How can vitamin C help with acne?
Vitamin C is one of the most flexible substances. It not only strengthens the immune system and fights free radicals, but also has an excellent effect on skin condition. For many years it has been a valuable cosmetic raw material used in the production of anti-ageing and anti-acne cosmetics. How does vitamin C affect the skin?
Vitamin C properties for skin
Since vitamin C is good for the health and appearance of the skin, is getting it through food enough? Unfortunately, if we want to improve the appearance of our skin and get rid of acne, oral vitamin C will not give the expected results. Of course, it is important to eat as many foods rich in this vitamin as possible, but the best results are obtained directly on the face.
There are many cosmetics on the market that contain this component. However, it is worth remembering that ascorbic acid has the best digestibility. It is the cosmetics containing L-ascorbic acid in the composition that we should look for. A vitamin C serum or cream is a good product for people who want to pamper their skin with anti-ageing therapy.
Ascorbic acid promotes collagen synthesis, making the skin smoother, firmer, and more elastic. Regular use of cosmetics with vitamin C restores a healthy complexion and makes wrinkles smooth. This vitamin strengthens blood vessels, making the epidermis more hydrated and denser. In addition, ascorbic acid protects the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight, which also contributes to the formation of wrinkles.
The action of vitamin C on acne
Vitamin C destroys free radicals, which are also responsible for acne. Stress, pollution, and unhealthy lifestyles all contribute to acne and unaesthetic skin changes. Vitamin C fights free radicals, and therefore acne.
In addition, it has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Cosmetics with this vitamin can get rid of bacteria that cause skin infections that appear as painful acne. Ascorbic acid speeds up wound healing, so it helps us get rid of acne faster. Vitamin C also prevents the oxidation of sebum, reduces seborrhea, and prevents skin shine.
It is also worth mentioning that this vitamin is an excellent product for the discolouration of age spots. Pigmentation changes on the skin are a problem for many people who are struggling with acne. Acne, as a rule, takes a long time to heal, and even when they disappear, they leave a mark on the skin in the form of a dark spot. Vitamin C brightens them and thanks to this we can enjoy an even skin tone.
Vitamin C for youthful skin:
Lighten and prolong youth – vitamin C can do a lot! We talk about its benefits and remedies that are worth trying in our article.
Vitamin C is one of those substances that have been researched inside and out, and still, scientists are throwing us new ways to use ascorbic acid for their needs. The benefits of topical application of vitamin C for skincare are well established. The substance is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, but it is great for daily use. This vitamin can drastically change your skin and its effects build up over time.
Benefits of Vitamin C for Skin
Vitamin C is essential for the normal functioning of cells and skin tissue, it is involved in collagen synthesis, maintaining the strength and integrity of the skin, healing wounds and protecting against free radicals, and levelling damage from UV rays.
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant naturally found in high concentrations in the skin. As an antioxidant, it oxidizes (neutralizes) free radicals in the skin. Free radicals are formed from factors such as the sun, air pollution, stress, and smoking. They damage DNA cells, which can lead to premature ageing and skin cancer.
Vitamin C also boosts collagen production and repairs damaged areas of cells to help keep skin firmer and younger. In addition, ascorbic acid also helps lighten freckles and age spots and prevent age spots. Vitamin C is sensitive to sunlight, but not like vitamin A. When combined with sunscreen, ascorbic acid can enhance the effect of SPF and more effectively protect skin from UV damage.
Therefore, it is recommended to use it even in the daytime, but only in combination with sunscreens. And that’s why many Asian BB and CC creams with a high UVA and UVB protection factor contain vitamin C. And that’s why many Asian women in their 50s look 30.
While you may be too young to use retinol and other antioxidants, never for vitamin C. It is recommended to use it even at the age of 20 if you want to preserve youthful skin for a long time. Vitamin C works best on the surface of the skin, so it does not need to penetrate deep into the dermis. But you should not expect an immediate effect, ascorbic acid works in the long term.
How to choose the best vitamin C remedy?
Not all ascorbic acid beauty products are created equal. There are 3 main factors to consider when looking for the perfect product: the form of vitamin C, the formula of the product, and the concentration.
Vitamin C Form: in caring for cosmetics, ascorbic acid can be in various forms: L-ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and ascorbyl palmitate, and sodium ascorbyl phosphate. But not all of them are equal in terms of stability and absorption rate. As with all active ingredients in skincare, it is important that a vitamin C product has good bioavailability and penetration. In other words, it is important that the ingredient can get where it needs to and fulfil its purpose in a quality manner.
Most serums and creams on the beauty market contain vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid, but some cosmeceutical brands prefer to use the more complex ester form, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. This form may be more effective, but it is not as stable and causes irritation in high concentrations.
Concentration: This is mainly a factor in the strength of the acid. The recommended concentration for home care is 5-10% L-ascorbic acid. However, there are products that contain 15 or 20%. A high concentration of an ingredient means that there are no other active ingredients in the product, or there are, but in a minimal amount.
Cosmetologists recommend products with vitamin C 5-15%, which contain other antioxidants and boosters such as vitamin E and ferulic acid. This enhances the action of all elements of the product. However, everything is individual. If you develop irritation and redness from a high concentration of the component, it is better to reduce it. Even 5% of vitamin C will help protect the skin from premature ageing.
Formula: Research shows that combining vitamin C with other antioxidants can increase its effectiveness. There is a lot of evidence that the combination of vitamin C with vitamin E and ferulic acid contributes to significantly stronger antioxidant effects. This composition is most often found in anti-ageing products.
Vitamin E itself goes about as an antioxidant and also improves the function of vitamin C. It also helps keep the skin’s protective barrier healthy. Glutathione is another antioxidant that works with vitamin C to help stabilize it. But vitamin C alone will give excellent results.
