How Does Vitamin C Help Your Skin

CNN —

If you asked a dermatologist for a list of the all-time ingredients for pare, vitamin C might be at the top.

Few ingredients are better for brightening skin, protecting information technology against aggressors, and addressing signs of aging . Another part of its appeal? "Information technology's cracking for all peel types and ages," says New York dermatologist Dr. Anne Chapas.

Here's everything yous need to know virtually the benefits of vitamin C for skin, including how to choose the best formula, when to apply it, and exactly what this all-star vitamin can do for your skin. Get ready to glow.

Vitamin C, which also goes by ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid, is a vitamin that isn't actually produced by the body. Instead, the simply way to get information technology is through supplements or your diet — citrus fruits like oranges are famously rich in vitamin C. And it has vital functions throughout the body. "Vitamin C is an essential food in tissue repair and the enzymatic product of various transmitters," says Dr. Patricia Wexler, a dermatologist in New York Metropolis.

While you tin certainly consume your manner to a salubrious vitamin C intake, your pare in detail reaps the biggest benefits when information technology'southward practical topically versus ingested via an oral supplement or your nutrition, no many how much grapefruit you consume. "Topically, information technology's xx times more stiff than the oral intake," says Wexler.

In brusk: everything. For one, "vitamin C promotes collagen production, which has the potential to thicken the dermis, diminish fine lines, and is essential for firm, youthful skin," Wexler says. On tiptop of that, vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it protects pare cells from damaging costless radicals caused by UV exposure.

It likewise inhibits melanin production in the pare, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out skin tone, and raise skin radiance. Finally, "vitamin C helps to repair impairment from sun exposure and collagen loss by encouraging healthy prison cell turnover and regeneration," says Wexler.

Apply vitamin C as a serum in the mornings — that is, after cleansing and before applying moisturizer and sunscreen. "I call up the all-time vitamin C skin care products are serums considering they are more effective at penetrating the skin barrier than, say, a cream or toner," says Chapas.

Then, be patient. Most pare care products take time to showtime working, and vitamin C takes a little longer, even with daily use. According to Wexler, you won't notice any significant changes in your skin for six to eight weeks. If yous take sensitive pare, practice a pare exam showtime, as the high acerbity can be irritating.

Yous tin can maximize the benefits of vitamin C by combining it with other antioxidants. "This works best with vitamin East and ferulic acid," says Chapas. "Together, they have optimal absorption benefits when it comes to anti-crumbling, skin brightening, and protection against free radical damage."

It also plays well with vitamin B and hyaluronic acid. Yet, "practise not mix vitamin C with a retinol or niacinamide," because the pH levels are incompatible, says Wexler. If you want to apply both, she suggests waiting one-half an 60 minutes between applications.

Also worth noting: Vitamin C is notoriously prone to oxidizing. "Information technology can pause down when it'southward exposed to light or air," says Chapas. "Always check expiration dates on your products, and if you notice a sour smell or discoloration, it's nigh likely breaking down."

Here are some of our favorite products for getting vitamin C into your skin care routine.

BeautyRx Skincare Triple Vitamin C Serum ($95, dermstore.com )

With three dissimilar forms of vitamin C, the formula delivers major brightening and anti-aging benefits. Plus, it feels weightless on skin.

InstaNatural Vitamin C Serum ($17.96, amazon.com )

One of the most affordable serums on the marketplace, this formula includes vitamins C and E, ferulic acid and hyaluronic acid — offering y'all the most brightness for your buck. (What'south more, its iv-plus stars on Amazon is based on over 5,000 ratings.)

Farmacy Very Ruddy Bright 15% Clean Vitamin C Serum ($62, sephora.com )

This lightweight, natural serum delivers vitamin C derived from cherries, sinks in fast, and even smells similar its namesake fruit.

Fleur & Bee Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum ($28, amazon.com )

This natural serum contains the synergistic blend of vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid—also every bit clary sage for extra antioxidant benefits.

Summer Fridays CC Me Vitamin C Serum ($64, sephora.com)

The multitasker offers vitamin C to brighten and protect, squalane to moisturize, and peptides for minimizing lines and wrinkles. All you need is sunscreen and you're practiced to go.

Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum ($48, ulta.com )

Worried about vitamin C oxidizing? These single-serving, travel-friendly capsules ensure that each application is fresh and working at peak efficacy.

Cleen Dazzler Vitamin C Papaya Glow Serum ($ten, walmart.com )

One of the most affordable vitamin C serums on the market—if not the most affordable—the combination of vitamin C and licorice root offers brighter skin on a upkeep.

Physicians Formula Rosé All Twenty-four hour period Moisturizer SPF xxx ($17.99, cvs.com )

While this isn't a serum, it tin can be helpful to have vitamin C in your sunscreen. "Vitamin C can increase the stability of SPF," Wexler explains. And it acts similar a sunscreen booster to help defend your skin against sun damage.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Confront Oil ($xl-$eighty, nordstrom.com )

For the wintertime months, when peel tends to be drier, consider switching to a vitamin C oil. It'll boost radiance by offset delivering vitamin C and then locking hydration into skin.

Derma Eastward Vitamin C Concentrated Serum ($20, target.com )

Vitamin C meets hyaluronic acrid (a moisturizer) and green tea excerpt (some other antioxidant) in this serum to address everything from dryness to fine lines and wrinkles.

Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Clinical Grade IPL Nighttime Spot Correcting Serum ($92, dermstore.com )

Designed specifically to target dark spots, this combines vitamin C with licorice excerpt and lactic acrid to lighten hyperpigmentation from breakouts and sun exposure.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed prices at the fourth dimension of publication.