Humans need Vitamin C. Since we can’t make it ourselves, we have to get our Vitamin C from outside sources like dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, papayas, and strawberries.

The Vitamin C that we eat serves an important nutritional purpose inside of our bodies, but only a tightly regulated amount from our diet is available for our skin [1]. The Vitamin C in our food and supplements doesn’t have much impact on the appearance of our skin [1]. To have a visible effect on our skin’s appearance, we need to apply a topical Vitamin C product.

Are you considering adding a topical Vitamin C product to your skincare routine? Here are five reasons why you should:

1. Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Antioxidants are known for reducing oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) [2]. These radicals can cause a chain reaction in the cells which leads to cell damage and aging. As an antioxidant, Vitamin C donates electrons to neutralize ROS. The bad news is that Vitamin C oxidizes (breaks down) easily, and oxidized Vitamin C won’t have any beneficial effects on your skin. To reap the full benefits of Vitamin C, make sure your Vitamin C product is the type that doesn’t oxidize easily. For instance, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is more stable than its Vitamin C counterparts.

2. Vitamin C can help alleviate the appearance of photoaging.Vitamin C has a protective effect against UV rays from the sun which can cause mutation of skin cells and aging [2]. Vitamin C has a UV protective effect by neutralizing free radicals that can damage the skin.

3. Vitamin C can increase collagen production. About fifty percent of sailors used to die of scurvy before it was discovered that this disease could be avoided by eating limes, a fruit high in Vitamin C. The symptoms of scurvy occurred because of reduced collagen synthesis that is attributed to Vitamin C deficiency. In fact, the word “ascorbic” comes from the term “ascorbutic” which means, “without scurvy” [3].

4. Vitamin C balances skin tone by decreasing melanin formation.Vitamin C isn’t toxic to the cells that produce melanin like some remedies for dark spots. It can reduce the appearance of dark spots on a cellular level by interrupting the process of over-producing melanin [2].

5. Vitamin C has potential anti-inflammatory effects.Vitamin C can be helpful in improving the appearance of acne and rosacea by inhibiting NFkB, one of the protein complexes responsible for inflammatory responses [1].

Vitamin C is generally regarded as safe for most people when used according to recommendations. However, Vitamin C can make skin more sensitive to sunlight, so follow-up with a sunscreen after using Vitamin C if you’ll l be exposed to sunlight.

Sometimes Vitamin C users can experience stinging, redness, or dryness. If this happens to you, cut back on the number of times that you’re applying Vitamin C and use a moisturizer to relieve dryness. Vitamin C is safe to use with most products except you shouldn't cocktail Vitamin C with other products that contain Vitamin C and don’t use with products that contain Benzoyl Peroxide, Retinol, or AHAs/BHAs. While you shouldn’t use L-Ascorbic Acid with Niacinamide, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate are safe to use with products that contain Niacinamide.

1. Lionetti, N., A Balancing Act: Stabilizing Vitamin C for Skin Benefits. Cosmetics & Toiletries, 2020. 135(1): p. 44-51.
   2. Telang, P.S., Vitamin C in dermatology. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2013. 4(2): p. 143-146.
   3. Price, C. The Age of Scurvy. Distillations 2017 [cited 2020 November 13]; Available from: https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/the-age-of-scurvy.