Vitamin C is arguably skincare’s biggest and most common ingredient; no matter which brands you use or which you’ve used in the past, there’s a very high chance a vitamin C product or two is on their roster. And there’s a good reason for that: it’s an all-round, anyone-can-use super ingredient: skin-brightening, pigmentation-reducing and glow-giving in equal quantities.
At Nip + Fab, we’re no different. We love vitamin C (or ‘vit C’, as is often hollered across the N+F office several times a day), which is why we created a whole range of it four years ago. And you seem to love it too, which is why it’s now one of our bestselling ranges. Very soon, some big things are coming to our Vitamin C Fix range – they’ve been a long time in the making and we are certain you’re going to love it even more. But before we ruin the surprise, it’s a good time to get clued up on the benefits. Here’s what vitamin C can do for you and your skin.
First and foremost, vitamin C is an antioxidant. This means it has the rather special ability to protect skin from free radicals, which is the science-y name for atoms, molecules or ions that are unstable and cause damage to healthy cells. In skincare terms, free radicals manifest themselves as UV rays and air pollution, both of which result in premature skin ageing – not to mention precancerous changes in the skin caused by UV damage. So, vitamin C is an essential ingredient when it comes to protecting our skin (along with your SPF, of course).
Another ‘anti’ in vitamin C’s arsenal is its anti-inflammatory properties. This is helped by its ability to neutralise free radicals (see above) before they damage skin cells. It can also optimise the immune response to dial down an inflammatory reaction – so if your skin is red, for example, vitamin C can help calm that down, as well as puffiness.
This is the biggest claim for vitamin C – but what does brightening actually mean in skincare terms? The brightening element is a cumulative effect of vitamin C’s ability to even skin tone (by dialling down those dark brown spots or marks you may see on your face), reduce dullness caused by environmental stress (like pollution) and pigmentation (think dark circles under eyes). How does it do it? Because of its acidity, vitamin C encourages skin to heal itself, which in turn reduces discolouration and dullness, resulting in brighter, healthier-looking skin.
Collagen is one of the building blocks of your skin and is the substance responsible for keeping skin plump and firm. Vitamin C gives collagen production a boost because of its acidity, which triggers skin to produce more of it, as well as elastin, which is another substance vital for keeping skin supple and elastic.
As if all the above wasn’t enough, there’s something in vitamin C for past and current spot-sufferers, too. In the same way it can reduce the appearance of sun spots caused by UV damage, vitamin C can also reduce the scarring or dark marks left behind after nasty blemishes. It does this by reducing the effects of the tyrosine enzyme, which is responsible for the production of melanin, which gives skin its colour. Vitamin C’s ability to support collagen production can also help with skin healing post-spot.
