The Benefits of Vitamin C Treatments

You know that vitamin C is good for your body, so you probably already make an effort to eat foods rich in this powerful vitamin. Citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, strawberries, and papaya are all extremely rich in vitamin C. When you get sick, it is likely you turn to some of the foods with high levels of this restorative vitamin, as well as take vitamin C supplements to boost your immune system and help your body heal. However, you still may not realize quite how essential vitamin C is to a healthy body.

Vitamin C is vital for growing and repairing tissue throughout your body. It helps your body make collagen, which is a vital connective protein used to create blood vessels, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and skin. In order for your body to heal from any wound or damage, vitamin C is necessary for tissue repair. Vitamin C also aids in keeping your bones and teeth strong, as well as helping your body absorb iron. Deficiencies in vitamin C can cause a whole host of problems within your body, from high blood pressure to bleeding gums. Without a doubt, vitamin C is crucial to your health, but it is just as necessary to keep your skin healthy and youthful.

When it comes to your skin, vitamin C is equally potent. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects skin and promotes healing. Since vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen in the body, it makes sense that it helps prevent the signs of aging in your skin. As an antioxidant, it provides protection for your skin, too. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which can damage the proteins, lipids and DNA in your skin, causing cell damage. Pollution, oxygen, cigarette smoke, and UV rays all damage our skin, but using a topical antioxidant can help defend your skin from further harm. Applied topically, vitamin C has been found to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as aiding in improving the look of skin discoloration. In addition, it boosts your skin’s ability to retain moisture. With its long list of benefits and strong history of research backing up its effectiveness, there is little wonder as to why people flock to skincare with vitamin C.

Still, not all products are created equal. What should you look for in a vitamin C skincare product? First, know that products containing vitamin C—and all other antioxidants, like vitamins A and E—are extremely susceptible to destabilization when they are exposed to either air or light. Any product containing vitamin C should be packaged in an opaque container with a pump release that minimizes the amount of air and light that the product comes into contact with. Next, it’s important to understand the different forms of vitamin C you might find in your skincare so that you can choose the right product for your skin.

Ascorbic acid—also sometimes listed as L-ascorbic acid—is the most common form of vitamin C found in skincare. Thankfully, it’s also the most stable. Time and time again, research has proven that when properly incorporated in a product, ascorbic acid can help lessen the appearance of  hyperpigmentation and sun damage. It also helps skin appear younger, firmer, and more radiant over time. L-ascorbic acid also helps replenish another antioxidant in your skin, vitamin E which inspires an extended youthful appearance.

Other forms of vitamin C you might find in your skincare—but might not be able to pronounce!—are retinyl ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ascorbyl glucosamine, and ascorbyl palmitate. These forms of vitamin C have less research behind them supporting their effectiveness, but have still been shown to be beneficial to skin. Nevertheless, these forms of vitamin C are usually incorporated with other anti-aging agents to boost their effectiveness. If you want the ideal outcome for your skin, look for vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid, which offers the best anti-aging results and helps you achieve visibly healthier, glowing skin.

When you’re looking for skincare with vitamin C, pay close attention to the concentration of the antioxidant within the product. Vitamin C is thought to be most effective at concentrations of 5% or higher.

Advanced C Radiance Treatment with Vitamin C Collagen Cofactor 10x contains a 10 percent concentration of stabilized vitamin C to help reduce the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and sun damage. This water-free cream also contains retinol, which assists with the resurfacing of the skin. The combination of these two products diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and also helps brighten discoloration for radiant, younger-looking skin. The treatment cream is packaged in an opaque pump bottle to ensure that air and light do not destabilized the vitamin C, allowing the antioxidant to maintain its full strength. You can use this vitamin C treatment to enhance the stimulation of your skin’s repair process in conjunction with other products in the Lancer Advanced Anti-Aging line.

If you’re looking to get the very most out of your vitamin C treatments, try Lancer Skincare’s Enhanced Regimen: Lift and Brighten which pairs your vitamin C cream with a brightening serum for the ultimate in bright, healthy-looking skin. Fade Serum Intense, a lightweight serum containing LES 10 Brightening Complex, is formulated with red algae extract to brighten skin by reducing the appearance of brown spots and hyperpigmentation. Sugar cane extract, a natural source of glycolic acid, and licorice root extract work together to gently polish the skin to reduce the look of discoloration and protect against free radical damage. These benefits, when combined with the powerful effects of Advanced C Radiance Treatment keep skin looking younger, healthier, and more even-toned, with the radiant glow of nourished skin.

Don’t forget to extend your skincare to your neck and chest as well. This part of your body is bombarded by free radicals just as much as your face, and the delicate skin can show the damage even faster. Extend your vitamin C treatment to your neck and chest, too, and help protect your skin from free radicals while reversing the look of damage and photoaging. Make sure to use your vitamin C products, and any other treatments, in combination with The Lancer Method to polish, cleanse, and nourish your way to the ultimate in beautiful, even skin, and always end your morning skincare routine with a broad spectrum sunscreen like Sheer Fluid Sun Shield SPF 30 to ensure your skin is protected from further UV damage.

It is clear that vitamin C is absolutely essential to a healthy body and healthy skin. With the power to protect and improve your skin, vitamin C is a workhorse among skincare ingredients, providing visible results. However, not all products are created equal. Do your research, know what you are buying, and understand the ingredients in your skincare to achieve the very best results for your skin. Using the right skincare and finding the best vitamin C products to address your skin’s unique needs will ensure that your skin stays healthy and younger-looking as long as possible.

Sources:

Lancer, Harold MD. Younger: The Breakthrough Anti-Aging Method for Radiant Skin. 47, 53, 91, 103, 137

“Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid).” University of Maryland Medical Center. < http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/vitamin-c-ascorbic-acid> .
Lancer, Harold MD. “What Are the Best Anti-Aging Ingredients.” World of Lancer Blog. <https://www.lancerskincare.com/blog/what-are-the-best-anti-aging-ingredients/#more-740>.

Lancer, Harold MD. “5 Surprising Things That Are Very Beneficial for Your Skin.” World of Lancer Blog. <https://www.lancerskincare.com/blog/5-surprising-things-that-are-very-beneficial-for-your-skin/#more-667>.

“Did You Apply Your Vitamins Today?” WebMD. < http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/20000311/did-you-apply-your-vitamins-today>.