You may have heard about the benefits of vitamin C for the face. But do you know what science and experts have to say about these supposed beneficial effects?
According to biomedical bromatologist and specialist in advanced aesthetics Raissa Karine, vitamin C can act to combat premature aging. Furthermore, it contributes to the formation of collagen, promoting cell renewal.
Vitamin C can also be attributed to its protective effects against wrinkles, expression marks and impacts promoted by external aggressions. “Vitamin C has an antioxidant action, which works to improve the immune system, in addition to being fundamental for the proper absorption of iron by the body,” cites the professional.
For all these reasons, Raissa Karine recommends the adoption of this substance daily. In addition to consuming the vitamin through food, the specialist in advanced esthetics recommends the application of homemade masks based on vitamin C. Follow the biomedical’s tips below!
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How to use vitamin C on the face?
According to Raissa Karine, it is possible to enjoy the benefits of vitamin C through two homemade masks. The first involves pure vitamin C, and the second is made with a root rich in this substance, the famous beetroot.
How to use vitamin C on the face
Check out the ingredients and how to prepare these natural aesthetic procedures:
Pure vitamin C for the face
Ingredients:
- 1 effervescent vitamin C tablet
- One egg yolk
- One tablespoon of honey.
Preparation method:
The first step is to dissolve the vitamin C effervescent tablet in a tablespoon of filtered water. Once that’s done, move on to the following preparation process: mixing the yolk and honey.
In a container, beat the egg yolk and honey a lot until it becomes a homogeneous mixture. Then add the already dissolved vitamin C to the mix. When all the content is integrated, apply it on the face and let it act for 15 minutes.
After the specified time of treatment, rinse your face with warm water. Finish the process with a specific moisturizer for your skin type, leaving your face protected, nourished and hydrated.
Face cream with vitamin C
Ingredients:
Preparation method:
First, grate the raw beets and place them in a blender. Then pour a cup of filtered water over the grated root. Beat this content until you get a smooth and homogeneous mixture.
Then thicken this mixture with the rolled oats. Finally, apply to the face and let the mask work for 20 minutes. After the specified time, remove the contents with cold water.
What are the benefits of vitamin C?
In addition to the benefits mentioned above, vitamin C has other benefits for skin health. According to the specialist in advanced aesthetics, the antioxidant action is responsible for fighting free radicals, substances that promote premature aging.
Vitamin C also “lightens blemishes and evens skin tone, is responsible for firmness, promotes hydration and luminosity for the skin and has a photoprotective effect against UVA and UVB rays,” highlights Raissa Karine.
Another benefit of this nutrient is its essential role in the healing of skin wounds. Below, you can check the beneficial effects of vitamin C in more detail, according to scientific studies.
Collagen Synthesis
For those who do not drink, collagen is the skin’s largest and most important structural protein. For these reasons, it is responsible for providing skin firmness and elasticity. However, these last two aspects are the main targets of chronic photoaging.
But vitamin C stimulates collagen synthesis and is a cofactor in hydroxyproline (an essential amino acid in connective tissue and collagen fibres), improving this protein’s functionalities.
Therefore, this nutrient promotes skin firmness and elasticity. And with that, it prevents the appearance of fearful wrinkles and expression lines.
Given these benefits, researchers decided to investigate the functionalities of vitamin C in practice. For this, they carried out two types of double-blind studies using patients with photo-aged skin.
In the first case, 19 patients (36 to 72 years old) with aged facial skin used topical vitamin C on half of the face. The study lasted three months and showed a significant improvement on the side treated with vitamin C.
“There was an improvement in fine wrinkles, accentuated wrinkles, roughness, skin tone and general skin characteristics, resulting in a 57.9% improvement in skin appearance in the group treated with vitamin C.
The second study lasted six months and was carried out with patients with moderately photoaged skin. But in this case, the participants used a 5% vitamin C cream on the neck and forearms.
At the end of the research, it was possible to notice a “highly significant decrease in deep folds.
Antioxidant
Ultraviolet rays are mainly responsible for increased free radicals in the body, so they are also considered the main factors in skin aging.
But vitamin C has antioxidant properties to protect the dermis and epidermis against these harmful substances. In addition, it also has an anti-inflammatory action.
Therefore, it protects the skin against UVA and UVB rays, prevents mutations induced by these rays and, consequently, prevents the appearance of skin cancer. However, it is noteworthy that it alone does not work as a sunscreen.
Depigmenting
Another benefit of this nutrient is skin protection against melanin pigments. Therefore, vitamin C is considered an inhibiting agent for the formation of melanin.
Manipulated vitamin C
According to biomedical bromatologists and specialists in advanced aesthetics, some pharmacological products are made from vitamin C. Examples: serums, anti-aging creams, sunscreen, moisturizers and supplements.
“Treatment with vitamin C can be started at an early age, from age 20 onwards. In addition to being used in a typical way, there are different dermo-cosmetics, which can also be ingested, having a powerful antioxidant action”, explains the professional.
Foods rich in this nutrient
It is important to note that the human body does not produce vitamin C, so it must be introduced daily.
In addition to using this substance topically, this nutrient can also be consumed through home treatments or pharmacological products. For this, knowing which foods are rich in vitamin C is necessary.
Foods rich in this nutrient
“The recommended dose for maintaining a saturation level of vitamin C in the body is around 100 mg daily. Even higher doses are necessary in different situations, such as infections, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and smokers.
Therefore, you need to consume foods rich in this vitamin. According to Raissa, this nutrient can be found in fruits and vegetables like orange, strawberry, acerola, lemon, pitaya, beetroot, blackberry and camu-camu.
Other foods are:
- cashew
- white or red guava
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Tomato juice
- Manga
- cooked or fresh broccoli
- cooked cauliflower
- Cabbage cooked
- Grape
- Fresh tomato
- Roasted potato with skin
- Tomato Sauce
- watermelon
- Roman lettuce
- Pineapple juice
- fresh pineapple
- cooked okra
- Banana Monica
- Cooked or fresh spinach
- Avocado
- unpeeled apple
- raw carrot
- Mashed potatoes.
Other types of vitamins for the face
Also, according to the specialist in advanced aesthetics, it is not just vitamin C that has beneficial properties for the face. Raissa Karine explains that vitamins A, B2, B3, B6 and E also contribute to the health of the dermis and epidermis.
See below for more details on these vitamins and what they can bring benefits to the skin of the face:
Vitamin A
“It fights acne, balancing the production of secretions from the sebaceous glands,” explains Raissa.
According to the professional, vitamin A can be found in the following foods: avocados, broccoli, carrots and spinach.
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B2 already helps in energy production, promotes cell renewal and leaves the skin firm and healthy. In addition, this same substance contributes to cell renewal, fighting wrinkles and expression marks.
To enjoy the benefits of this substance, it is enough to adhere to the diet with some products such as dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt.
Vitamin B3
“It acts on blackheads, facilitating blood circulation throughout the body. And they are found in eggs and grains”, informs the specialist.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6, in turn, is found in foods such as potatoes, bananas, chicken breast, salmon, avocados, sunflower seeds and tuna.
Thus, adhering to these foods can fight injuries, strengthen the body’s immune system, and contribute to healing.
Vitamin E
Just as vitamin C benefits the face, vitamin E also works. The body can fight premature aging with this nutrient due to its antioxidant action. That’s because it can protect cells against the action of free radicals.
“They are found in lettuce, watercress, spinach, kale, oils and vegetables,” says Raissa Karine.
My name is Ellie Lauderdale, MD and I am USA based professional Nutritionist .
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and board certified specialist in sports dietetics who is trained in integrative medicine. I have worked with hundreds of clients, from those suffering with chronic disease to professional and olympian athletes. My goal is to help optimize you from the inside so that you can feel, perform, and look your best on the outside.