If you down a glass of OJ on the regular, or like to load up on green, leafy veggies, chances are it's because you know all the fabulous things a daily dose of Vitamin C can do for your health. Well, the same goes for your skin.
What's the Deal with Vitamin C?
Vitamin C has multiple proven benefits when it comes to skincare. As an antioxidant, it helps protect your skin against environmental aggressors and free radicals.
Environmental aggressors are things like UV radiation from the sun, pollution, wind, extreme cold, and even blue light from screens. They can lead to skin damage like premature aging, dryness, dullness, increased sensitivity, and the development of fine lines and wrinkles.
Free radicals are tiny, unstable particles that come from pollution, UV rays from the sun, smoking, as well as through normal metabolic processes within the body. They're missing an electron, which makes them unstable, so they go around stealing electrons from other molecules in your skin. This can cause damage to your skin cells, leading to wrinkles and dullness.
Antioxidants, such as Vitamin C, are important because they help stop free radicals and environmental aggressors from causing harm. They do this by giving away one of their electrons to the free radicals.
This calms the free radicals down and prevents them from attacking your cells, without making the antioxidants harmful themselves. By stopping these attacks, antioxidants help prevent damage to your skin and cells. This keeps your cells healthier and can slow down signs of aging.
Plus, Vitamin C helps make collagen, a protein that keeps your skin firm and youthful but starts to disappear as we get older.
And if that wasn't enough, Vitamin C also helps control melanin, the pigment that gives your skin colour, which can go into overdrive and cause dark spots (also known as hyperpigmentation).
But don't just take our word for it; the science speaks volumes. Research shows that Vitamin C can significantly lighten hyperpigmentation spots without the side effects of harsher treatments. One study highlighted in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology found that Vitamin C, in various forms, has been effective in reducing melanin formation, leading to a more even skin tone and reduced dark spots.
Hyperpigmentation: The What & The Why
Hyperpigmentation is essentially when patches of skin become darker than the surrounding area. It happens because melanin, the pigment that gives our skin its colour, is produced in excess.
You might notice it as areas of your skin that look darker or spots that stand out against your normal skin tone.
It's a common skin condition and can happen to anyone, regardless of skin type or colour. Now, let's break down the different types you might come across:
- Melasma: often triggered by hormonal changes or sun exposure, presents as dark, irregular patches predominantly on the face.
- Sunspots: also known as age spots or liver spots result from prolonged UV exposure, leading to small, darkened patches on areas most exposed to the sun, such as the face, hands, and arms.
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH): occurs after an injury or inflammation to the skin, like acne or eczema, leaving dark spots that can linger on the skin.
So, how does Vitamin C help with Hyperpigmentation?
Applied topically on your skin, Vitamin C is super dooper good at visibly evening out skin tone and putting a stop to the melanin production that leads to those unwanted dark spots. It does this by boosting cellular turnover in the outer layer of your skin.
Cellular Turnover…huh? This is the process by which your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells and replaces them with new, fresh cells. Think of it like your skin's way of doing a spring cleaning; out with the old, in with the new. This process is crucial because it helps keep your skin looking fresh, smooth, and youthful.
So, when Vitamin C is said to boost cellular turnover, it means it's helping speed up the process of shedding old skin cells and bringing new ones to the surface in the outer layer of your skin. This action helps break up and fade pigment clusters (dark spots) and gives your skin that bright, healthy, even tone, and youthful appearance.
The different types of Vitamin C
When it comes to unlocking the full potential of Vitamin C in skincare, understanding its various forms and how they tackle hyperpigmentation is key. Each type of Vitamin C has its own set of benefits, making it suitable for different skin concerns and product formulations.
Ascorbyl Glucoside (found in FG Serum 01and FG Serum 02) is a standout choice for its stability and water-solubility. This form of Vitamin C is effective at evening out skin tone and reducing dark spots without compromising the product's shelf life or skin absorbency. Its gentle nature makes it perfect for daily use, providing antioxidant protection and aiding in the battle against hyperpigmentation with consistent application.
Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (found in Perfectly Happy Light Vitamin C Cream, Good Vibes Brightening Facial Oiland Sunrise Over C Mattifying Facial Oil) is another stable form of Vitamin C, known for its oil solubility. This makes it an ideal ingredient in products like creams and facial oils, where it can penetrate the skin deeply, offering antioxidant benefits and promoting a bright, even skin tone. Its stability in oil-based solutions enhances the efficacy of the products, ensuring that the Vitamin C remains potent and effective over time.
Native Kakadu Plum Extract
In addition to the scientifically recognised forms of Vitamin C, such as Ascorbyl Glucoside and Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate, FG Serum 01 and Perfectly Happy Light Vitamin C Cream harnesses the natural potency of Native Kakadu Plum Extract.
Kakadu Plum, a superfruit native to Australia, boasts one of the highest concentrations of Vitamin C found in any fruit worldwide. This remarkable ingredient brings a powerhouse of phyto-actives to skincare, offering fabulous benefits for skin repair and conditioning.
Studies have found Kakadu Plum Extract to be a superstar at diminishing the visible effects of UV damage, lighten dark spots, and combat other signs of ageing. When incorporated into our Vitamin C-powered Woohoo creations, Kakadu Plum extract works synergistically with other forms of Vitamin C to work its skin-brightening magic.
Getting the Most Out of Vitamin C
For optimal results with Vitamin C, regular use is essential. Make FG Serum 01or FG Serum 02 a staple in your daily skincare regimen, preferably in the morning, to support your skin's defence against daily environmental stressors (keeping in mind that Vitamin C does not act as a sunscreen).
Enhance its effectiveness by following up with a moisturiser, like the 'Perfectly Happy' Light Vitamin C Cream, to lock in the serum and boost your skin with an additional dose of Vitamin C.
For those who love facial oils, lock in your serum with 'Good Vibes' Brightening Facial Oil (for normal and combination skin types). This is one of our most loved skincare products thanks to its highly effective blend of Vitamin C, Omegas 3, 6, 7 and 9, and Zinc.
If you have oily or blemish-prone skin, you might want to reach for ‘Sunrise Over C’ Mattifying Facial Oil which is bursting with Vitamin C & Turmeric, and is epic at reducing the appearance of redness and imperfections.
So, in a nutshell, Vitamin C is amazzzzing at fading away dark spots, smoothing out fine lines, and giving you that glow you've always dreamed of. Honestly, if Vitamin C could also whip up a gourmet breakfast and answer your emails, it probably would. Just a dab here and there, and you're on your way to radiant, happy skin.
(But always remember - consistency is key - and you need to stick with it regularly to see lasting results!)
