Why Vitamin C is key for the perfect skincare routine
Your anti-ageing routine is nothing without this skincare ingredient
Text: Sam Y
We all know that Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) is good for us. Good hair, good bones, good teeth, right? As it’s a vitamin not naturally produced by the body, we fill our diets with vitamin drinks, supplements and citrus foods to boost our intake. But Vitamin C is also a key skincare ingredient for our skin and complexion, and including it in our daily nutrition only goes so far. According to dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler, applying it topically is a whopping twenty times more potent than oral intake.
Benefits of Vitamin C application on the skin are plenty, with research revealing a plethora of plus-points ranging from reducing overall redness, improving hydration, healing wounds and anti-ageing effects. Some even say that it can help alleviate discoloration associated with under-eye circles and bags.
Today, it’s a firm favourite in the beauty industry. It’s frequently recommended by dermatologists due to its multiple skincare benefits, and the fact that it’s generally safe to use on all skin types — as a rule, it doesn’t have the same potentially skin-irritating side effects as other active ingredients like retinol.
To find out more about why Vitamin C is such an important ingredient in skincare, we spoke to Iroshini Chua, co-founder of Dr Kevin Chua Medical and Aesthetics.
TS: How does Vitamin C work on our skin?
IC: It works as an antioxidant, soaking up free radicals and preventing damage. It also helps with collagen growth and aids your skin’s natural regeneration process. Vitamin C is therefore a great way to combat daily aggressors such as UV damage and air pollution.
TS: What’s the difference between applying it topically and ingesting it?
IC: The direct approach ensures better availability to the skin where needed, as opposed to waiting for the ingested vitamins and nutrients from our diets to eventually enter our bloodstream.
TS: What are some of the long-term benefits of Vitamin C, applying it to your skin regularly?
IC: Thanks to its high acidity, Vitamin C triggers self-healing by accelerating the production of collagen and elastin, leaving our skin appearing brighter and firmer. It also helps with skin discoloration such as dark spots and hyperpigmentation with regular use. In addition to keeping signs of premature ageing at bay, Vitamin C may also help protect skin from precancerous changes caused by UV exposure.
TS: How can we incorporate Vitamin C into our skincare routine?
IC: The good news is, it’s safe for all skin types and should be used after cleansing or a toner if you use one. The best Vitamin C skincare product is in the form of a serum. Additionally, pure ascorbic acid has consistently been proven to be the most effective at penetrating the skin barrier. You’ll only need a few drops for each application due to its strength. Those with more sensitive skin should try a test area first and start with a lower concentration.
Seeing as different skincare products contain different percentages of Vitamin C, it’s worth seeking advice from a dermatologist or skincare expert before use. Generally, first-timers should look for products formulated with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, a form of Vitamin C which is less irritating and largely tolerated by all skin types.
While some more potentially irritating skincare ingredients need a more slowly-slowly approach, Vitamin C doesn’t require quite as much caution, but it’s always best to start small and build up gently to daily usage in your beauty routine.
