Vitamin C is an antioxidant used in facial skin care with the effect of brightening, restoring and smoothing the skin. In addition, vitamin C is also known as an anti-aging support agent and protects the skin from the effects of temperature, sunlight and humidity.

1. Benefits of vitamins for facial skin

Vitamin C  is considered an indispensable nutrient in the facial skin care process with the role of anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and helps improve skin texture, tone, provide water and moisture to the skin, reduce the risk of premature skin aging.

Supplementing vitamin C to the body can come from fruits, vegetables, daily nutrition… However, this is not the only way to receive the benefits of this nutrient for skin health, besides, vitamin C is also formulated as a main ingredient in skin care products such as creams, cleansers, serums, vitamin C serums…

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, a water-soluble nutrient that plays an important role in protecting skin health. Topical vitamin C is clinically proven to have many antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-toxin effects. Therefore, this nutrient also brings many benefits to the skin, including the following:

• Collagen production helps keep skin youthful and plump: Collagen is a structural component of skin, hair, muscles, tendons and plays an important role in keeping skin youthful and smooth. As we age, collagen production slows down, and wrinkles and sagging skin begin to appear. Topical vitamin C on the face helps speed up the production of both collagen and elastin, keeping the skin plump and firm, preventing premature aging of the skin and restoring a youthful, smooth appearance to the skin.
• Brightens skin, reduces dark circles: Dark circles appear under the thin skin of the eyelids when you have trouble sleeping or do not sleep well. In a study conducted by scientists, it was shown that vitamin C helps reduce and prevent dark circles under the eyes by enhancing the protection of the thin, sensitive skin under the eyes. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C help increase skin elasticity, protect and conceal the blood vessels underneath the skin.
• Reduces freckles and hyperpigmentation: Hyperpigmentation is a condition characterized by the development of dark spots on the skin – often due to overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays and environmental stress. Although harmless, hyperpigmentation can make the skin look worse and older. Research from scientists shows that the antioxidant properties of vitamin C play an important role in reducing freckles and hyperpigmentation, preventing signs of aging caused by sun damage. Vitamin C also inhibits the production of tyrokinase – an enzyme that supports melanin production and prevents hyperpigmentation. Beauty vitamin C does not affect normal skin color, it does not remove normal skin pigments but only removes abnormal melanin pigments caused by sun damage.
• Hydrate the skin: If the skin is not provided with enough moisture, the epidermis (the top layer of the skin) will dry out, leading to itching, scaliness and premature aging. Hydration is an important process to help the skin stay healthy and youthful. Fortunately, vitamin C has been clinically proven to help the skin retain water, keeping the skin plump, smooth and preventing the skin from becoming too dry or too oily. Researchers also found that people who supplemented their facial skin with adequate vitamin C had significant improvements in skin moisture and elasticity.

Use vitamin c to beautify and brighten skin

Reduce acne and skin redness: Acne, uneven skin tone and redness can be caused by factors such as inflammatory skin conditions (eczema, rosacea, etc.), exposure to sunlight, hormones in the body, etc. Vitamin C helps beautify the skin and is proven to play a role in reducing redness thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, helping to heal damaged capillaries that cause redness on the skin, giving the skin a smoother and more even tone.

2. How to use vitamin C in facial care

Regardless of the skin condition, whether it is dry, oily or combination, vitamin C is beneficial for skin health, helping the skin to be healthy and younger longer. There are two ways to use vitamin C for beauty and skin care: supplementing through diet and using it topically.

– Supplementing vitamin C through diet: Foods rich in vitamin C such as oranges and berries bring many health benefits. While it is true that you can get a large amount of vitamin C by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, dietary vitamin C is generally not enough to help you notice significant improvements in your skin. This is because dietary vitamin C cannot be concentrated in high concentrations in the skin. This is the reason for the need to use topical vitamin C in skin care.

– Use topical vitamin C: Topical vitamin C is absorbed directly into the top layers of the skin, helping them work immediately to smooth the skin, reduce wrinkles and freckles, and protect the skin against free radicals. Topical vitamin C is formulated in the form of moisturizers, serums, and serums, of which serums have a more moisturizing effect on the skin and are more easily absorbed into the skin, so they are recommended by dermatologists. Studies have also shown that vitamin C is best incorporated into a skin care routine when used in the form of topical serums. Even serums with low concentrations of vitamin C (less than 1%) still provide antioxidant protection and skin benefits.

A daily vitamin C skin care routine should include the following steps: Cleansing and exfoliating, toner, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, sunscreen. For best results, apply topical vitamin C once or twice daily, morning and night. Be sure to follow up with a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen after applying vitamin C during the day.

Despite its amazing benefits for the skin and body, vitamin C can cause some side effects or risks. This vitamin is generally safe when used topically or topically. However, some people with sensitive skin or allergies may experience a yellow discoloration.

Vitamin C beautifies the skin and requires care according to the instructions

Some people may experience irritation such as stinging, itching and dryness after using vitamin C. This condition can be improved by applying a layer of moisturizer over the vitamin C serum in addition to daily moisturizing. In case you have sensitive skin, you should start using vitamin C at a lower concentration to observe the skin’s reaction, use it every other day or every few days and then increase the frequency to avoid potential redness and irritation.

Thus, vitamin C is one of the effective and safe skin care ingredients. Supplementing the body with adequate vitamin C through diet and using topical vitamins on the skin helps protect and strengthen the body’s resistance, reduce the risk of skin aging, and help the skin to be healthy and smooth.