Vitamin C Serum & its Benefits (2022)

Vitamin c serum benefits
Vitamin c serum benefits

Let me start by saying that, Vitamin C is a hero ingredient in skincare. Here’s why…

Vitamin C – an essential ingredient which even though is not produced by our body is still a hero! I have blogged about other hero ingredients before such as Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid – you need to have a read. In this blog post, I can guarantee you that you will know what Vitamin C does and maybe even start using it. As we know when it comes to fighting bugs our immune system is boosted using Vitamin C – get the flu increase your intake, prepare for Covid19 take it every single day! It has a ton of benefits for your body and can be found in lots of the foods we eat.

Vitamin C, Vitamin C serum, serum
Fruits and vegetables have a high concentration of Vitamin C

What Are the Benefits?

The list of benefits for our bodies is endless – the body does not store it and it is water soluble which basically means that we should take it every day. This can be done either by eating loads of foods high in vitamin C (kiwi, broccoli, tomatoes, oranges) or by taking a supplement. Here is a list of the benefits for your body:

  • Wound healing – Vitamin C stimulates collagen production (more down below) which ultimately regenerates cell growth
  • Could protect against heart disease – unfortunately there is not enough research at this stage to say for sure but in general, people who have heart disease may benefit by taking a supplement. It is a powerful antioxidant which means it 1) strengthens the immune system and 2) protects the body from free radicals. These free radicals when allowed to accumulate can cause our bodies to become stressed – leading to many chronic diseases.
  • May help with blood pressure – in the same way that Vitamin C protects our body from oxidative stress as in the above point, it can also lower blood pressure. I must emphasize at this point that if you have high blood pressure don’t rely on Vitamin C!
Vitamin C has been shown to assist with heart protection
  • May prevent gout attacks – gout is a type of arthritis which is incredibly painful. Inflammation is one of the effects and happens in our big toes due to increased production of Uric Acid. The increase in Uric Acid in the blood crystalizes in our joints which is really painful. Vitamin C has been shown to decrease the levels of Uric Acid and in this way can lesson the gout attacks.
  • Helps prevent Iron deficiency – vitamin C helps with the absorption of Iron and Iron is very important for making red blood cells and transporting oxygen throughout the body. In fact if you are taking Iron tablets – try taking them with Orange juice as this will assist with the absorption and function of Iron in the body.
Take Vitamin C with Iron for better absorption
  • Boosts your Immune system – vitamin C encourages the production of white blood cells (lymphocytes and phagocytes) which are known to protect our bodies from infection – these cells are our ‘first line of defence’. These cells are vital in our defense system and if damaged we can get sick – so protecting them is vital and key to our overall health.
  • Protects our memory as we age – some studies have shown that because Vitamin C is a strong antioxidant it can protect oxidative stress and inflammation near the brain, nerves and spine. Damage to these areas have been linked to Dementia which affects 35 million people worldwide. People with Dementia have been shown to have lower levels of Vitamin C – but more studies are needed in order to be conclusive.
Older people who have Dementia have been shown to have lower levels of Vitamin C
  • Hero ingredient in skincare – and here we are at the very heart of this awesome blog post! Many of you are, I am sure, already taking Vitamin C on the daily right? But – are you using it in your skincare routine? On the Glamore website I wrote about the roles that Vitamin C can play – have a read here. Today I will be focusing on Vitamin C serum versus creams and why I think if you can use a serum then that it is the way to go.

Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C also known as Ascorbic Acid and L-Ascorbic Acid has incredible benefits when applied topically to your skin. The keyword here is Topical. I mean yes you can take tons of supplements and eat your way through all the foods containing Ascorbic Acid but – when using Vitamin C serum the effects are much better for your skin!

Vitamin C Serum from Glamore Cosmetics

What are the benefits of Serum?

I think here I have said serum simply because, for me, it is better than a cream/ toner because it penetrates our skin barriers more easily. But you can also get fantastic benefits when using creams!

  • Firms skin and decrease fine wrinkles (anti-aging) – this is because Ascorbic Acid boosts the production of Collagen
  • Improves skin tone and texture
  • Hydrates the skin (works well in combination with Hyaluronic Acid – please read my previous post)
  • Brightens your complexion by inhibiting melanin production it can also lighten hyperpigmentation and brown spots
  • Protects against skin damage – protects skin cells from damaging free radicals caused by UV exposure
Vitamin C Serum can protect against sun damage

How to Use The Vitamin C Serum?

Correct use of the serum will not only get the best possible results for your skin but they might be quicker! Please remember it is a slow process, nothing is going to change overnight so be patient. This is my morning skincare routine – the serum must be used in the morning for optimal results:

  1. I use a micellar water every morning to clean my face because it is gentle and as I have sensitive skin I find it works better than a face wash. I also wrote an in depth blog post on sensitive skin which I reckon we have all experienced at some stage, especially now with Covid19. So many people are suffering from anxiety it is really scary and our skin becomes affected as well. I hope you are taking time to look after yourself.
Stress affects our skin

2. I then pat the serum into my skin when it is still a little damp. I am currently using the Liposomal Vitamin C Serum from Glamore Cosmetics (Delia range). It is easily absorbed. I feel no burning sensation at all.

3. I leave the serum to soak in for a minute and then I apply moisturizer and/ or sunblock.

Extra Tips

Tip 1Expiration date so watch out for any discoloration or strange smell. Don’t use beyond the date of expiration.
Tip 2It is for ALL skin types (oily, dry, combination) and tones – try keep it cruelty free and hypoallergenic.
Tip 3Be patient – it can take up to 8 weeks before you see a result
Tip 4Use with other hero ingredients but NOT Retinol – these two together and can cause your skin to become very dry. However you can use Retinol at night and Vitamin C serum in the day time if you really want the benefits of both hero ingredients!
Tip 5Can heal acne scars and spots when applied directly and massaged gently into the skin
Tip 6Serums are more concentrated than creams/ face washes/ toners so one drop can do magical things!
Tip 7Can reduce under eye circles
Tip 8Reduces redness associated with Rosacea and Eczema, sun exposure, hormones and medical conditions
Extra tips for skincare

And there we have it – when will you be including Vitamin C into your skincare routine? Start today! Start now! If you have any questions or comments please let me know – also if you think someone will benefit from this post please SHARE it. Tell everyone how amazing this hero ingredient – 2021 can only improve with great skincare right?

All the best

Dr. Gael