Upkeep's Guide To Vitamin C

There’s no such thing as a cure-all product, right? There’s no such thing as a product that has something for literally everyone.

Well…that’s what we used to think, until we learned more about Vitamin C. And it really might be a product that offers benefits for just about everyone. Vitamin C is the one skincare product besides the absolute basics–cleanser, moisturizer, exfoliant, and SPF–that we think basically everyone should use. Why? Because it has so many benefits!

What is Vitamin C?

Vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid, comes in a couple different forms. You can eat it–it’s plentiful in foods like oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, and leafy green veggies like spinach, kale, and broccoli. And it’s an essential nutrient because it helps your body form blood vessels, muscle, and collagen in bones. It also helps your body heal. 

The other form of Vitamin C is as a skincare product. When applied topically to your skin, its primary function is as an antioxidant that fights free radicals. You might be wondering, what the heck are free radicals?! It sounds like the name of your ex boyfriend’s garage band, but the term “free radicals” is kinda technical. A free radical is an atom that has at least one unpaired electron. That makes them more reactive and capable of damaging the DNA in your body’s skin cells. Which means, they make your skin look worse over time. Vitamin C essentially neutralizes the free radicals. In other words, vitamin C’s antioxidant power makes it sort of like a shield against tiny, unseen particles in your environment that can damage your skin. So what does that ultimately mean for your skin? Keep reading to find out.

Vitamin C improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

t’s not Botox, but Vitamin C can soften the look of fine lines with consistent use. If you’re starting to notice signs of aging, a Vitamin C product should work its way into your skincare rotation, pronto. 

Vitamin C improves your skin’s overall appearance

Vitamin C is probably best known for its ability to impart a brightened, glowing appearance. If your skin tends to get dull-looking (especially in winter), Vitamin C can help perk you up and make your skin more glowing and bright.

Vitamin C helps protect you from the sun

It won’t replace SPF but clinical studies suggest that using Vitamin C in conjunction with SPF can protect your skin from the long-term damage of ultraviolet rays. And as we know, unprotected sun exposure is one of the biggest contributors to wrinkles and photoaging of skin. So, if you want to protect yourself from the sun as best as possible, Vitamin C is important. 

Vitamin C reduces the appearance of dark spots

Vitamin C blocks the production of pigment in our skin, according to the fancy folks at Harvard Medical School. It won’t completely erase the look of dark spots, but it can stop them from getting worse and brighten them up a little, and every little bit helps. If you’re prone to dark spots, Vitamin C should be your best friend.

Vitamin C *might* help with acne

There’s not a ton of data out there, but there are some promising results from early research that Vitamin C can help reduce inflammation. Since acne is an inflammatory condition, Vitamin C may be a useful tool if you suffer from painful breakouts. One study combined the use of Vitamin C with retinol and found that this combo gave test subjects the most improvement. We do advise, however, that you don’t apply both retinoids and Vitamin C products at the same time of day. Do retinoids at night, and apply Vitamin C in the morning. 

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Upkeep’s Vitamin C recommendations:

Lumene Valo C Serum: A budget option that gets its Vitamin C from the cloudberries of Northern Finland!

Sunday Riley CEO 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum: It smells like oranges and is a gentle option for sensitive skin. 

Biossance Squalane and Vitamin C Rose Firming Oil: A luxuriously nourishing face oil for folks with dry skin.

Skinceuticals C E Ferulic: this option is expensive, but it’s patented, and probably the most potent Vitamin C product you can find outside of a derm’s office. Choose this one if dullness or environmental damage is a major concern for you. 

Tatcha Violet C Brightening Serum: this gorgeously-packaged luxury product is actually a combo of vitamin C and AHAs for the ultimate in glowing, refreshed skin. 

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