Skin Care Benefits of Vitamin C

Pop quiz: do we call oranges oranges because they’re orange, or do we call orange orange because it’s the color of oranges?

Turns out, the color is named after the fruit. Oranges were introduced to the English by the Spanish, who called them naranjas. They got that word from the Arabic name for the fruit, naaranj. So maybe a more interesting question is, what did the English call things that were orange before they had the word orange as a color?

So why all the orange talk? For most people, we’re betting an orange is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “Vitamin C.” That’s because citrus fruits contain Vitamin C (along with many other fruits and vegetables). Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid, short for antiscorbutic and derived from its ability to prevent scurvy. But we’re not here to talk about scurvy -- apologies to any sailors -- we’re here to talk about skincare!

Vitamin C is a powerful and important antioxidant, essential for optimum skin health. L-ascorbic acid is one of the most common forms of Vitamin C and research shows that L-ascorbic acid can do a lot of good stuff:

Repair Free-Radical Damage

As we mentioned a few weeks ago, free radicals are bad. While Vitamin E is the primary defender against oxidation, Vitamin C is particularly potent against the free radicals caused by pollution. When you apply Vitamin C to your skin, it neutralizes free radicals by donating one of its electrons to an unstable free radical, making it whole and happy. Contrary to how free radicals are formed, antioxidants like Vitamin C remain stable, even with the loss of their donated electron. 

Promote Collagen Production

Collagen is the key to firm, soft, and supple skin. Skin loses its elasticity without it, which leads to wrinkles and fine lines. Our bodies naturally create collagen, but that ability diminishes as we age. Luckily, Vitamin C has been proven to stimulate the synthesis of collagen when topically applied.

Reduce Inflammation

Research shows that Vitamin C protects against harmful substances that contribute to disease. Because of this, studies suggest that it has some anti-inflammatory benefits.

Strengthen Skin and Hair

While it is promoting collagen production, Vitamin C works to strengthen blood vessels underneath the skin. It also plays a significant role in absorbing iron, which helps keep hair healthy and strong.

Your body naturally produces some antioxidants, but Vitamin C isn’t one of them. That’s why it’s important to introduce the nutrient to your body through diet (think broccoli, citrus fruit, strawberries, and tomatoes) and skin care every day.  Enter our Antioxidant Skin Boost: the powder mix combines L-ascorbic acid with Organic Pomegranate Extract, Allantoin, Hyaluronic Acid, and Resveratrol for a product that repairs and protects. Use our Antioxidant Skin Boost every night to give your complexion a healthy glow while slowing down the aging process.

If vitamin C is already part of your routine or if you’ve tried our Antioxidant Skin Boost, we would love to know how it’s working out for you. Leave us a comment on our social media platforms or send us an e-mail to info@sallybskinyummies.com.