What Does Vitamin C Do for Your Skin?

Vitamin C has long been ubiquitous in everything from a glass of morning orange juice to a whole slew of supplements. But it’s also become a staple among ingredients in many skincare products. If you’ve ever wondered why that is and exactly what vitamin C does for your skin, we’ve got you covered. From improving the look of skin radiance to being a key player in anti-aging regimens, vitamin C benefits for the skin are plentiful.¹ Read on to learn more about what they are, as well as how you can go about incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine.

Vitamin C, commonly known as L-ascorbic acid, is a naturally occurring, water-soluble vitamin present in many fruits and vegetables such as citrus, strawberries, leafy greens, and broccoli. It’s also the most abundant antioxidant in your skin and can help support other antioxidants like vitamin E.² While vitamin C is a component of a healthy diet, your skin can benefit from more of it than you can get from eating alone. This is why dermatologists typically prefer topical delivery, and you can find vitamin C is so many skincare products.³

Evens and brightens skin tone

If you’re looking to improve the appearance of an uneven complexion while boosting your skin’s visible radiance, a vitamin C serum or cream may help. Vitamin C can help fade discoloration for an overall more even look.^1,4

Provides anti-aging properties

Among other vitamin C benefits is that it’s an antioxidant, which means that it can help fight skin-damaging free radicals found in environmental pollution and UV rays. Without a good defense, free radicals can accelerate visible signs of aging, including wrinkles. Vitamin C is often found in anti-aging formulations because it can help address these signs, protecting your skin against wrinkles and sagging.^1,5,6

Boosts skin barrier health

Not only can vitamin C help visibly even skin tone and give your skin a more youthful, healthy appearance, but it also plays a vital role when paired with ceramides in maintaining your skin’s protective barrier to help prevent water loss and keep your skin hydrated. All these vitamin C benefits can help you achieve a less dull, more radiant-looking complexion.^1,5,6

While there are various forms of vitamin C available in skincare, L-ascorbic is the most effective and well-studied.⁷ The level of vitamin C benefits you can reap also depends on a product’s formulation, as well as how it’s stored. Good vitamin C serums for the face, for example, should generally contain at least 10% L-ascorbic acid and be easily absorbed. 

To promote the best stability of Vitamin C formulas, keep them in a cool, dark place. 

How To Choose the Right Vitamin C Product

There are countless vitamin C skincare products to choose from, but the key is in knowing what to look for. As we mentioned, seek out a formula with at least 10% L-ascorbic acid, as well as complementary ingredients. We also recommend avoiding vitamin C products that come in clear packaging due to the ingredient’s sensitivity to heat and light. Instead, opt for a product that comes in an opaque container to help extend its shelf-life.¹

Try CeraVe’s Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum, which ticks all the boxes. Formulated with 10% pure L-ascorbic acid, this gentle yet potent vitamin C serum also contains three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B₅ to visibly brighten and soothe your skin while helping to restore your skin’s protective moisture barrier and ceramides that decline with age. With the Vitamin C power of over 50 oranges in every tube, this serum also provides antioxidant protection against pollution. Make a powerful addition to your skincare routine by improving the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin, it’s formulated to not clog your pores and is free of fragrances and allergens.

After cleansing, simply apply your vitamin C serum evenly on your face and neck and follow it with any other serums and a moisturizer. You can apply it any time of day, but we like using the aforementioned Skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum in the morning with CeraVe Skin Renewing Retinol Serum at night for maximum brightness and line-smoothing results. Gentle enough for all skin types, it combines encapsulated retinol with three essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to reduce the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and uneven skin texture and tone while boosting radiance. Top it all off with CeraVe Skin Renewing Peptide Cream, which blends peptides, hyaluronic acid, and three essential ceramides to help rejuvenate and moisturize your skin and restore the protective sun barrier overnight. 

Keep in mind that, like adding any new skincare ingredient to your routine, to see the best results, you should stick with it for a few months. And if you experience any sensitivity to vitamin C or other ingredients, like retinol, try adding them gradually into your regimen, starting with a couple of times a week, then slowly building up to daily use. 

For help choosing the right products for your specific skin type and skin concerns, use our Find My Skincare Solution tool.