Vitamin C-based skin care products may lighten patches that are darker than the rest of your skin, called hyperpigmentation. In one study, vitamin C applied to the skin for 16 weeks significantly cut down on these spots.
What It Does: This potent antioxidant interferes with the production of pigment in the skin, fading dark spots. When You'll See Results: Once you add vitamin C to your skincare regimen, you may start seeing noticeable improvements in three weeks. It can help significantly fade hyperpigmentation in about two months.
Vitamin C also functions as a brightening agent. It has properties that reduce dark spots without changing your skin color. Combining vitamin C serums with other brightening agents like iontophoresis can significantly enhance the results. It improves the appearance of scars caused by acne.
When vitamin C is exposed to light it becomes unstable, the consequences include irritation, inflammation and acne. All of these can cause post inflammatory pigmentation, leaving you worse off than when you started.
Vitamin D is one of the best vitamins for your skin, along with vitamins C, E, and K. Making sure you get enough vitamins can keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. This could translate to a reduction in: dark spots.
Does Vitamin C really darken my skin? No, it does not. It may stain your skin but it cannot darken your skin. It is important to know the difference between staining and darkening the skin.
On top of that, vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure. It also inhibits melanin production in the skin, which helps to lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots, even out skin tone, and enhance skin radiance.
Many people wonder when the best time is to use their Vitamin C products. While some associate Vitamin C with daytime, others believe nights and evenings are best to use their Vitamin C-infused products. The truth is, Vitamin C can work effectively in the days or evenings.
One of the best ways to use vitamin C for dark spots is to add it to an evening moisturizer. That's when our Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riche Treatment comes in! This velvety-smooth cream offers a luxe level of moisture for softer, more youthful skin when you wake up.
Can Vitamin C Serums Cause Acne? No, vitamin C serums cannot cause acne.
For skin lightening, a high dose of 1000mg to 3000mg is recommended. Even your body produces glutathione from amino acids. Take a high dose of 1,000 – 3,000 mg of Vitamin C daily either through supplements or fruits.
“In general vitamin C products should be applied in the morning before heading out for the day, when UV radiation is at its highest,” Dr. Hogan says. But vitamin C becomes less effective when exposed to light, so it's important to give it time to absorb into your skin before going outside, SELF explained previously.
This incredible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory nutrient is known to improve skin tone and texture, hydrate the skin, and reduce signs of aging. Adding vitamin C to your skin care routine can not only brighten your complexion but also protect against skin damage caused by sun exposure and harmful free radicals.
“Vitamin C is essential for skin health. The addition of vitamin E makes it even better.” This power-packed serum features not one, not two, but THREE sources of vitamin C. Pure vitamin C + vitamin E support skin's natural repair process.
Daily intake of vitamin C boosts immunity and helps your body keep the infection causing pathogens at bay. It is also known to work magically when it comes to skincare. It repairs your skin tissue and protects your skin cells from the harmful effects of free radicals caused by UV exposure.
You will likely notice skin improvement 4-12 weeks after starting routine use of vitamin C serum.
"Because vitamin C serum helps protect your skin from free radicals, most dermatologists have recommended applying it in the morning to prevent damage during the day," says Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
AHAs and BHAs, such as glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids should never be used with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is an acid, too, and is unstable, so the pH balance will be thrown off by layering these ingredients together and might as well be useless.
When in the vitamin C is in high concentration, the serum will have a yellowish color; but as it oxidizes, it will turn brown/orange. Cosmetic vitamin C preparations that have discolored should be discarded as they have already oxidized and cannot provide skin benefits.
6. It reduces the appearance of under-eye circles. Vitamin C serums can help smooth out fine lines by plumping and hydrating the under-eye area. Although vitamin C is more effective at reducing overall redness, some people say it can help alleviate discoloration associated with under-eye circles.
As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin C is "a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals," explains board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler, M.D. "Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in your skin's natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells."
Vitamin C preparations can also discolor on the skin surface as they contact oxygen in the environment. This accounts for the orange color that may emerge on the skin in the morning after wearing a vitamin C preparation overnight. For this reason, vitamin C serums should be in light and oxygen impermeable packaging.