Let’s chat about our favorite citrus celeb and Vitamin C supplement. Also known as ascorbic acid, this nutrient is known for its role in supporting our immunity, tissue repair, and function support in the nervous system. Vitamin C is considered an essential vitamin, meaning that our bodies cannot produce it alone, and therefore need a helping hand!
Obtaining this nutrient from the foods we eat is one of the easiest ways to reap its benefits. According to the National Institutes of Health, the daily recommended intake for vitamin C is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men. Luckily, vitamin C can be found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. These include berries, kale, kiwi, broccoli, papayas, peas, and citrus.
We often obtain the benefits of this nutrient in a few other ways: not only by taking multivitamins or supplements for their diets but also through skincare products. This isn’t too surprising though, as vitamin C can offer a wealth of benefits to the skin.
Let’s dive right into the skin benefits of this extra special vitamin C-lebrity!
Quick Facts About Vitamin C
* In the 18th century, sailors would regularly eat onions (also high in vitamin C) in order to prevent getting scurvy: a fatal disease caused by a vitamin C deficiency.
* While citrus fruits tend to be regarded as the poster fruits for vitamin C, you’ll find that they pale in comparison to papaya. While an orange contains about 50 mg of vitamin C, papaya contains roughly 125!
* Since vitamin C is water-soluble, it only stays in the human body for 24 hours. As a result, we should all be receiving a regular vitamin C intake.
Skin Benefits of Vitamin C
Boosts Collagen for Firmer, Bouncier Skin
One of the most prominent features of vitamin C is its ability to encourage the production of collagen in the skin. Collagen is necessary for firm, youthful skin. It’s known for maintaining elasticity, repairing tissue damage, so the fact that vitamin C can help encourage this type of synthesis makes it especially popular as an ingredient in anti-aging products.
Helps Keep Skin Hydrated
Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is one of the main vitamin C derivatives used in skincare. Studies show that MAP can have a hydrating effect on the skin, not so much because it introduces water to the skin, but because it decreases water loss across the epidermis. This affords the skin a better chance at moisture retention.
Eliminates Dark Spots
Hyperpigmentation occurs when there is an overproduction of melanin, often illustrated as age spots, melasma, sun spots, and acne scars. Fortunately, vitamin C can help to not only inhibit the response that causes hyperpigmentation in the skin but can also reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. Overall, learning to add Vitamin C to your routine can be extremely helpful in balancing the tone of your complexion.
Offers Protection from Sun Damage
As you probably already know, exposure to the sun leaves our delicate skin vulnerable to damaging free radicals. These are unstable atoms known to wreak havoc on the skin over time, causing increased signs of aging. Lucky for us, vitamin C is an antioxidant - which means it’s naturally talented when it comes to fighting free radicals!
That being said, I still always recommended that you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen whenever out in the sun. My favorite is SeneSun® Hydrating Facial Sunscreen SPF 20 protects your skin while having anti-aging properties.
Promotes Healing
Vitamin C can help wounds heal more quickly. You could take supplements, get more of the nutrient in your diet, or apply it to your skin. All help close open sores -- especially in people who don’t already get enough of the stuff. The vitamin helps the body produce the collagen necessary to resolve this type of injury.
Stabilized vs Unstabilized
There are countless benefits of Vitamin C and truly I can go on and on why you should add it to your routine. But what is not well known is how stable Vitamin C actually is! Despite this vitamin’s ability to produce firmer skin cells, prevent hyperpigmentation and defend against free radicals, vitamin C oxidizes very quickly (especially when exposed to air), becoming unstable. Many products on the market claim to contain Vitamin C but often the Vitamin C is unstable. Once it becomes unstable, it can no longer carry out its beauty benefits, in turn allowing free-radical damage. So it is very important to use only stabilized Vitamin C products. My favorite is SeneGence SeneSerum C with revolutionary ingredients and delivery system. Contain hydrating c-pearls™: encapsulation and delivery technology that freshly delivers stabilized vitamin C at application to help extend its potency.
Sara was born and raised in the Czech Republic. In 2012, she moved to the US and worked many jobs but never felt fulfilled, which lead her to share her story and her passion for fitness (former fitness professional), nutrition tips (vegan) and makeup. She is also a new mom. Sara and her husband welcomed their baby boy in June 2020.
Sara is a makeup junkie at heart and decided to start her own business to help women look and feel their best. She loves supporting other business moms feel beautiful inside and out as they work to create their own destinies. You could find out more about her HERE.
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