There’s a reason dermatologists, leading research, and Miss O agree that Vitamin C serum is a must-have in your daily skincare regimen: It really works! Whether it’s dark spots, uneven skin tone, fine lines, acne scars, dullness, or just about any common skincare concern, a Vitamin C serum is one of the most highly recommended and effective treatments. 

What is Vitamin C Exactly?

When it comes to your skin’s vitality, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help combat free radical damage from sun and pollution that harm and degrade your skin each day. This is one of the most important things to be mindful of when we’re thinking about protecting your skin from premature aging. Your skin’s ability to regenerate and repair is what keeps your skin looking smooth, bright and young. The antioxidants in Vitamin C not only help our skin with regeneration by accelerating cellular turnover, but offer important protection by helping to neutralize free radicals, thus prohibiting the daily damage they can cause.  

Antioxidants are not the only way Vitamin C aid in repair and prevents premature aging. Collagen and elastin are the naturally occurring protein fibers that keep our skin looking plump and firm and topical Vitamin C can help boost collagen production. These two benefits combined make it a major skin saver for preventing the signs of aging and keeping skin healthy, youthful and glowing.  

How Does Vitamin Improve Dark Spots?

Hyperpigmentation can look like patches of discoloration or spots and it is often caused by sun exposure which creates the production of melanin in the skin. Regular use of topical Vitamin C has been shown to inhibit your skin’s melanin production. When used as part of a daily regimen, Vitamin C can not only help fade existing spots, but can help prevent dark spots from forming in the first place. It works well for all skin types and tones because it helps to fade dark spots without altering skin’s natural pigmentation.  

What About Brightening and Evening Skin Tone?

Yes! It does that too! Not only can it help fade irregular pigmentation, by increasing cellular turnover, it can smooth the skin’s surface and reduce dullness, inflammation and redness, helping to brighten your skin’s overall appearance for a youthful radiant glow! There have even been studies that show these brightening effects have been helpful in reducing the appearance of under-eye circles.  

What Type of Vitamin C is Best?

Although Vitamin C can be very powerful, in order to see results it is important that it remains in its purest form and does not oxidize from over exposure to air. When this happens it can lose its potency and benefits. Miss O specifically chose to formulate with L-ascorbic acid not only because it is the most stable form of Vitamin C, but also because studies have shown it to be the most effective at penetrating the skin and has shown in studies to have superior brightening results to other types of Vitamin C. If your Vitamin C has turned brown it may have oxidized and may no longer be as potent.

Is 20% the Highest Dose Possible?

Clinical research studies has shown that 20% is the highest concentration before the possibility of minor skin irritation. For maximum benefit we suggest using the highest recommended dose of 20%. If your skin is sensitive Miss O suggests doing a patch test on just a small area of the skin. If no irritation occurs, go ahead and use all over the face.  

How Should I Use Vitamin C Serum?

Vitamin C Serum can be used once or twice a day. Cleanse, tone, and then apply Vitamin C Serum before you moisturize. This will allow for maximum absorption. Miss O suggests using Vitamin C Serum as part of the Brightening Regimen for maximum results!

Sources:

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Volume 11 (4) – Dec 1, 2012, Stability, transdermal penetration, and cutaneous effects of ascorbic acid and its derivatives 

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Volume 4 (1) – Jan 1, 2005, Relevance of vitamins C and E in cutaneous photoprotection

Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 27 (2) – Feb 1, 2001, Topical L‐Ascorbic Acid: Percutaneous Absorption Studies

The Journal of investigative dermatology., 2005 Oct;125(4):826-32., Ferulic acid stabilizes a solution of vitamins C and E and doubles its photoprotection of skin.

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1999;125(10):1091-1098., Use of Topical Ascorbic Acid and Its Effects on Photodamaged Skin Topography

Exp Dermatol. 2003 Jun;12(3):237-44.,Topical ascorbic acid on photoaged skin.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Volume 133 (1)– May 14, 1996, Glutathione stabilizes ascorbic acid in aqueous solution

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, Sep 28, 2006, , Volume 322 (1) – Influence of sodium metabisulfite and glutathione on the stability of vitamin C in O/W emulsion and extemporaneous aqueous gel

Leslie Baumann, MD, Cosmetic Dermatology, 2nd edition, Vitamin C - pages 297-298