Vitamin C Serum Benefits For Skin Health

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For women in their 40s, hiding the numerous signs of aging using makeup just doesn’t cut it anymore.

As young as 20 years old, you need to commit to your skincare routine to help maintain your healthy skin and youthful glow as the years go on.

However, in your long list of skincare must-haves, are there any more products that you’ve possibly missed out on?

Maybe it’s vitamin C serum. 

slices of orange are laid in a pink table with vitamin c serum and yellow flower

Vitamin C is making its name in the cosmetics industry as a helpful ingredient for slowing down skin aging, fading sun spots, and brightening up a dull complexion.

Curious about how to take your skincare routine to the next level with vitamin C serums? 

In this article, we noted down various vitamin C serum benefits, as well as tips on how to properly use it to make the most out of it. 

What Is a Vitamin C Serum? What Is in It?

Vitamin C is considered to be an essential nutrient to our overall health, as well as to our skin nutrition. 

Think of a vitamin C serum as a decelerator of premature skin aging.

However, you may ask, why should we buy serums when we can just ingest fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamin C?

Although we can indeed absorb vitamin C through these foods and several of which go into our skin cells through the bloodstream, the outermost layer of our skin does not have a robust blood supply.

Unlike many organs, skin health may be boosted directly through topical applications, and the best form of vitamin C that easily penetrates the skin is ascorbic acid.

This is why vitamin C serum has easily secured a spot on everyone’s shelves across the world. It can effectively target the outer layer of skin!

These serums are loaded with a high concentration of vitamin C and have the consistency of a liquid or gel, which can be easily absorbed by the skin.

This is applied topically to the face and around the neck. 

The vitamin C nutrient in the serum is a powerful and water-soluble antioxidant that defends skin from and suspends cell damage caused by the sun’s harmful UV rays and other environmental factors such as pollution.

Read on and unravel the many proven benefits of using a vitamin C serum and why this needs to be in your skincare routine.

Benefits of Vitamin C Serums for Skin

With its long list of skin-loving properties and benefits, we honestly don’t know where to start!

Apart from the most popular skincare benefit of prolonging your fountain of youth, here are the many other well-studied benefits of vitamin C serums that prove that its popularity is not unfounded:

young woman in different races is flaunting their healthy clear skin after using vitamin c serum

1. Safe for All Skin Types

This is one of the top reasons behind vitamin C serum’s trending status in the modern world of skin care.

From acne-prone and aging skin types to dry and oily skin, vitamin C serum is a welcome addition to skincare routines and can benefit everyone!

But how can the same serum work well for both oily and dry skin?

The science behind this shows that vitamin C enables the skin to keep its hydration status. The skin cells’ lack of hydration can induce the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. 

With the help of vitamin C serum, it can maintain the balance of sebum/oil produced by the skin because of its hydration properties. 

2. Boosts Collagen Synthesis

As we age, the presence of collagen in our skin decreases, resulting in the visible formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and the loss of the skin’s even structure and contour. 

This is exactly the reason why we recommend using vitamin C serum while you’re as young as 20 years old. This promotes the biosynthesis of collagen. 

Collagen is a structural protein that’s part of the main building blocks for bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, hair, and skin.

To put it simply, collagen keeps your skin’s structure and elasticity. While you’re young, it’s best to keep all your collagen intact.

Vitamin C is one of the promoters of collagen formation.

For this reason, vitamin C serums continue to be a holy grail in skin care among people, especially those in their 40s.

3. Brightens Complexion

Among the popular benefits of vitamin C in serums is its skin-brightening properties. 

For those suffering from skin trauma or inflammation, there may be an overproduction of the skin’s natural pigment called melanin in certain areas, which causes hyperpigmentation and scarring. 

Vitamin C impedes the production of melanin. It has a special anti-spot property that lightens dark spots without disrupting the skin’s natural pigmentation.

Its brightening effect also extends to areas affected by other damaging factors such as UV rays and pollution that make the skin look stressed, dull, and lackluster.

Continuous application of vitamin C serums has been proven to work like magic as it helps minimize uneven complexion and adds natural radiance, making the skin look healthier and brighter.

4. Combats Free Radicals

Free radicals such as pollution, stress, sunlight, and UV rays particularly damage the dermis, or the skin’s tissue, affecting its elasticity and strength.

Free radicals are atoms with a missing electron. They search for other atoms that they can take an electron from, and this results in visible damage to the skin. 

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that combats free radicals by neutralizing them, protecting healthy skin cells by providing them with an electron, thus making free radicals no longer harmful.

5. Keeps the Skin Hydrated

Want to get healthy skin that feels soft and looks plump? Vitamin C serum is your friend!

Vitamin C’s hydration properties enhance the skin’s barrier mechanism by supporting its cells and tissues to retain moisture.

As mentioned earlier, the lack of hydration in skin cells prompts the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which causes oily skin. 

6. Prevents Acne

As the popular saying among beauty-conscious goes, “Oiliness is next to ugliness,” so we can’t blame you if you’re desperate to improve your skin health!

Oily, sticky skin is prone to enlarged clogged pores that trap dirt, dead skin cells, and microbes, aggravating acne formation and inhibiting drainage of excess oil. 

One of the benefits of vitamin C serum for acne-prone and oily skin types is its properties that strengthen the lipid barrier of the skin. 

Aside from increased water retention, vitamin C has the property to prevent the invasion of harmful and damaging microorganisms. 

As a result, it reduces the formation of acne and pimple breakouts on the skin.

7. Reduces Inflammation and Redness

For people who are not so blessed with good skin genes and suffer from pimple breakouts and full-blown cystic acne, inflamed skin is a whole other story that they need to deal with. 

With Vitamin C serum’s anti-inflammatory properties, these problems may now become a thing of the past. 

Other benefits of vitamin c serum for the face are that it can soothe irritated skin and calm inflammation caused by the sun’s harmful light and other environmental aggressors. 

Vitamin C serums boost collagen production and skin cells turnover rate.

This means that they enable a faster renewal of cells which replace the red and inflamed scars with healthy skin.

How to Add Vitamin C Serum into Your Skin Care Routine?

a beautiful young woman with body wrapped in white towel is applying vitamin c serum in the bathroom mirror

Reaching this section means you are convinced of the benefits offered by vitamin C serums and are now ready to join the trend!

Ready to incorporate this helpful product into your daily skincare routine? Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Wash Your Face

All skincare routines start with cleaning the face with water and a facial cleanser. Never skip this part! 

Dead skin cells, sebum, sweat, and other environmental aggressors that can clog the pores must be washed off before moving on to the next step.

Step 2: Apply Toner

After washing, pat your skin dry with a clean towel and put a few drops of toner on a clean cotton pad. Then sweep the cotton all around your face. 

The toner helps with removing leftover dirt. Also, with consistent use, toners help reduce redness, diminish the appearance of pores, and improve skin texture.

Step 3: Apply Vitamin C Serum

Apply at least 2 pumps of vitamin C serum onto your face. Remember to be gentle and do not aggressively rub your skin.

You may also opt to either apply the serum all over your face or target stubborn spots through spot treatment. 

Step 4: Lock it in With Moisture

After letting the serum dry, you may now apply a moisturizer. Don’t be confused; remember the “thinnest to thickest consistency” rule. 

Moisturizers will help seal in the serum, lock in the skin’s moisture, minimize the appearance of enlarged pores, and leave your skin feeling fresh.

Step 5: Finish With Sunscreen

Last but not the least, do not skip sunscreen even during cloudy or rainy days!

Applying SPF will provide an added layer of skin protection against harmful UV rays and other environmental stressors that cause skin aging. 

Can You Apply Vitamin C Serum at Night?

You know your skin best, so we recommend user discretion on whether or not you need to apply it during the night.

You can see and feel the benefits of vitamin C serums, as well as their maximum effects if you are consistent and diligent in applying them. 

Some people use it in the morning to make the most of vitamin C’s UV-protectant properties, while others get the best results by using it as a night serum before they hit the sack. There are also those who apply it twice a day!

We suggest adding vitamin C serum to your skincare routine in a way that works best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use vitamin C serum on my skin every day?

Yes, you can use vitamin C serum every day to reap its many benefits. Consistency is key to getting faster results. 

Many people use vitamin C serum daily for skin benefits such as protection from free radicals that lead to premature aging, brightening of complexion, and boosting collagen production, among others. 

Is vitamin C serum good for oily skin?

Vitamin C serums have been crowned as one of the holy-grail products of skin care because they are suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.

When topically applied, vitamin C can hydrate the skin by drawing moisture to the skin cells. When the skin is sufficiently moisturized, the skin cells prompt the sebaceous glands to reduce oil production. 

Vitamin C serum benefits for oily skin are surely among the many reasons why this is a skincare favorite and a game changer for most!

Does vitamin C serum prevent acne?

It does help! Vitamin C has been proven to strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier, which boosts hydration and prevents the invasion of microorganisms. 

When oily skin falls victim to the accumulation of dirt and microbes in enlarged pores, aggravating the formation of acne, the amazing hydrating properties of vitamin C prevent the overproduction of sebum. 

Therefore, in turn, reduces acne and pimple breakouts on the skin. 

Should I use vitamin C serum before or after moisturizer?

We recommend you to keep in mind the “thinnest to thickest consistency” rule, especially for beginners!

In most cases, if not all, it is deemed more appropriate to apply serums before moisturizers rather than after. 

This is because serums are usually lightweight, while moisturizers tend to have a thicker consistency. Applying vitamin C serum first can give the skin more time to absorb the active ingredients.

A moisturizer is applied afterward to help lock in moisture. 

Does applying vitamin C serum to my skin protect against skin cancer?

Vitamin C has been proven to be an important nutrient for overall health, including skin health. 

While it has many incredible properties to improve skin nutrition, there is no scientific evidence yet suggesting that one of vitamin C serum’s benefits to your skin is protection against skin cancer. 

a portrait of a vitamin c serum and a slice of orange with leaves

Should I Include Vitamin C Serum In My Skin Care Routine?

Overall, we’d give vitamin C serum a thumbs up! If you’re still not using this magnificent product, then you’re missing out on something big. 

Vitamin C helps you achieve that out-of-this-world glow, boosts the production of collagen to help maintain skin’s structure and contour, reduces acne formation and other blemishes, and last but not the least, is generally safe for most people to use!

Whether you apply it only during the day or night or both, make sure to commit to applying vitamin C serum every day for faster visible results.

It can be easily found at your nearest drugstores, grocery stores, and malls, so snatch one now!

Here are some great Vitamin C serums that you can try:

Author

  • Janille Gultiano

    Jan, a distinguished freelance makeup artist, also boasts a BA in Mass Communication, laying the foundation for her diverse talents. For over four years, she's carved a niche as a captivating content writer, with her articles resonating in various spheres. Beyond writing, her expertise extends to crafting robust Public Relations and Corporate Communications strategies. Each endeavor reflects Jan's unique blend of creativity and precision

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