While you might be familiar with the immune system supporting benefits of vitamin C, did you know that this multifunctioning vitamin offers a range of beauty benefits too? So, if you’ve been wondering is vitamin C good for skin? We’re here to give you the lowdown on this multifaceted vitamin.  

What is Vitamin C?  

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid and ascorbate is a water-soluble vitamin that’s present in a number of fresh foods, including citrus fruits, berries and vegetables. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin, which means that your body doesn’t produce it naturally and the only way to get it is through diet or supplementation. 

Vitamin C plays a key role in many bodily functions, making it important for supporting your general health and well-being. From maintaining your immune system health and supporting iron absorption² to maintaining nervous system health³ and healing wounds⁴, vitamin C has been linked to several health benefits.  

It’s also a multi-ingredient for your skin, offering a range of benefits. Let’s take a closer look at why vitamin C is good for the skin. 

What does vitamin C do for the skin? 

When it comes to your skin, vitamin C plays an important role. Not only does it support the maintenance of skin health, it can also help support skin structure.  

It also plays an important role in supporting collagen formation, which can help mature skin⁵. Collagen is also important for supporting skin firmness and skin elasticity, so vitamin C could be used to provide a tightening effect. Vitamin C used as a skincare ingredient can also be used as a brightening agent that may help to fade dark spots and the appearance pigmentation while evening out your skin tone⁶. It can also help reduce discolouration under the eye area.  

Vitamin C’s work isn’t finished there. It’s also rich in antioxidants⁷, which may help to protect from free radical damage to body cells. 

Skincare products are often formulated with different types and strengths of vitamin C, so it’s possible to find vitamin C for sensitive skin. 

What are the different types of vitamin C for skin? 

There are several different types of vitamin C that offer different benefits for the skin, including: 

• Ascorbyl palmitate: Ascorbyl palmitate is a fat-soluble derivative of vitamin C that’s known for its effects on pigmentation appearance⁸.   
• Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP): SAP is a stable derivative of vitamin C that is often less irritating to the skin compared to L-ascorbic acid and is known to brighten the skin⁹.  
• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP): MAP is the most stable form of vitamin C that can help brighten the skin, reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and improve the appearance of fine lines².  

Vitamin C skin benefits  

There are several vitamin C benefits for skin that make this ingredient an essential addition to many skincare products. Here are just a few of the main vitamin C benefits for the skin: 

• Antioxidant support 
• Helps to moisturise and even the skin tone  
• Decreases the visibility of pigmentation and dark spots 
• Helps brighten the skin 

Vitamin C foods for skin 

One of the best ways to achieve your daily recommended intake of vitamin C is through diet. You can find vitamin C in a range of fresh fruit and veggies, like tomatoes, broccoli, kiwifruit, strawberries, capsicum, oranges and other citrus fruits.  

It’s best to keep your fruit and veggies raw as some cooking methods can actually reduce the amount of vitamin C.  

How to use vitamin C in skincare 

There are a number of topical and ingestible skincare products that contain vitamin C, making it easy to incorporate into your skincare routine. From vitamin C tablets for skin health support to a vitamin C serum for skin, you can maintain a glowing complexion from the inside-out. 

How long does vitamin C take to improve skin?  

After introducing vitamin C skincare into your routine, it may take some time to notice any visible improvements to your skin. As with any skincare product, it’s important to note that you’re not likely to see any major changes within the first few weeks. Instead, stay consistent and keep using your products and you may see the results!  

Is it okay to use vitamin C on skin every day? 

Most people are able to tolerate vitamin C well, so they’re able to apply it daily. If you’re using a vitamin C serum for sensitive skin, it could be worth incorporating it into your routine every other day to slowly build up your tolerance. We recommend that you patch test before use. 

Want more information on skincare? For more information on skincare routines for oily skin or your guide on ingestible beauty, head to our Wellness Hub.  

References: 

1. R H, I E. Iron Bioavailability and Dietary Reference Values [Internet]. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2010. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20200263/ 
2. Juraschek SP, Guallar E, Appel LJ, Miller ER. Effects of vitamin C supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition [Internet]. 2012 Apr 4;95(5):1079–88. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3325833/ 
3. Taylor TV, Rimmer S, Day B, Butcher J, Dymock IW. ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE TREATMENT OF PRESSURE-SORES. The Lancet [Internet]. 1974 Sep 7;304(7880):544–6. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(74)91874-1/fulltext 
4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-topical-vitamin-c-important-for-skin-health-202111102635  
5. Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients [Internet]. 2017 Aug 12;9(8):866. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/ 
6. Tran JT, Diaz MJ, Rodriguez D, Kleinberg G, Aflatooni S, Palreddy S, et al. Evidence-Based Utility of Adjunct Antioxidant Supplementation for the Prevention and Treatment of Dermatologic Diseases: A Comprehensive Systematic Review. Antioxidants [Internet]. 2023 Aug 1;12(8):1503. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/12/8/1503 
7. Ascorbyl Palmitate - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics [Internet]. www.sciencedirect.com. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/ascorbyl-palmitate 
8. Segall AI, Moyano MA. Stability of vitamin C derivatives in topical formulations containing lipoic acid, vitamins A and E. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2008 Dec;30(6):453–8. 
9. Kandil SM, Soliman II, Diab HM, Bedair NI, Mahrous MH, Abdou EM. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate vesicular carriers for topical delivery; preparation, in-vitro and ex-vivo evaluation, factorial optimization and clinical assessment in melasma patients. Drug Delivery. 2022 Feb 14;29(1):534–47.