Over the weekend, I couldn’t help but observe (and then think) of two things. First, was the eye-watering explosion of Vitamin C products in the beauty aisles of that ginormous pharmacy, the Dubai Mall. Online beauty stores are even worse – Nykaa has over 400 skincare products with Vitamin C….
Why is Vitamin C so vital to skincare?
This blog explains in the simplest terms why L-Ascorbic Acid or Vitamin C is the Holy Grail of skincare.
Our bodies cannot make it and we cannot store the extra
Owing to a mutation in our DNA code, humans (and guinea pigs) cannot synthesize Vitamin C from glucose. Therefore, Vitamin C is an essential dietary nutrient. Various organs do store Vitamin C – including the brain, which uses a substantial amount per day. However, our bodies cannot store Vitamin C beyond a point.
It is a skin lightener and reduces skin hyper-pigmentation
Our skin colour comes from the pigment melanin. The enzyme tyrosinase is necessary to make melanin and Vitamic C is a tryosinase inhibitor. Less melanin in our body results in lighter skin.
Vitamin C is considered a potent depigmenting agent which is used in the treatment of various cases of skin hyperpigmentation
Introductory Chapter: Vitamin C
Collagen synthesis relies on it
Vitamin C enhances collagen formation, protects long term collagen, especially elastin and inhibits cross-linking effect formed in wrinkles. More Ascorbic Acid is found in younger skin…
It is an anti-oxidant
The antioxidant activity of vitamin C enhances the epidermal turn over, and the movement of young cells to the surface of the skin where they replace old cells.
Its one of many natural anti-oxidants that the body produces. Vitamin E is another. Unstable molecules (especially generated by UVR) are excessively reactive and in becoming more stable – through reacting with Vitamin C, which is an anti-oxidant.
This vitamin protects us from photoaging
There is some debate on the precise mechanism – but its clear that Vitamin C treatment of the skin does prevent UVB induced damage (or photo damage).
Closing remarks
More on on this topic will follow this week. Also, I will start road-testing Clinique’s range this week. So keep your eyes peeled for that. Drop me a line at email@happyskindays.com if you have any queries.
P.S. My second thought this weekend
How my definition of an ideal man has squarely shifted from George Clooney to a cross between Malcolm Gladwell, Keanu Reeves and Hrithik Roshan. Of course, Hrithik Roshan has just been thrown in to ensure my desi quota is met. But let’s be honest. If there is any living Indian that is 100% genetically Greek God it’s Hrithik Roshan.
Au revoir!
Sources
The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health Juliet M. Pullar, Anitra C. Carr and Margreet C. M. Vissers
Protective effect of pre- and post-vitamin C treatments on UVBi rradiation-induced skin damage ScIentIFIc Reports | (2018) 8:16199 | DOI:10.1038/s41598-018-34530-4
Intech Open. Chapter on Vitamin C by Nermin M. Yussif
Devlin TM. Textbook of Biochemistry with Clinical Correlation, 5th ed. New York: Wiley-Liss, A John, Wiley and Sons, Inc. Publication; 2002. pp. 121-126, 590-593, 1157-1159