The Vit-Hit: Why your skin needs vitamin C

Think of vitamin C and rich, juice-laden citrus fruits immediately spring to mind. Not only an essential component of a healthy diet, this wonder-working vitamin is also the glow-getting ingredient of many a skincare product. You know it’s good for you, but do you know why? Or just how exactly to get the best-quality vit-hit for your complexion?

Here’s the low-down.

So, what exactly is vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a highly-powerful antioxidant that helps the body to create and maintain healthy connective tissue. You can find it in fruits and vegetables like oranges, strawberries, tomatoes and kale. And, it features widely in skincare too.

Why does your skin need it?

It boosts collagen production, visibly improves the appearance of sun damage or scarring and, as it’s an antioxidant, helps to enforce the skin’s natural protective barrier. What does this mean? Well, vitamin C can act as the first line of defence against environmental aggressors like pollution and UVA rays – staving off damage caused by those pesky free radicals.

Hailed for its brightening and anti-ageing qualities, vitamin C bolsters the structure of the skin, giving it an overall more perky and youthful appearance.

While vitamin C is used in skincare, it confusingly takes many guises. All you need to know is that ascorbic acid is the ingredient with the most scientific research behind it, so look out for that on the label.

And how can you get your daily dose?

Vitamin C can be taken as a diet supplement or applied topically in the form of a cream. The higher the concentration of vitamin C in the formulation, the more effective the results.

For advice on what vitamin C skincare products to use or how to incorporate some supplements into your lifestyle, talk to Marlene at the clinic today.