Vitamin C serums are all the rage in skin care today, and for good reason. This powerhouse antioxidant offers wonderful anti-aging benefits for mature skin as well as younger skin.

Science backs the benefits of using vitamin C on a daily basis to reduce environmental damage, fight free radicals, improve texture, even out skin tone, and boost collagen and elastin production.

Vitamin C Reverses Free Radical Damage

Free radicals are highly reactive molecules that no longer function the way that healthy cells do. They can result from exposure to UV rays, poor diet & lifestyle, and environmental pollutants.

Basically, once free radicals are present, they can wreak havoc on your cells. But this is where antioxidants come into play: antioxidants can fight free radicals and repair the damage that has been caused.

For example, sun damage from UV exposure causes brown spots and uneven skin tone. Vitamin C can help fade these spots by fighting free radicals so the body can properly repair the damage. Always use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater to prevent future sun damage.

Vitamin C Boosts Collagen & Elastin Production

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Deep in the skin, proteins such as collagen and elastin help renew cells and promote hydration and flexibility. Younger skin is plentiful in these molecules, but older skin (especially after age 30) is lacking.

Collagen and elastin provide structure and elasticity to the skin. When skin has proper amounts, it is firm, flexible, and bounces back after making facial expressions.

As skin ages, it not only breaks down existing collagen and elastin, but it also stops making as much. After age 20, the skin produces 1% less collagen with each advancing year of age. This means that by age 50, your skin is making 30% less collagen than it did when you were 20.

Aging is not all bad news for your skin, however. Eating healthy foods that are rich in antioxidants can help. Exercise can help. And staying hydrated every day with at least 80 ounces of water can help as well.

Using vitamin C in your skin care can also produce dramatic results. Once absorbed into the skin, your collagen and elastin producing cells in the dermis are stimulated to produce more. A potent vitamin C serum or gel can “cheat the hands of time” by telling your skin to act more like younger skin, even at age 50 and above!

Which Form of Vitamin C Works Best

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Vitamin C is extremely unstable when exposed to the air. This is why the type you use in your skin care is so important. What’s the point of getting it if it’s unstable and won’t work properly, right?

The type of vitamin C to look for is called L-ascorbic acid. This form is more easily absorbed into the skin and is more stable than some other forms of vitamin C. To further stabilize it and help it work better, vitamin E and ferulic acid are often added.

Additionally, look for hyaluronic acid in your skin care product, which has an amazing ability to hydrate. Generally, you’ll want to look for a solution that has a 15%-20% concentration of vitamin C for maximum effectiveness. The older you are, the higher the percentage you should use.

Click here to learn about how adding peptides can boost results from your anti-aging skin care routine.

Vitamin C serums should be clear (best) to pale yellow (still OK) in color. If it is yellower than that, it means that the product has oxidized, thus making it ineffective.

Get Vitamin C Skincare at Beatitude Aesthetic Medicine in San Diego

Not only do we carry medical-grade skin care products from the greatest scientific minds in the industry, but Dr. Aeria Chang also performs a number of advanced cosmetic procedures for total skin rejuvenation.

From muscle relaxer injections and dermal fillers to laser skin resurfacing and RF microneedling, Beatitude Aesthetic Medicine is your premier destination for everything skin related. Book your private consultation with Dr. Chang today by calling (619) 280-1609.

Additional References:

https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/vitamin-c-serums

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/

https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/beauty-hair/advice/a35567/effect-exercise-on-skin/