When summer arrives, most of us know how important it is to find sunscreen before going outside. But while sunscreen is essential, it’s only part of the equation when it comes to supporting healthy skin during the warmer months.
One ingredient that deserves a little more attention is Vitamin C.
Often marketed as a brightening ingredient, vitamin C does much more than help skin look radiant. In fact, vitamin C plays important roles both inside the body and directly on the skin’s surface, making it one of the most well-studied nutrients for skin care and human health.
Let’s take a closer look at what vitamin C actually does and why it can be especially beneficial during the summer months.
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What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acidis an essential water-soluble vitamin that the human body cannot produce on its own.
Because we can’t make it ourselves, we have to get it through food, supplements, or topical skin care products.
Vitamin C is involved in dozens of biological processes throughout the body, but its most important roles are related to:
- Collagen production
- Antioxidant protection
- Iron absorption
- Immune function
- Skin health
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Vitamin C supports collagen production
One of the most important jobs of vitamin C is to help the body produce collagen.
Collagen is the main structural protein found throughout the body.
Vitamin C acts as a cofactor (think of it as a personal assistant 😉) for the enzymes responsible for stabilizing and strengthening collagen fibers. Without sufficient vitamin C, collagen production decreases.
Historically, a severe vitamin C deficiency resulted in scurvy, a condition characterized by brittle, weak tissues. Scurvy is uncommon today, thankfully, 😅, but the relationship between vitamin C and healthy collagen remains as important as ever for healthy body (and skin) function!
Vitamin C is also a very popular antioxidant. Every day, our bodies produce molecules known as free radicals.
When these little guys build up faster than the body can handle them, oxidative stress occurs. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant by donating electrons to neutralize them before they do crazy damage.
Vitamin C supports the immune system and helps absorb iron
This magic nutrient also improves the absorption of non-heme iron, the type of iron found in plant foods.
Combining vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich meals can help increase iron intake (which many of us are quite deficient in) and support overall health.
Vitamin C helps support the body’s natural defense systems by contributing to a healthy epithelial barrier.
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Vitamin C helps protect against environmental stress
Our skin is constantly exposed to environmental stressors, especially in the summer. Topical vitamin C acts as an antioxidant on the skin’s surface, helping to neutralize free radicals created by exposure to UV radiation, heat and environmental oxidative stress
It is important to understand that vitamin C does not replace the sunscreen.
Instead, the two work differently:
☀️ Sunscreen helps reduce the penetration of ultraviolet radiation.
✨ Vitamin C helps counteract some of the oxidative stress that can still occur after exposure.
Think of sunscreen as your shield and vitamin C as additional support behind the shield.
Our favorite topical vitamin C products for a summer spf boost:
Vitamin C & Probiotic Facial Serum
Acne and oil balancing face mask
Summer often means more time outdoors. With increased exposure to the outdoors comes increased environmental stress on the skin. Using vitamin C both internally through a nutrient-rich diet and externally through skin care can help support healthy skin throughout the season.
Vitamin C is much more than a trendy skin care ingredient. Inside the body, it supports collagen production, antioxidant protection, iron absorption and normal immune function. In the skin, it helps defend against environmental stress, supports healthy-looking collagen and improves the appearance of uneven skin tone. When combined with a consistent sunscreen habit, vitamin C can be a valuable addition to a healthy summer skin care routine.
