BENEFITS OF A VITAMIN C SERUM FOR SKIN

What is Vitamin C

Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is naturally present in a number of different foods.   Humans, unlike most animals, are unable to synthesise (create) Vitamin C, therefore it is an essential dietary component.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that your body needs to form blood vessels, cartilage, muscle and collagen.  It is also vital to your body’s healing process.  It is needed for the repair and growth of tissues in all parts of your body.  

Vitamin C is known as an antioxidant that helps protect your cells against the damaging effect of free radicals – these are essentially unstable atoms that can damage cells, causing illness and premature ageing.  

Vitamin C and Your Skin

Vitamin C is essential for your skins health.  It acts both as an antioxidant and contributes to the formation of collagen (the main structural protein found in skin and responsible for skin strength and tightness, elasticity and hydration). It protects the skin, decreases photodamage (damage from the sun) and is needed for wound healing.   

It is the key to maintaining a smooth, even and glowy complexion.

Even if you are getting Vitamin C in your diet there is no guarantee that it’s going straight to your skin.  Therefore using serums and other topical products is the most direct way to reap the benefits that it has to offer. 

Topical Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C used topically has been shown to inhibit melanin synthesis (a dark brown pigment that occurs in the skin.  It is what turns your skin brown when exposed to sunlight).  It has been used by dermatologists for reducing pigmentation for many years now.  See the article here.

Trusted Source

While this is just one of the benefits of topical Vitamin C there are plenty more. 

– provides hydration
– Can brighten overall skin tone
– Can reduce redness
– Can reduce the appearance of under-eye circles
– Is safe for most skin types
– Promotes collagen production
– May help prevent sagging of the skin
– Protects against sun damage
– May help wound healing

Lets delve into some of these benefits a little bit more.

Can brighten overall skin tone

Vitamin C can help fade pigmentation and help smooth the skin’s surface to reduce dullness, giving ones skin a youthful glow.  Read the following research into Vitamin C.

2017 Research into Vitamin C

Provides hydration

According to a research review conducted in 2017 it was found that most healthy skin and organs contain a high concentration of Vitamin C.

2017 Review

In a later review done in 2022 it was found that Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP), a derivative of Vitamin C showed hydrating effects on the skin.

2022 Review

Reduces redness and evens out skin tone

Vitamin C has been shown to act as an anti-inflammatory agent according to a review published in 2015.  

This means that it has the ability to soothe the skin and reduce puffiness.  Reducing redness of the skin can also create a more even complexion. 

It was also noted that the combination of Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C Derivative) work synergistically to reduce pigmentation and promote a more even skin tone.

Promotes Collagen Production

As gone over above, Vitamin C plays a vital role in the production of collagen.  Lower levels of collagen in the skin can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.   

Collagen synthesis can’t happen without Vitamin C.  This is due to the fact that Vitamin C is the essential cofactor for the two enzymes required for collagen synthesis.

This can and should be done both topically and internally.

Study on Vitamin C and Collagen

It can help prevent skin sagging

As collagen is tied to skin elasticity and firmness, when your collagen levels begin to drop, your skin may also begin to sag.  By boosting collagen production in the skin, such as applying a Vitamin C serum this can assist in overall tightening of the skin and may prevent skin sagging.  

Study on Vitamin C topically

Protects against sun damage

It is long since known that excessive exposure to the sun can wreak havoc on the skin.  Sun damage is caused by molecules called free radicals which can lead to significant damage to the skin.  As covered above Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants which are the keys to protecting the healthy skin cells and rendering the free radicals harmless. 

Can help boost wound healing

Vitamin C has the ability to to help speed up overall wound healing.  Healthy wound healing can reduce your risk of inflammation, infection and even scarring!  It has been found in fact that having a deficiency in this vitamin can lead to wounds taking longer to heal.

 2017 Review Into Topical Vitamin C

HOW TO USE A VITAMIN C SERUM

Well hopefully by now you can see the benefits that a Vitamin C Serum can have on your skin.  So lets go into how to is use it.

Whenever adding a new product to an existing routine it is always wise to do a patch test first. Even if you generally never react to anything I always advise to do a patch test first to assess YOUR reaction to it.

Vitamin C serums are generally tolerated by most skin types, but it is still always a good idea to check first.  

Here is how you do it:

1. Select a small area of skin that is easy to conceal like your forearm.
2. Apply a small amount of product to the area and wait for 24 hours.
3. If there are no side effects you can now apply to your face.  Of course if you do apply and you get an undesired reaction, discontinue use. 

Once you have passed your patch test here are my next recommendations.

All products out there that you buy should have a Directions for Use on it, either on the bottle or on the box that the product came in.  Follow those directions.

Vitamin C is typically applied once or twice a day.  The best routine to follow is Cleanse, Tone, Vitamin Serum and any other serums you might be using followed by a moisturiser or face oil.

Ensure that you hands are clean before applying.  

Vitamin C can help heal blemishes, reduce hyperpigmentation and give your skin a beautiful glow.

Consistency is of course the key for maximum benefit.

Some people apply a Vitamin C serum in the morning to take advantage of its protectant properties and others use it at night.  You can apply it morning and night or just once.

Research has shown the effectiveness of topical Vitamin C.  In a study with participants of all ages they noticed the effects after 40 days of use and an even more pronounced effect at the 60 day mark.

At Miod we take a holistic approach in formulating our Vitamin C Serum.  We combine an array of potent, bioactive, plant extracts known for their extraordinary amounts of Vitamin C, such as Kakadu Plum & Emu Apple, and combine this with a Vitamin C Derivative, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, which has been shown to convert into Ascorbic Acid when it enters the skin; this is the final form that you want your Vitamin C to be when it enters the skin to be able to do its magic.  This derivative is less irritating than pure Ascorbic Acid and doesn’t hinder the addition of other ingredients within the formulation due to is low PH.  

We also add Vitamin B3 which has been researched and shown to work synergistically with Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate in the reduction of uneven skin tone.  It alone also has other amazing skin benefits including hydration, promotes production of ceramides and helps maintain or restore the skins natural barrier.

And to top it up we have recently added an extract called Rumex, known for its abilities to reduce pigmentation in the skin and give one a more even skin tone. See the study conducted here. 

Rumex and Pigmentation Study

Using all these beautiful extracts and actives we have created a Vitamin C Serum to help protect the skin, even skin tone taking multiple approaches, brighten and hydrate.  

We feel this is a key serum for anyone looking to protect their skin and slow down premature ageing allowing one to age gracefully and as nature would intend.  Prevention is the key!

And as always if you have any questions please don’t hesitate to send us a message.