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Why Vitamin C Is The Number One Choice For Radiant Skin

Why Vitamin C Is The Number One Choice For Radiant Skin

Looking to add an extra glowy edge to your skin just in time for brighter, sunnier days? We say vitamin C for the win! Here’s why…

Vitamin C is everything to us. Our first ever product launch was all about harnessing the powers of vitamin C in skincare and since formulating our awesome OG (the award-winning Vitamin C Facial Serum in case you were wondering!), everything we’ve gone on to create has stemmed from the incredible powers of this antioxidant powerhouse.

Otherwise known as l-ascorbic acid, topical vitamin C is adored by derms, celebrities, beauty editors and skin experts all over the world. In fact, along with retinol, it’s probably the most loved ingredient of all time. It’s also consistently up there as the one of the most searched-for skincare ingredients on the internet. A true skincare GOAT if you will. So, what’s the deal? Well, first and foremost, vitamin C is an antioxidant; a real fighter against skin damage and premature aging.

You see, antioxidants are the only ingredients to be able to neutralize pesky free radicals that form in your skin when it’s been subjected to the slings and arrows of everyday life. Think UV radiation, pollution, smoking, stress and a poor diet. All these factors create harmful free radicals which attack collagen and elastin and screw up their integrity. This can only mean one thing – bad news for your skin. As you know collagen and elastin are the super important building blocks of healthy skin. Without a good amount of quality proteins in your skin, it will become dry, lacklustre, saggy and blotchy. Not to mention the fact that fine lines and wrinkles will show up in no time.

As well as it’s free radical-fighting abilities vitamin C has been shown to help your sunscreen work harder and better, souping up its protection to further shield your skin from harmful ultraviolet rays. It’s not a sunscreen by any stretch of the imagination so it can never replace your SPF, but still, the combination of the two? Pretty darn good. Its anti-inflammatory properties (oh, didn’t we mention that?) are also thought to help control sebum production and therefore aid with breakouts. Which is not to be sniffed at.

All this is awesome and hats off to vitamin C for everything it does for the skin. But it boasts one more benefit and, call us shallow, but it’s probably the thing we love most about it. Simply put, vitamin C makes the skin look so much… well… better. We know that’s no scientific term but admit it, that’s what we all want for our skin, right? For it to look and feel its radiant best?

We truly believe that good skin is all about having a healthy glow. Who cares – in all honesty – if you have laughter lines and a slightly less contoured jawline than you used to? If your skin is healthy and glowing, nothing else really matters. And, as skincare ingredients go, vitamin C is almost unbeatable in its glow-inducing powers.

How Vitamin C Gets Your Glow On

Being able to fight off free radical damage is the first step here because if your collagen and elastin supplies are hunky dory, your skin cells will turn over more efficiently and all those dead skin cells will get sloughed away quicker to reveal all that fresh stuff underneath. Sluggish cell turnover is a sure-fire route to dull skin, so major kudos to vitamin C right there.

However, that’s just part one of the story because vitamin C also inhibits melanin production to help reduce dark spots and improve uneven skin tone. How does that work? Well, vitamin C decreases the production of tyrosinase which is an enzyme in your skin that accelerates melanin synthesis. Slowing all this down significantly reduces the amount of melanin in your skin. The result? Less patchy skin, fewer dark spots and a brighter, more even-looking complexion.

All. Over. That.

What’s The Best Form Of Vitamin C For Your Skin?

There are countless types of vitamin C used in skincare but we believe there’s only one real choice: sodium ascorbyl phosphate (SAP). Sure, pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) is extremely potent but this can have its downsides, causing dryness, stinging and redness – especially if your skin is sensitive. L-ascorbic acid is also very unstable, meaning it breaks down and loses efficacy when it’s exposed to light and air.

SAP, however, is a salt form of l-ascorbic acid and contains sodium phosphate molecules. So what, you might wonder? Well, these molecules are actually super important because they help stabilize the vitamin C which makes it last longer. Gold star for that. Your skin does have to convert SAP back into ascorbic acid after it’s been applied to your skin because this is its bioactive form, but this actually helps reduce your chances of irritation so we think that’s worth another gold star.

3 Of The Best Ways To Add Vitamin C To Your Skincare Routine

1. In Your Cleanser

Cleansing is one of the best ways to boost blood flow and draw nutrients to the surface of your skin thanks to a combination of massage, cool refreshing water and awesome skincare ingredients. We love starting (and ending!) the day with Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser which contains 15 percent SAP plus collagen-boosting MSM and nourishing rose hip oil.

2. In A Serum

If you’re looking for the best formulation for delivering active ingredients to your skin, straight where it needs it, serum is the absolute go-to. Serums have a small molecular structure which means they’re able to penetrate the skin better than heavier products like oils and face creams. Try Amazon’s biggest selling vitamin C serum – our Vitamin C Facial Serum (*pats selves on backs).

3. In Your Sunscreen

Our SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C is the newest baby within our vitamin C range, and it’s fast becoming a fan favorite. Carefully blended with plenty of protective, radiance-boosting SAP it uses non-nano zinc oxide to shield your skin from damaging UVA and UVB rays. A morning must, if we do say so ourselves.

For more fabulous vitamin C products, including our hydrating night cream, daily moisturizer and super-charged turbo serum, check out our entire range right here.

 

 

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Georgia Gould

Georgia Gould

Georgia is an award-winning beauty writer who has been in the business for over 20 years. British-born, she began her career as a magazine beauty editor in London before moving to San Francisco, CA in 2012 where she now continues her love as a freelance writer and editor. As well as her editorial work, Georgia has created content for many high-profile beauty brands, including Clarins, L’Oréal, Procter & Gamble, Simple and TRESemmé. Her passions include retinol (obviously), golfing, skiing and walking her beloved Schnauzer, Dave.