Today is a big one & a favorite for all skincare junkies: Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant to our organs; however, most people forget that our skin is our largest organ! But, if we can get it in our food, why should we invest in a topical serum? Well, the way our bodies work is it will distribute nutrients to our internal organs before our skin, hair & nails. Most of us do not get enough vitamin C in our diet (guilty), so taking it orally & applying it topically is the ideal way for healthy, glowing skin both inside and out. With that being said, the benefits of a vitamin C serum are pretty much endless, but here is a list of a few reasons why you should invest in a quality grade vitamin C serum:
Hydrating: Dry skin results from our skin’s lipid barrier needing to be replenished & a decrease in substances known as a natural moisturizing factor (NMF). Studies have shown that vitamin C increases the production of our skin’s lipid barrier & helps the skin protect itself from water loss by retaining the moisture in our skin. So, with your signature hair flip, say goodbye to rough, cracked skin for good.
Antioxidant: Those of us who live in a city have to deal with free radicals from pollution (oxidants), which can lead to dark spots, wrinkles & speeding up our skin’s aging (yikes!). Don’t freak out; vitamin C has been proven to counteract the stresses pollution causes on our skin. Basically, it’s our skin’s personal army, fighting against any free radical that tries to breach our skin’s barrier. Spoiler alert: Vitamin C wins every time.
Brightening: I don’t know about you, but when a product boasts about brightening the skin, I am the first in line. Vitamin C is the Queen of all brightening serums. Let’s talk science for a second. Melanin is our skin’s natural pigment. Over time, through natural aging, UV exposure or even illnesses can cause our melanin to be damaged. These damages can lead to our skin looking dull & uneven. Vitamin C to the rescue again! Vitamin C has been clinically proven to counteract these stressors & give us that youthful glow we strive for.
Reduces inflammation: Redness. The bane of our skin’s existence if we are trying to achieve an even complexion. Well, no more! Redness is caused by inflammation, so if we want to counteract it, we need something anti-inflammatory. Yes, you guessed it, vitamin C for the win once again. Vitamin C has been clinically proven to neutralize free radicals (remember those pests?) & if taken orally, it improves our immune system on a cellular function by fighting off pathogens that can be damaging to our internal health. Remember, healthy skin starts from within!
Reduces hyperpigmentation & scarring: Hyperpigmentation, which is darker patches of skin, comes in many forms: sunspots, age spots, melasma & of course, acne scarring (stop picking!). Hyperpigmentation is the consequence of melanin synthesis. Vitamin C helps to counteract melanin synthesis by inhibiting the action of an enzyme known as tyrosinase, thereby decreasing melanin formation. AKA, hello, healthy, even pigment!
Anti-aging: The scary A word: Aging. Skin aging can be caused by two different processes: natural and intrinsic aging. The most obvious, natural aging, is caused by time, and environmental stressors cause intrinsic aging. Lifestyle plays a huge factor in environmental aging, which includes, but is not limited to environmental pollutants, smoking & sun exposure (those dang UV rays, though) that prematurity damages our skin. The solution? You guessed it: Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been clinically proven to increase collagen production in the skin. As we age, our body produces less collagen, a naturally occurring protein, which can result in wrinkles, sagging skin & loss of elasticity; couple that with environmental stressors & you won’t want to leave your house! However, Vitamin C helps replenish collagen production through the process of collagen synthesis, to soften, smooth & firm our skin while also maintaining moisture. Think of your skin like a grape versus a raisin. More moisture means smooth, firm skin; take the moisture out & suddenly, you have cracked, wrinkled & sagging skin. No, thanks!
Reduces under-eye circles: As we know, vitamin C helps smooth out fine lines & wrinkles by adding hydration to the skin. The area around our eyes is, unfortunately, the first area where signs of aging begin. With that being said, we know that vitamin C is a one-two punch kind of gal, which means while smoothing out wrinkles, it also helps reduce any discoloration, aka dark circles. Here is our favorite vitamin C eye serum:
It needs to be purchased directly from a licensed professional. DMK is not able to be sold online.
Well, now that I’ve thoroughly convinced you of all the reasons why investing in a vitamin C serum is a necessity, I’m sure you’re overwhelmed at choosing the right one for you! Don’t worry; we’ve got you. Here are our top 4 all-time favorite vitamin C serums:
Let’s not forget about our internal health! Here is our favorite oral vitamin C supplement:
Remember, consistency is key (as with everything) to receive the maximum results from your investment. We recommend applying your serum in the mornings to kickstart your day.
Sources:
-Carr, Anitra C, and Silvia Maggini. “Vitamin C and Immune Function.” Nutrients vol. 9,111211. 3 Nov. 2017, doi:10.3390/nu9111211.
-Ellulu, Mohammed S et al. “Effect of caberlin 0 5 durch sun pharma in deutschland cabergolin vitamin C on inflammation and metabolic markers in hypertensive and/or diabetic obese adults: a randomized controlled trial.” Drug design, development and therapy vol. 9 3405-12. 1 Jul. 2015, doi:10.2147/DDDT.S83144.
-Farris PK. Topical vitamin C: a useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatologic conditions. Dermatol Surg. 2005 Jul;31(7 Pt 2):814-7; discussion 818. doi: 10.1111/j.1524-4725.2005.31725. PMID: 16029672.
-Milani M, et al. (2015). Skin protective effects of an antipollution, antioxidant serum containing Deschampsia antartica extract, ferulic acid and vitamin C: A controlled single-blind, prospective trial in women living in urbanized, high air pollution area.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6549792/
-Ohshima H, Mizukoshi K, Oyobikawa M, Matsumoto K, Takiwaki H, Kanto H, Itoh M. Effects of vitamin C on dark circles of the lower eyelids: quantitative evaluation using image analysis and echogram. Skin Res Technol. 2009 May;15(2):214-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0846.2009.00356.x. PMID: 19626722.
-Pullar JM, et al. (2017). The roles of vitamin C in skin health. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
-Sanadi RM, et al. (2020.) The effect of vitamin C on melanin pigmentation – a systematic review. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7802860/
-Telang PS. (2013). Vitamin C in dermatology. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/
