Vitamins are essential in keeping the skin healthy. In fact, there are a lot of beauty and skin care products in the market that use these natural vitamins and minerals as their ingredients. Vitamin C is said to be one of the vitamins that are very beneficial in helping the skin regenerate.
Vitamin C is transformed into L-ascorbic acid in order to become usable for the skin. This form, however, is pretty unstable and is in fact so hard to be used in cosmetics. This is perhaps the reason why there are only a few cosmetic products that carry Vitamin C when compared to other vitamins like A and E. Still, chemists are trying to find ways as this form is a good way to stimulate collagen on the skin.
Unlike other vitamins, it is also able to stay in the skin for as long as three days. It prevents a reaction called UV immunosuppression.
In looking for Vitamin C in products, make sure that it contains a stable L-ascorbic form and a low pH level. Remember that just because a product advertises Vitamin C on its front level, it does not mean that it contains the kind or the form (L-ascorbic acid) that your skin can use.
A shield from the sun
Vitamin C, as mentioned above, serves as a good shield from the sun, which harms the skin by drying it up and causing wrinkles and lines to show up. Vitamin C does this by neutralizing the reactive oxygen or free radicals. The interaction of sunlight, skin tissues and of course the cell membrane cause this skin issue.
But though it prevents the absorption of light, it should not be used to replace sunscreen. Skin care experts still recommend the use of sunscreen for maximum sun protection. Still, you can combine vitamin C with sunscreens for more coverage and longer protection.
It is an anti-oxidant
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in the oxidation process. It prevents free radicals from destroying the skin. Ultraviolet rays from the sun and its reaction with oxygen cause Free Radicals.
Stimulating Collagen
The vitamin helps synthesize collagen. It is a component of the skin that is essential in slowing down the aging process of the skin. L-ascorbic acid signals the collagen genes to begin creating new collagen.