Topical Vitamin C Skin Benefits

Vitamin C is probably one of the most talked about nutrients in terms of its benefits for skin, and particularly when it comes to applying it topically. However, as with lots of things it is much more complex that just applying vitamin C onto the face as there are many different types of topical vitamin C, and while some of them can have brightening benefits there are also lots that cause irritation and we feel they should be avoided. At Nakin we do not add vitamins to our formulas and instead use plant extracts that are rich in vitamins and minerals, and so naturally benefit the skin when applied.

We wanted to write an article about the benefits of applying vitamin C for skin, as it’s something we hear about on a daily basis. All vitamins are good for skin, but vitamin C is especially helpful for ageing issues like dullness and discolouration. We are sharing the facts on the types of vitamin C available for topical skin use, how to use Vitamin C on your skin, and how it benefits skin.

Vitamin C in beauty products are really beneficial for skin and helps by:

• Brightening the complexion
• Improving the look of dark spots, discolouration and skin tone
• Boosting collagen production
• Protecting skin from free radical damage
• Delivering powerful antioxidants to prevent and overcome skin ageing

How Does Vitamin C Skincare Work?

Vitamin C works to brighten, reduce pigmentation and spruce skins collagen. It also shields against free radical damage. If you're not familiar with free radicals, then they are damaging as they cause cellular corrosion. Cellular damage stops the skin from functioning at its optimal level. It also prevents skin from looking its best and can result in dull, tired prematurely aged skin.

When skincare with vitamin C is applied to skin, it is able to reach into the epidermis and dermis, as it is a water-soluble vitamin. This is where the potent antioxidants work on cells to fight any oxidative stress, strengthen capillary walls and boost collagen production. You may see results instantly, but the best results will be seen after a month of use, as this is how long it takes the new skin cells to reach the surface. Skin should be fresher, brighter, more even looking and plumper.

If you ever apply a vitamin C product to your face and feel an itching, burning and irritated feel then we recommend washing it off immediately as this is a sign that the ingredient is too strong for the complexion. There is a school of thought that this type of tingling is a sign that the product is working, however, for us we feel this is more a sign that a product is damaging to our skin and should be avoided. 

Natural Vitamin C Skincare

As we are unable to synthesis vitamin C without including it in our diet, or applying it topically to skin, eating a diet rich in vitamin C and using skincare products with vitamin C in is important. At Nakin we believe in only applying vitamin C to skin from natural sources. A lot of skincare on the market utilises vitamin C from the synthetic form which is absorbic acid, and variations of this such as magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (another vitamin C derivative used in skin care for a hydrating effect). At Nakin we do not recommend using skincare with this synthetic Vitamin C, mainly because it can cause sensitivity. Instead natural skincare offers the finest plant ingredients which can be naturalyl filled with micronutrients, including Vitamin C.

At Nakin we have formulated our anti-ageing face care to include lots of nutrients from the power of plants, that have benefits for skin when applied topically. All of our products contain lots of ingredients that are naturally rich in vitamins from the natural plant ingredients that they are formulated with, such as plant oils and pomegranate. Our best products for skin repair are the Exfoliating Radiance Tonic, Performance Face Serum and Revitalising Face Oil as these are our treatment products, that offer the highest level of anti-ageing. Our Exfoliating Radiance Tonic contains lots of fruit extracts and the Eye Cream Complex and Performance Face Serum are especially developed for skin repair and deliver natural vitamins from the Hibiscus Extract, Argan Oil, Baobab Oil, Green Tea and Pomegranate Extract. Our Revitalising Face Oil includes natural vitamins from the plant oils such as Peach Kernel Oil, Argan and Baobab.

As the vitamins appear in our products from only 100% natural sources, it means Nakin products are kind to even sensitive skin. Applying our skincare daily every morning and evening is a lovely way to look after the face and neck. We hope that you can try the range and feel the benefits from it.

Is Absorbic Acid Safe To Use On The Face?

We do not recommend using products with the absorbic acid version of vitamin C. In order to be effective it needs to be in high concentrations. However, applying products with a high percentage of absorbic acid means that the product could cause sensitivity to the skin. In fact when researching this article Nakin’s founder Cris Beetham tried out some products with 23% vitamin C, which was in the form of absorbic acid and Cris found that it made her skin react badly, “I applied the product to my whole face and immediately it started itching, which progressed to a burning feeling. I washed the whole product off and am now an advocate of only using skincare products that contain completely natural vitamin C from plant oils. This is how we include Vitamin C in Nakin’s Anti-Ageing Skincare.” The aim with skincare is to constantly get the best results from what we put on our skin. It’s not about getting bright skin at all costs, so avoid products with absorbic acid in as they can be too harsh, which in itself will cause skin damage.

The Future of Vitamin C in Skincare

The future of vitamin C in skincare and its many benefits is still being studied, and it seems the potential as an anti-ageing agent is yet untapped.  This could be especially true in using Vitamin C to protect against sun damage to the skin, and the effect when combined with other powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin E. The NCBI (National Centre For Biotechnology Information) recognise the benefits of vitamin C for skin when delivered in the correct format and quantity. This includes the powerful anti-oxidant nature of Vitamin C and ability to help with photoprotection and it can even protection against UV, especially when used with Vitamin E. It also reduces skin inflammation and collagen breakdown; but assists with skin loving collagen biosynthesis. The NCBI have been studying Vitamin C and its benefits for photodamage. They report that Vitamin C and Vitamin E work together to restrict UV damage by significantly reducing both cell apoptosis and thymine dimer formation. They also report on studies where Vitamin C and Vitamin E combined with Ferulic Acid may at some point be used to prevent skin cancer.

We hope you found this feature helpful. If you are currently using vitamin C or have any feedback for us then we would love to hear from you and our website is www.nakinskincare.com Customer feedback is really important to us at Nakin, as we work to produce the best natural skincare in the UK. Our range has everything that you need for your face care routine, and is also cruelty free.