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If you’re obsessed with perfecting your skincare routine, then you should get your skin in the game—the vitamin C serum game, that is.
Vitamin C serum is the popular kid on the block when it comes to the skincare game. If you’re looking to achieve that perfect dewy complexion, look no further to find out what it can do for you.
What is vitamin C serum good for? Let’s explore.
What are Vitamin C Serums?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that’s getting rave reviews by skincare enthusiasts as a wonderful anti-aging ingredient in topical products such as serums.
As a nutrient, vitamin C is essential to:
- Building proteins used to form skin, ligaments, tendons, and other parts of the body
- Repairing tissue and healing wounds
- Blocking free radical damage from exposure to things like radiation or pollutants
Since it’s a water-soluble vitamin, vitamin C leaves your body quickly when ingested. Your skin has a hard time getting any of the benefits from your diet alone because it doesn’t have blood vessels to deliver nutrients to skin cells. Adding more vitamin C-rich foods to your diet sadly isn’t going to be enough to give you that perfect glowing complexion.
That’s why applying vitamin C to the skin through a serum is seen as a fantastic way for your skin to soak up all the benefits directly. Let’s take a look at what some of those benefits are.has
What are the Benefits of Vitamin C Serums?
So what does vitamin C serum do for skin that makes it the talk of the beauty world? There are many potential benefits of adding this serum to your daily routine you can check off, including:
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Boost Collagen Growth – Collagen is a protein that firms up the skin and keeps it from sagging. Vitamin C can help stimulate collagen growth.
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Anti-Aging – With Vitamin C, you can take preventative measures and reduce premature wrinkling.
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Protection from Sun Damage – In conjunction with sunscreen, vitamin C can help protect against damage from sun exposure and soothe sunburns.
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Fade Hyperpigmentation – Hyperpigmentation (such as from acne scars, sun spots, or age spots) comes from overactive melanin production. Vitamin C can slow that down and fade some spots out.
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Skin-Brightening – Along with the evening out of hyperpigmentation, vitamin C can brighten up your skin and give it that fresh-faced glow of youth.
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Reduce Redness – Skin inflammations can be soothed by the ingredients in vitamin C serums.
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Say Goodbye to Your Eyebags – Too many late nights? Vitamin C serums can help hydrate and firm up the dark circles under your eyes.
The science behind what nutrients can do for us and our bodies is constantly growing, but vitamin C has a high safety profile. You can learn more about what vitamin C does for the skin elsewhere on our blog, or by speaking with a dermatologist.
How to Incorporate Vitamin C Serums into Your Skincare Routine
With so many outstanding benefits to offer, let’s figure out how to introduce vitamin C serums into your self-care routine for maximum effect.
Serums have a liquid or gel-like consistency and are usually applied once or twice a day. Consult the label on your product for specific instructions, but in general you’ll want to apply a few drops after you cleanse your face.
Then, apply a layer of moisturizer to lock it all in. An additional layer of sunscreen in the day will also help the serum do its job in preventing sun damage.
Vitamin C as a skincare ingredient can come in a few different derivative forms, but here are the three you should look for when researching serums:
- L-ascorbic acid
- Ascorbyl-6 palmitate
- Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
L-ascorbic acid is the most active of these derivatives, and has the most research behind it according to a 2017 study published in The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Essentially vitamin C in its purest form, a serum with l-ascorbic acid can be a highly effective option.
For Those with Sensitive Skin
In general, vitamin C serums are compatible with most skin types, but those with sensitive skin may experience minor irritation. It’s always a good idea to do a patch test on an unobtrusive spot like your arm beforehand to make sure you don’t have an allergic reaction to it.
If you do have sensitive skin, L-ascorbic might not be the option for you due to its acidity. The best vitamin C serum for sensitive skin should be gentle on the skin. Try a serum with magnesium ascorbyl phosphate instead.
Brighten Your Skin and Your Day with RebateKey Savings
Serums, like many skincare products, can fall into a wide range when it comes to price point.
Whether you decide to splurge with a luxury brand or opt for a more affordable, no-nonsense option, never pay full price with RebateKey. Find the best discounts for vitamin C serums by signing up on our website and then just sit back as your day brightens up right alongside with your skin.
Sources:
National Library of Medicine. Topical Vitamin C: A Useful Agent for Treating Photoaging and Other Dermatologic Conditions. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16029672/
Nutrients, 2017 August. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
Medical News Today. What is Collagen, and Why Do People Use It? https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/262881#preventing-collagen-loss
WebMD. The Benefits of Vitamin C for Your Skin. https://www.webmd.com/beauty/ss/slideshow-benefits-of-vitamin-c-for-skin
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605218/
