More and more serums and creams are being formulated with vitamin C. Why? Because this naturally sourced nutrient provides a bevy of benefits. It’s such a powerful ingredient that after you read this, you will understand what all the craze is about and will most definitely want to use vitamin C in your skincare.

What is vitamin C?

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient that the human body needs to form its blood vessels, cartilage, muscles, and collagen in the bones. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that not only helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, but also assists the skin’s healing process.¹.

Since it’s not produced naturally by the human body, it is essential to nourish the body with foods high in vitamin C such as citrus fruits, berries, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, spinach, and more. When ingested, it acts on the body as a whole. However, if you apply it topically, you will notice the multiple skin benefits of vitamin C.

Which form of vitamin C is most effective for the skin?

You can add vitamin C into your daily ritual by stuffing yourself with broccoli salad, but who really wants to do that? The simpler and more efficient way to benefit from vitamin C in skincare is to find beauty products that contain stabilized and encapsulated vitamin C. This chemically modified ascorbic acid improves oxidation stability while maintaining the same properties as vitamin C. It is encapsulated in a vesicle called a “niosome”, which also improves the diffusion in the upper layer of the skin for a more radiant complexion. Essentially, it’s the superman version of vitamin C for the skin.

What are the benefits of vitamin C in skincare?

If more and more brands are integrating this glow-up ingredient into their beauty products, it’s because its effectiveness has been backed by science. Here are the main benefits of vitamin C in skincare.

 

1. Evens out skin tone

 

Vitamin C in skincare is effective at evening out skin complexion thanks to its dark spot fading power. It reduces the number of dark spots on the skin by 40%.* It slows down the production of melanin to reduce the appearance of these unwanted spots without irritating the skin².

 

2. Provides a boost in radiance

 

Vitamin C for the skin is notably used in many eye contour creams available on the market. Indeed, its antioxidant power makes it an ideal ingredient; it acts against skin aging by protecting the upper layer of the skin from the formation of free radicals.³ 

3. Helps reduce the signs of aging

 

We warned you that it had all the qualities you were searching for! Vitamin C in skincare accelerates the natural production of collagen and elastin – two essential substances for maintaining volume and firmness in the skin. This results in healthier- and younger-looking skin.

 

4. Suitable for most skin types

 

Vitamin C does not pose a risk to human health, according to EWG⁴. In fact, several products that contain this crown jewel of ingredients – including the PHYTO-GLOW face care products from the brand new Oceanly line – are rated EWG VERIFIED™ in the reputable Skin Deep® database. 

How to use Vitamin C for the skin?

Daily use of products containing vitamin C is safe. However, before prolonged sun exposure, it is suggested to use a SPF after the application of vitamin C (and even if you’re not using vitamin C!) for optimal protection of the skin. Indeed, the sun can modify the active ingredients of vitamin C. This is why vitamin C serum bottles are often dark in color.

How to integrate vitamin C into your beauty ritual?

To adopt a totally worry-free beauty routine with stabilized and encapsulated vitamin C, be sure to choose products that are EWG VERIFIED™. PHYTO-GLOW solid face care from the new groundbreaking Oceanly line is the perfect example. The 100% vegan, plastic-free, Canada-made, and dermatologically tested products include:

• PHYTO-GLOW face serum – enriched with stabilized and encapsulated vitamin C, phytoglycogen, provitamin B5, and Canadian dulse extract
• PHYTO-GLOW day cream – enriched with stabilized and encapsulated vitamin C, phytoglycogen, and Canadian dulse extract.
• PHYTO-GLOW night cream – enriched with stabilized and encapsulated vitamin C, phytoglycogen, Canadian dulse extract, and safflower oil
• PHYTO-GLOW eye cream – enriched with stabilized and encapsulated vitamin C, phytoglycogen, and Ecklonia cava extract

Find out more about Oceanly, the first complete line of solid, plastic-free and EWG VERIFIED™ skincare.

1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-vitamin-c/art-20363932
2. https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(96)90830-0/pdf
3. https://cosmileeurope.eu/fr/inci/ingredient/1234/ascorbic-acid/?_gl=1*hr0d1y*_up*MQ..*_ga*MTc3NjQ1NTc1OS4xNzExNzQyODcy*_ga_1B824DSKXD*MTcxMTc0Mjg3MS4xLjEuMTcxMTc0Mjg3NC4wLjAuMA..
4. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700544-ASCORBIC_ACID_VITAMIN_C/

* Study carried out on a cream containing 3% NIO-VSC, 56 days, 2 applications/day, 18 volunteers.