for your skin, consider both the concentration and ingredients. If you have sensitive skin that often responds to acids, consider a milder ascorbic acid concentration (10 – 15% Vitamin C) as you begin exploring topical Vitamin C serums. For those with ashy skin and discoloration, a slightly stronger formula with more concentrated ascorbic acid (20% Vitamin C) may provide adequate brightening and collagen production that you are looking for.  

Those with dry skin will prefer a moisturizing serum, while those fighting oily skin may prefer a Vitamin C cleanser only instead. It's also OK to use a combination of topical Vitamin C products, depending on the time of day and the needs of your skin.   

Know When to Apply It in Your Routine 

When is the right time for topical Vitamin C in your skincare routine?  Like many products that provide antioxidant protection and give your skin a healthy glow, the best time for topical Vitamin C is during your morning routine. You can apply your serum  before face lotion and allow to fully absorb into the skin before applying other products like makeup. This will help to give your skin a luminous glow and protect your face from free-radical exposure during the day. 

If you’re outdoors often, adding Vitamin C to your lunchtime skincare can be a good idea. This can refresh your protection and help fight skin damage from wind chill.  

Topical Vitamin C is also often used to help soothe damaged skin mild burns, and even scar treatment. This is because Vitamin C supports healing and collagen production to increase your skin's rate of recovery while the serum itself provides some surface protection. 

For long-term benefits, apply Vitamin C facial creams before bed to nourish and moisturize your skin while you sleep, promoting healthy cell turnover for a morning glow.  

Discover Rejuvenating Topical Vitamin C with ClarityRx 

We are passionate about skincare at ClarityRx, so it's no surprise that our products offer a wide range of solutions that are formulated with the best and most effective plant-based ingredients available. We’re all about the healing and protecting qualities of topical Vitamin C Take the Skincare Quiz to discover the best Vitamin C topical choices for your personal skincare routine.