Vitamin C

Here’s what you need to know about this powerful anti-aging ingredient and how to easily incorporate it into your daily skincare routine.

If you need to kick a cold STAT, you know to reach for an immunity-boosting dose of vitamin C. But the benefits of vitamin C go way beyond helping to prevent the flu. When applied topically to your skin, it can be incredibly effective at retexturizing, restoring radiance and evening skin tone. “Vitamin C is one of my favorite ingredients. It addresses multiple skin concerns and is one of the most effective antioxidants,” says Clinique Derm Pro Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. Here's what you need to know about this powerful anti-aging ingredient and how to easily incorporate it into your daily skincare routine.

What are the benefits of vitamin C?

“Daily use of vitamin C is a must to protect the skin from premature aging,” says Dr. Michelle Henry. It's a powerful antioxidant, which means it helps neutralize free radicals on the skin. Free radicals originate from pollution or UV exposure, and they attack your cells, speeding up the aging process that leads to wrinkles, rough skin texture, enlarged pores, and skin dullness, etc.—unless they're intercepted by an antioxidant. That's where vitamin C comes in. It has also been shown that vitamin C helps boost natural collagen and elastin production (which strengthens and plumps up the skin), brighten dark spots and prevent future hyperpigmentation from forming. It’s one of the best vitamins for skin rejuvenation.

Buyer beware: Not all vitamin C is created equal.

The one drawback: vitamin C is a notoriously unstable skincare ingredient, meaning its full potential is easily compromised by the skincare formula and packaging it comes in. The second it is exposed to oxygen or light, it starts to lose its potency. So while you may scan the ingredient list of a skincare product for vitamin C (also known as Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbyl Glucoside), it's not a sure thing that you're actually getting a powerhouse of a treatment.

Skin School: Ingredient To Know: Vitamin C | Clinique

The beauty breakthrough.

The mission was to preserve the purest and freshest form of topical vitamin C possible, up until the very minute it will be applied to the skin. Thanks to a revolutionary lightproof, airtight dual chamber and an extremely potent form of dry vitamin C powder, Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% is a true beauty breakthrough. “Vitamin C is most effective when it’s fresh. This formula is so powerful because the special packing keeps it at peak potency until the minute you use it,” explains Dr. Michelle Henry. Just press the bottom of the vial to release the vitamin C powder into a skin-soothing emulsion, shake it all up, then pump out two drops into your moisturizer. One vial has just the right amount for a 7-day treatment. You’ll see an immediate boost in skin radiance as well as a visible reduction in lines and wrinkles and a more lifted and firm appearance over time.

That vitamin C glow.

Cleansing with vitamin C first thing in the morning invigorates tired skin and helps jump-start the cellular renewal process to reveal fresher, brighter skin. Fresh Pressed Renewing Powder Cleanser with Pure Vitamin C has the same pure and powerful vitamin C than Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% at active levels, in convenient single-serving size packettes, which also makes it a travel must-have. Pour it into your palm, then add water to create a rich, creamy cleanser that gently exfoliates while removing impurities. Massage over skin in circular motions and you can even leave it on for one minute as a mini brightening facial. The non-drying, non-stripping formula gives skin an instant healthy glow while also removing complexion-dulling toxins and impurities.

Photos: Darrin Haddad | Words: Dawn Spinner Davis