Welcome to C, in my A-Z of Skincare!

Dare I try to cover such a wonderful key ingredient in such a short post? I shall give it a go!

Vitamin C is also known as Ascorbic Acid. It’s found in various foods, as many will know, and is also known as a common dietary supplement.

But what does it do? And what can it do for our skin?

Once upon a time, Vitamin C was used to prevent – and treat- scurvy. Think pirates and sailors!

However, Scurvy is a real medical condition which is caused by a prolonged deficiency of Vitamin C in the diet. Scurvy is characterised by general weakness, anaemia, gum disease… and skin problems.

This is because Vit C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue, and so plays a huge role in maintaining our skin health. Vitamin C helps with the formation of the skin barrier and collagen in the dermis, as well as promoting antioxidant protection against UV-induced photodamage.

Who doesn’t need a little bit of that?

However, on the flip side, Vitamin C can also really aggravate some skin conditions – such as Atopic Dermatitis. This is why we are really keen for you to see us, prior to starting using any new products, so we can have a chat about what is right for you and your skin.

While we know that we can get plenty of of Vitamin C through our diet, it is important to note that the ageing process can cause a decline in the Vitamin C content naturally found in the various layers of the skin. Excessive exposure to UV (the sun) and pollutants (cigarette smoke, Ozone) can also contribute to reducing the Vitamin C content in the skin.

This is why you often find Vitamin C being recommended as a topical skincare product. By applying the product to the skin, the active ingredient (Ascorbic Acid) will follow suit and cross over into other layers of the skin.

So, to summarise the reasons we recommend the inclusion of a Vitamin C-based product in your skincare routine:

• Supports with overall skin health, including collegen formation. This can leader to an overall tigher appearance in the skin.
• Supports with the inhibition of natural melanic production, so can lead to a reduction in the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentaton.
• Contains anti-inflammatory properties, to help prevent and reduce the redness associated with acne and breakouts.

It’s a great product, and a real staple as far as we are concerned. Please, please do seek advice before going all in with this product. We provide specific guidance around introducing this product to your skincare routine, and how to make the most of the product.

We do stock a number of products which include this active ingredient, so please do get in touch if you are keen to find out more!