Best Vitamin C Serums To Fade Dark Spots And Discoloration
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Experts consider vitamin C to be excellent when it comes to skin care given both its functional and aesthetic benefits. Also known as L-ascorbic acid, it is required for proper function of skin because it plays an essential role in collagen production, explained board-certified dermatologist Caren Campbell, MD. The San Francisco-based doctor called vitamin C invaluable and vital in any skin care routine.
SKIP AHEAD Best vitamin C serums
You stand to get the most vitamin C-related benefits from treatments like serums, creams and lotions, which are typically formulated with high concentrations of their respective active ingredients , explained board-certified dermatologist Caroline Robinson, MD. Vitamin C cleansers and other skin care products that you rinse off are not considered treatments and typically include much lower percentages of active ingredients .
Uv Light Reactive Oxygen Species And Skin Damage
As mentioned above, the exposure of skin to UV light generates ROS. These radicals have a potential to start chain or cascade reactions that damage the cells. The harmful effects of ROS occur as direct chemical alterations of the cellular DNA, the cell membrane and the cellular proteins, including collagen.
Oxidative stress also triggers certain cellular events mediated by transcription factors such as ROS upgrade transcription factor activator protien-1 that increases matrix metalloprotienase production, leading to collagen breakdown. Oxidative stress induces nuclear transcription factor kappa B . This produces a number of mediators that contribute to inflammation and skin ageing. ROS also increase the elastin mRNA level in dermal fibroblasts. This may explain the elastotic changes observed in photoaged skin.
Although Vit. C alone can provide photoprotection, it works best in conjunction with Vitamin E , which potentiates the action of Vit. C four-fold. Hydrophilic Vit. C helps regenerate Vit. E, a liphophilic antioxidant. Thus, Vit. C and Vit. E together protect the hydrophilic and lipophilic compartments of the cell, respectively. Vit. C and Vit. E synergistically limit chronic UV damage by significantly reducing both cell apoptosis and thymine dimer formation.
Vitamin C Benefits For Skin: What Does It Do
Did you know Vitamin C is the most abundant antioxidant in your skin? Heres everything it does for you:
- Boosts collagen:Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen . Collagen production naturally decreases with age, but you inadvertently speed up the process when you get a lot of unprotected sun exposure. Adding Vitamin C back into your skin can help you boost collagen levels up a notch or two.
- Brightens skin: Vitamin C inhibits the enzyme involved in the production of melanin . When your skin stops producing excess melanin, dark spots slowly fade away. Studies show that 25% vitamin C significantly decrease melasma after 16 weeks. But, its NOT as effective as topical treatments with hydroquinone.
- Fights free radicals: Free radicals are nasty molecules that destroy collagen, elastin, cellular DNA , causing wrinkles, dark spots, and cancer. Vitamin C finds and destroys them before they can wreak their havoc. This alone helps you slow down premature aging.
- Enhances sun protection: When UV rays hit your skin, they generate a cascade of free radicals. No sunscreen can stop all of them. Even SPF 100 lets 1% of UV rays through. Enter Vitamin C. Layer it underneath your sunscreen and itll neutralise the damage those few UV rays could cause.
Awesome, right?
Heres where things get complicated. Vitamin C isnt just one ingredient. You have the pure form, L-Ascorbic Acid, and a dozen other derivatives.
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Can Vitamin C Really Help With Acne And Acne Scars
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, 50 million people in the U.S. have experienced some form of acne during their lifetime . Many suffer from severe acne and acne scarring that can cause social isolation as well as permanent scarring. If you suffer from acne and the scarring that can sometimes come with it and want to know what to do about it, read on to find out how using Vitamin C as a topical serum can help you!
Benefits Of A Vitamin C Serum For Acne Scars And Hyperpigmentation
There are tonnes of acne fighting, age defying vitamin C creams, serums and treatments available out there but its important not to be blinded by the miracle marketing strategies of some of these brands. Yes, some of them may contain a good dose of topical vitamin C but they could also contain silicones, alcohols and preservatives which can all contribute to acne and damaged skin by causing clogged pores, dryness and irritation while some preservatives have even been linked to hormone disruption! This is why this blog post will cover everything you need to know about using topical vitamin C safely and effectively as part of a natural acne treatment plan! Plus, Ill be sharing my favourite topical vitamin C serums for acne and scars.
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Best Clean Beauty: Drunk Elephant C
Drunk Elephant has established itself as a beauty brand dedicated to using clean yet effective ingredients. Just ask the many beauty editors, influencers, and fans part of their cult-like following. Their C-Firma Day Serum is the perfect example of clean beauty at its finest.
This lightweight but antioxidant- and nutrient-rich treatment does not include ingredients the brand believes is the root of most skin issuesessential oils, drying alcohols, silicones, chemical sunscreens, fragrances/dyes, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Instead, their vitamin c serum offers 15% potent antioxidant complex15% L-Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid and 1% Vitamin Ea cocktail which helps fight environmental skin stressors, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and helps replenish the skinalong with exfoliating pumpkin ferment extract and pomegranate enzymes.
What Is The Best Kind Of Vitamin C For Acne
Vitamin C is notorisuly unstable and oxiidises when expised to light and air. The most stable form of viatmin C used in skin care fomulations is L-ascrobic acid.
Vitamin C can also be very irritating to the skin so it is often formulated with Ferulic Acid and vitamin E. In Fact the cult skincare product by SkinCueticals C E Ferulic serum has this exact formula with the L-ascorbic acid as its Vitamin C.
When looking to introduce Vitamin C into your skincare routine make sure that it contains the right kind of stablised Vitamin C and also has Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid if possible.
Vitamin C is best used in the morning as it helps boost the ingredients in sunscreen to make it more effective and it is a free radical scavenger.
Your skin is exposed to more free radicals from the sun and environmental pollution during the day, so it makes sense to apply it in the morning under your sunscreen.
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Salt Lake Supplements Vitamin C Serum Face And Skin Rejuvenation
With the unique Vitamin C that is formulated in this serum, you can take advantage of the power of potent antioxidants that will help in accelerating the production of collagen. In turn, this will make your skin healthier and younger. There is also Vitamin E, which will destroy the free radicals that can cause skin damage.
Vitamin C Serum Improves The Ph Of Your Skin
Maintaining a relatively low skin pH can help protect against the growth of harmful bacteria that can lead to acne, according to a 2018 study .
Applying vitamin C serum topically can help balance pH levels and end the cycle of inflammation, infection, and outbreak by not only lowering inflammation but also increasing skin strength, resilience, and elasticity. It can only do this, however, if it is able to penetrate into the skins surface and remain active.
An in-depth investigation conducted at the University of Otago in New Zealand discovered certain forms of vitamin C that were utilized best by the dermis and epidermis layers of the skin. They found that when ascorbic acid contains a phosphate group and comes in an ascorbyl variation, it is significantly more stable in the body .
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Seoul Ceuticals Day Glow Serum
The manufacturer guarantees that the effects will be visible within the first three weeks of use. It has a potent formula that will help to fight wrinkles, crows feet, and other visible signs of skin aging. Other ingredients that are present in this product include citrus stem cells, Vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid.
May Reduce The Appearance Of Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation, which includes things like sunspots, age spots, and melasma, is a condition in which your skin overproduces melanin in specific areas, causing . Because vitamin c helps inhibit melanin production, it can also help fade and prevent hyperpigmentation, whether its caused by acne or not.
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Does Vitamin C Serum Help With Acne
Yes, it does. Acne can be caused by many things, including hormones, stress, and diet. Another major cause of acne is bacteria that grows on the skin and causes breakouts.
Vitamin C increases cell turnover to help fight bacteria on the skin, which in turn help prevent acne. It also helps treat acne by reducing inflammation and redness, two major symptoms of acne breakouts.
Another reason why vitamin C serum is a good acne treatment is that it helps repair damaged tissue and prevent free radical damage caused by the sun or other sources.
So, whether you have a little or a lot, vitamin C serum can be an effective tool in your battle against acne. But just like some other skincare products, you have to be careful because it can be irritating if not used correctly.
Dont Limit Yourself To Serums
The most common way to get vitamin C in a skin-care routine is in a serum. But you dont have to limit yourself! If youd rather not add an extra step to your regimen, know that you can also get vitamin C in cleansers, moisturizers, exfoliants, and even sunscreens, Dr. Hogan says.
Some of her favorite non-serum ways to get vitamin C include Ole Henriksen the Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser , Clinique Fresh Pressed Pure Vitamin C Powder , and Revision Vitamin C Lotion 30% .
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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How To Use Vitamin C Serum For Acne
Vitamin C serums come in many different forms and strengths.
You can use products containing other active ingredients in the same skin care routine, but never mix citric acid or alpha-hydroxy acid . Combining either of these with Vit. C can be irritating and cause dryness and sensitivity.
Also, Benzoyl Peroxide can oxidize vitamin C so its best not to apply these ingredients together. Doing so could decrease the efficacy of your serum.
Apply your serum gently massaging into the skin with your fingertips. Allow the serum to penetrate and then follow with a moisturizer.
You can use vitamin C serum daily up to twice a day. But be sure to start out slow, applying once every other day for the first week, increasing to daily use as your skin adjusts.
The 20 Best Vitamin C Serums For Acne
Many people suffer from acne during their teenage years, but your acne problems can persist even into adulthood. Luckily for you, weve done the research on the best Vitamin C serums for acne prone skin.
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Serums will be a great way to make your complexion brighter and to prevent breakouts. Especially when it is infused with Vitamin C, it can deliver skin-nourishing benefits. If you have acne, be careful of what you choose, making sure that it has ingredients that wont trigger the problem.
Looking for vitamin C serums that will work for your acne-prone skin? Keep on reading and learn from some of our recommendations.
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How To Use A Vitamin C Serum For Oily Acne
Theres no proof that Vitamin C causes acne. In fact, it may even help treat it faster!
And yet, many of my clients with oily, acne-prone skin complain their acne got worse after introducing a Vitamin C serum into their skincare routine.
Science cant explain why. But I dont believe in waiting around doing nothing while science catches up with real skin problems.
Instead, lets find a way to make Vitamin C safe for you, too. Enter Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate .
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is a derivative of Vitamin C . When it sinks into your skin, enzymes come along to convert it into L-Ascorbic Acid.
A study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science shows that Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate can treat acne vulgaris. How?
Acne is caused by two major factors:
- Bacteria: Proprionibacterium Acnes, or P.Acnes for short
- Lipid oxidation: when your sebum oxidises, your skin becomes inflamed
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate deals with both. 1% of SAP reduces the amount of P.Acnes on your skin, while 5% prevents lipid oxidation in the first place.
How To Fix The Oxidative Damage Vitamin C Serums Caused
A majority of customers who have come to us with damaged skin, including acne, redness and bacterial issues had one thing in common: The use of vitamin C serums.
If your skin has been inflamed from use of vitamin C serums due to their oxidizing effect, the solution is the following:
First, stop using vitamin C serums.
Give your skin a one week break and then follow an anti-inflammatory skin care regimen.
OUMERE products do not contain any ingredients that would cause oxidation to the skin, which is why our products act as anti-inflammatory agents and have been reported to reduce redness, inflammation and improve the signs of rosacea and other inflammatory skin ailments.
I advise just using the UV-R serum for a couple days because its high concentration of anti-inflammatory extracts will calm you skin down and reverse the oxidative damage caused by the vitamin C serums. After your skin looks like it has improved, follow the following routine:
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The Relation Between Vitamin C & Acne
Properly dealing with acne isnt always as simple as applying a treatment and giving it a few days to get better. Sometimes the underlying factors that cause acne can be exacerbated by lifestyle habits, or your overall health. When taking the most comprehensive approach to defending your skin against acne, its important to make sure youre getting the right nutrients in your diet and in your skincare.
Vitamins can be such an easy thing to overlook as you get caught up in the daily grind. Lets take a deeper look at vitamin c for acne, a nutrient that can provide significant benefits for your skin.
Why Are Some Vitamin C Serums Irritating
There is a lot of chemistry involved here there is the formula’s pH, the skin’s pH, and the relationship between the two, Thornton explains. The form of vitamin C most likely to cause irritation in people with sensitive skin is L-ascorbic acid . For L-AA to be stable in water, it must be formulated at a very low pH. This extremely acidic pH offers maximum formula stability, but limited skin compatibility thus enhancing its exfoliating properties and weakening barrier function, which is why many sensitive skin types may peel, turn red, and have other adverse reactions.
Its a bit like a math equation: the more potent the form of vitamin C, the more irritating for those with sensitive skin. Other factors or ingredients that might seem beneficial at first can also amplify the effect. Higher percentage products may be more irritating, says Dr. Kristina Goldenberg of Goldenberg Dermatology.Products that are combined with other acids, such as alpha hydroxy acid, can be more irritating.
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Who Should Use A Vitamin C Serum On Their Skin
According to the study in Nutrients, vitamin C can help protect the skin from many problems, including sunburn, photoaging, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, sagging, dryness, and an uneven skin tone. Anyone dealing with these skin issues may want to consider adding a vitamin C serum to their skincare regimen. But its a good idea to get started even if these issues havent crept up yet. While its often presented as an anti-aging ingredient, the best time to prevent aging is before it occurs, Schlessinger says.
Saedi recommends vitamin C serums for people of all ages because virtually everyone is at risk of sun damage, and with vitamin C serums we are minimizing the amount of sun damage that our skins getting from sunlight, she says.She says it does double duty of both protecting the skin and helping problem areas recover. Its preventative in that its protecting you from sun damage and signs of aging like wrinkles, Saedi says. It also helps promote collagen and boost your natural collagen formation.
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Repair Your Skin Barrier
Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique Soothing B3 Serum
Just like it can help you get through a purge, niacinamide can come to the rescue with regular breakoutsespecially if theyre accompanied by irritation. Again, it works by reducing inflammation, killing microorganisms and regulating oil production while also fortifying the skin barrier. Oh, and it takes down redness, too!
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