Figuring out the perfect skincare routine takes research and a lot of trying out new products and approaches. One key ingredient that is becoming more widespread in lotions and multi-effect skincare serums is vitamin C, and there are a few great reasons to make it a part of your daily routine, both in the morning and at night.
Major Benefits of Regular Vitamin C Use for Skincare
You will find more than five benefits listed when you look up all the things vitamin C can do for your skin, but some of them are contested in some sources and others only work circumstantially. There are five that are well-documented and fairly universal, though, and that means you can expect them as basic vitamin C lotion benefits.
- Boosts collagen production
- Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant
- Smooths fine lines and wrinkles
- Diminishes scar visibility over time
- Helps lighten dark spots caused by aging and sun damage
Some of these benefits are strongly related to others. For example, smoothing lines and wrinkles is an effect of collagen production being boosted, because increased collagen in the skin plumps it up and helps with elasticity. Lightening scars and dark spots can happen with the application of a few antioxidants, not just vitamin C. That means you can use vitamin C products on their own or with them to diminish the visibility of those features over time.
The Powerful Antioxidant
Oxidative damage is one of the leading causes for visible aging and other skin imperfections, and it can be caused by a variety of hazards that most people encounter daily.
- UV light exposure from the sun or other sources
- Free radicals randomly causing breakdowns at the cellular level
- Pollution and industrial chemicals that react to the skin or your skin oils
Antioxidants are a class of substances that help your body resist these hazards, and they can be ingested or applied directly. When applied as skincare products, antioxidants are directly absorbed and put to use at the site of application. That is why they help lighten dark spots and reduce scar visibility.
Vitamin C is a very powerful antioxidant, and therefore a good choice as an active ingredient in your skincare products. If you compare vitamin C cream vs serum choices, serums absorb more quickly, but they can have a slight drying effect from the vitamin C. Creams have moisturizing ingredients and sometimes other active collagen boosters to help avoid potential irritation caused by dry skin.
Brightens & Boosts Collagen Production
Vitamin C is becoming more and more common in lotions because it helps boost collagen production alongside other collagen-boosting compounds like hyaluronic acid. In fact, even if you choose a vitamin C serum over a lotion with a concentrated dose of it, you’ll probably find basic lotions still have small amounts of the compound. Just look for ascorbic acid in the ingredient list. It’s a good natural preservative that helps moisturizers work better, so it makes sense to add it even when it’s not one of the key ingredients in a formulation. That’s how powerful vitamin C can be.
Remember, a great complexion rests on a firm skincare foundation. Find the place for vitamin C in your routine today to start seeing benefits that add up as the months go by.