VITAMIN C: WHY IS IT STILL VALID IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY?

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen in bones. Vitamin C is also vital to your body's healing process.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the effects of free radicals; molecules produced when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke and radiation from the sun, X-rays or other sources. Free radicals might play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb and store iron.
Because your body doesn't produce vitamin C, you need to get it from your diet. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and spinach. Vitamin C is also available as an oral supplement, typically in the form of capsules and chewable tablets.

When it comes to your skin, the vitamin that offers up the greatest body benefits, the one named “C” arguably takes the crown. And it’s not just your insides that are BFFs with vitamin C: this nutrient can also help transform the appearance of your skin.
Vitamin C products are packed with antioxidants that are known for providing a brightening and “glowy” effect on our skin. It naturally improves the appearance of skin by fighting signs of aging and UV exposure, along with hyperpigmentation and dark patches.
If you’re thinking about adding Vitamin c to your skincare routine, the answer is yes! And here’s why:

• Calms down sunburn

While we’re certainly not suggesting vitamin C as an alternative to ditching the SPF, if you do have a sunburn mishap, it can help steer you away from sun damage. This clever nutrient helps speed up cell turnover, meaning sunburned skin is rejuvenated and heals faster.

• Helps reduce inflammation

If your skin is red, irritated and showing signs of a rash, there’s a good chance that an underlying immune response, infection, or allergic reaction is behind it. While many causes require medication to ease their effects, studies show topical vitamin C to be effective in relieving signs associated with inflammatory skin conditions such as dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis.

• Improves Elasticity

Topical vitamin C has been shown to encourage collagen production, a naturally occurring protein in our body that helps give skin that tight, plump look. Since the body naturally makes less and less collagen as it ages, using an ingredient like vitamin C can help slow down skin aging.

• Fights lines and wrinkles

When it comes to fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of your skin’s wear and tear, vitamin C is a handy tool to have in your arsenal. Research shows this nutrient helps protect against damage and aids in skin regeneration, by neutralizing free radicals.

• Revitalizes sun-damaged skin

Prolonged sun exposure does a number on the skin — flakiness, discolored patches (sunspots), rough areas, rosacea, etc. But topically applying a daily vitamin C dose may guard your skin from taking too much damage. One study found people with mild to moderately photo-damaged skin experienced a significant improvement in skin appearance, including fine lines, roughness, and skin tone, after using a topical vitamin C treatment for 3 months.

• Evens out tone and minimize redness

Blotchy, uneven skin can result from a number of factors, from sun exposure to hormones to medical conditions. The good news is, vitamin C has proven itself a hearty warrior in the fight against redness, as it helps mend the damaged capillaries that cause this discoloration and strengthen them for the future.

• Hydrates thirsty skin

With the average adult carrying 2 square metres of skin on their body, this organ is certainly thirsty — and we’re not talking about looking for attention. Comprising 64 percent water, your skin needs to be kept hydrated, and your new chum vitamin C is here to bring the juice (or water, we should say). It also helps your skin retain water, preventing it from becoming too dry or oily.

• Aids healing

As if it didn’t already boast enough superpowers, vitamin C has been proven beneficial in helping repair wounds. This is thought to be as a result of its ability to increase the movement and number of fibroblasts in our skin — the connective tissue cells that are key to the healing process.

How to incorporate vitamin c into your routine

While this antioxidant is in many of our everyday foods (kale, broccoli, strawberries, and oranges, especially), you have to apply it topically for your skin to enjoy its full effects. The good news is, whether your skin is dry, oily or some weird combo you’re still trying to figure out, vitamin C doesn’t play favorites — as long as you play nice and apply it correctly.
Vitamin C is best implemented into your routine with a serum, as this allows the L-ascorbic acid to remain stable and more effective. It will also absorb into the skin better, as serum is a lighter formulation than moisturizer.

In terms of when to use it, vitamin C should become a staple in your morning routine, as this allows it to do its work in protecting skin from free radicals during the day. You should cleanse and tone, then apply your vitamin C serum and follow with a moisturizer. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen after moisturizing, in order for the two products to work well together to combat UV exposure.

Article credit : Cocci Beauty