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With all the choices you have for skincare products, you're likely to find some containing vitamin C. If healthy skin is your goal, vitamin C-containing products are a good choice. Vitamin C does so many great things for your skin. Even if you're not thinking about aging or wrinkles now, your time in the sun may be causing skin damage that you'll see down the road. Vitamin C may help support healthy skin.
What Vitamin C Does
Your skin depends on vitamin C for the collagen that gives your face its form. It also helps heal wounds and skin damage that can cause premature aging. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect your skin from other pollutants in the environment, including secondhand smoke.
Oil Form
Working with vitamin C presents some challenges with manufacturers. It is water-soluble and oxidizes or goes bad quickly. You may wonder how to get it in oil form, especially if you have dry skin. One way is from oil sources that contain vitamin C, such as rose hips. You will also see vitamin C listed as vitamin C serum. This type of preparation uses glycerin or glycerol to help skincare products make your skin smooth and hydrated. As an ingredient, vitamin C is expensive. A serum contains a concentration of vitamin C that works, yet doesn't break the bank.
Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Vitamin C and vitamin E are natural partners in a skincare product for your skin. Both support skin health. If you smoke, your body's levels of vitamin E may drop due to the effects of free radicals, those nasty substances that can damage your body's cells. Researchers at Oregon State University found that vitamin C could undo some of this damage in a study published in the February 2006 issue of Free Radical Biology and Medicine. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant that can help your immune system function right and help with red blood cell formation.
Other Considerations
Not everyone will see dramatic improvement in their skin from using vitamin C oil. The protection factor is still there regardless. When using products with vitamin C, look out for any yellowing. That means it has oxidized and is past its prime to help your skin; don't use it. Just like with buying any skincare product, check the label, noting the concentration of vitamin C. Products with equal concentrations are both effective. Don't opt for the more expensive one if the ingredients are similar. Save the money and try the more affordable vitamin C product.
