Vitamin C serums are some of the most popular skin care products out there, and there are a lot of different ones to choose from. So, what is it exactly that people love so much about them? And how exactly do they work? Here’s the breakdown:
Vitamin C helps protect the skin by neutralizing harmful free radicals
Free radicals can occur naturally in our body, but they can also be formed from environmental factors, such as smoke, radiation, and pollution. They also accumulate more as we get older. When too many free radicals are present, they damage the skin, causing pigmentation problems and other skin problems. The best defense against these free radicals is plenty of antioxidants. Vitamin C and Vitamin E are two extremely effective antioxidants, and work well in skin care products. Many Vitamin C serums also contain Vitamin E, boosting their antioxidant power. These antioxidants neutralize the free radicals, reducing further skin damage.
Vitamin C helps to brighten the skin
A significant portion of the visible damage caused by free radicals comes in the form of hyperpigmentation and age spots. Not only does Vitamin C help to prevent further damage, it also inhibits a key enzyme in producing skin pigment, helping to lighten discoloration in the skin.
Vitamin C helps to boost collagen production
Another way free radicals damage the skin is that they can attack collagen structure. Protecting your body from them will help collagen to continue to be produced at a healthy level. Vitamin C is also an essential nutrient that the body uses in the production of collagen. These factors allow these serums to help improve elasticity in the skin.
Vitamin C serums use carriers to deliver Vitamin C into the skin efficiently
Most Vitamin C serums use carriers such as Hyaluronic Acid to deliver the vitamin deeper into the skin to be fully absorbed. Hyaluronic Acid also gives these serums the added benefit of moisturizing the skin (especially when paired with vitamin E.)