Over the past two weeks, we have covered the important skin care benefits of Vitamin A and the B-Group Vitamins.  In part three of our three-part series on vitamins and their skin care benefits, we tackle one of the most common and praised vitamins out there.

Spotlight This Week: Vitamin C

It’s not just for scurvy anymore! We could confidently state that Vitamin C is the darling of the vitamin world for both internal and external applications.  It is found readily in many foods and provides skin care benefits without being applied topically; however, topically applied Vitamin C can seriously amplify the skin care results you seek.

This super-star antioxidant is a key factor in collagen production - collagen is what gives your skin its strength and firmness – and it battles unstable molecules called free radicals which can damage your skin and cause dryness or even wrinkles.  Therefore, Vitamin C is found in the best anti-aging products as it not only slows down the aging process, it can even reverse the signs!

Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid or ascorbyl palmitate in many skin care products.  In addition to its anti-aging antioxidant properties, Vitamin C in your skin care products can protect your skin from UVA and UVA damage, assist in lightening dark spots, and reducing inflammation.

Quick Tips

Vitamin C, like all antioxidants, loses functionality when exposed to air and light.  To ensure the longevity of your Vitamin C products, keep them out of direct sunlight and close the caps tightly after application.  Be sure to pick products in opaque packaging to further protect their integrity.