Learn More About Vitamin C

Vitamin C Benefits Considered to be one of the most powerful and effective antioxidants, vitamin C provides advanced environmental protection and visible anti-aging benefits such as reduction in the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and skin discoloration.

Vitamin C Explained

What is vitamin C?

Synthetically derived or found naturally in citrus fruits, vitamin C is widely recognized for its superior antioxidant and visible anti-aging benefits across a range of concerns including wrinkles, laxity, and skin discoloration. It has been shown to help effectively neutralize free radicals and help protect against excessive oxidative stress. Unlike other vitamins, humans are not able to naturally create vitamin C and must acquire it through diet or topical supplementation, such as a vitamin C serum.

How does vitamin C fight free radical damage?

Free radicals are produced in skin from environmental factors such as UV rays, infrared, pollution, and cigarette smoke causing atmospheric skin aging by generating free radicals -- unstable molecules with unpaired electrons. Free radicals try to “steal” electrons from healthy molecules, causing oxidative stress. Over time, free radical damage leads to visible signs of accelerated skin aging including fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and laxity. This science is known as the free radical theory of aging (FRTA). Vitamin C, in its pure form (l-ascorbic acid), helps protect against this damage by “donating” electrons to neutralize damaging free radicals, in turn helping prevent the appearance of premature aging.

How does vitamin C Serum protect against environmental aggressors?

Every day, both indoors and outdoors, you are surrounded by atmospheric aggressors that age skin’s appearance. The free radicals generated from the combination of sunlight and pollution pose a constant threat to healthy-looking skin.



A new SkinCeuticals published study exposed skin to the combination of ultraviolet light, ozone, and diesel engine exhaust that one would experience in a typical, urban environment.



C E Ferulic , a vitamin C serum, is now clinically proven* to reduce combined oxidative damage from free radicals generated by UV, Ozone, and Diesel Exhaust by up to 41%.



*Additive effect of combined pollutants to UV induced skin OxInflammation damage. Evaluating the protective topical application of a cosmeceutical mixture formulation. Francesca Ferrara, F., Woodby, B., Pecorelli, A., Schiavone, M., Pambianchi, E., Messano, N., Therrien, J., Choudhary, H., Valacchi, G., J Redox Biology, 101481, April 18, 2020

What does vitamin C do for my skin?

Pure vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) has potent antioxidant properties in skin making it a vital molecule for skin health and appearance. It protects skin from damaging free radicals caused by sunlight, cigarette smoke, and pollution, protecting and improving the appearance of premature aging.

What should I look for when choosing a vitamin C serum?

A topical vitamin C antioxidant must be formulated properly in order to be effective. Based on the research of SkinCeuticals founding scientist Dr. Sheldon Pinnell, SkinCeuticals was the first to discover the exact formulation specifications required for optimal vitamin C absorption and efficacy. This is dependent on three factors, known as the Duke Antioxidant Patent: the use of pure vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), formulated at an acidic pH (below 3.5), and in a concentration between 10 and 20 percent. SkinCeuticals is the only skincare brand to formulate in accordance with these parameters.

Is there a difference between pure vitamin C and vitamin C derivatives?

Vitamin C is available in a variety of forms, but none are to absorb as effectively as L-Ascorbic Acid (pure vitamin C). In clinical studies, derivatives of ascorbic acid including magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl-6-palmitate, and dehydroascorbic acid have not been shown as effective. All SkinCeuticals antioxidants are formulated with pure l-ascorbic acid in accordance with the Duke Antioxidant patent.

Which vitamin C serum is best for my skin?

SkinCeuticals antioxidants are formulated for a variety of skin types including oily, combination, dry, normal, and sensitive skin and for specific aging concerns such as wrinkles, discoloration, laxity, and blemishes. All of our antioxidants deliver advanced environmental protection against free radicals and anti-aging benefits. When selecting a vitamin C serum, it is best to ensure the formulation is suited for your specific skin needs. For the most customized recommendation, please visit your SkinCeuticals skincare professional. A good question to ask your skincare professional is how your vitamin C product is formulated. Vitamin C products often combine other corrective ingredients or sunscreens to multi-task; this can require different formulation parameters, which could make vitamin C unstable or limit its benefits to skin.

When and how should I apply my vitamin C serum?

In the morning after cleansing and toning, apply 4-5 drops of your SkinCeuticals antioxidant to the palms of the hands. Tap the product onto a dry face and then massage with firm pressure until it has absorbed. Blend the remaining product onto the neck and across the chest, and allow to absorb. SkinCeuticals vitamin C antioxidant serums can also be used on the back of the hands. For the most complete protection against visible signs of aging caused by environmental aggressors, always pair your vitamin C serum with a SkinCeuticals broad spectrum sunscreen.

Does vitamin C taken orally have the same benefits as topical products?

While oral ingestion of vitamin C is beneficial for overall health and your immune system, its absorption rate is low, thereby resulting in low bioavailability in skin. As a result, a topical application of vitamin C serum can be effective.



When consumed orally, vitamin C is distributed to the gut, followed by the remaining tissues throughout the body. By the time it reaches the skin, the body’s outermost organ, there are very low levels of vitamin C left for absorption into skin. Topical vitamin C serum (vitamin C antioxidant) application is favored in dermatology, as it delivers meaningful levels of vitamin C directly to the source.

Is vitamin C serum good for wrinkles?

Wrinkles are one of the most common signs of skin aging, which is caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic aging is driven by the body’s natural aging process and is largely influenced by genetics, while extrinsic aging is caused by external factors including diet and atmospheric aggressors such as UV, infrared, and pollution. Atmospheric aggressors in particular produce free radicals that create oxidative stress and damage skin’s collagen and elastin. The result is an increase in visible signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, and loss of firmness.



Using a daily vitamin C serum helps protect skin against environmental aggressors by neutralizing damaging free radicals. Recent studies have reported the detrimental clinical effects of ozone exposure on skin. Due to a progressive increase in ozone pollution over the past 30 years, it is especially important to apply a daily vitamin C serum1 . For the most complete protection against these visible signs of aging, always pair with a broad spectrum sunscreen .



1Valacchi, G.; Pecorelli, A.; Belmonte, G.; Pambianchi, E.; Cervellati, F.; Lynch, S.; Krol, Y.; Oresajo, C. 2017. Protective Effects of Topical Vitamin C Compound Mixtures against Ozone-Induced Damage in Human Skin. J. Investig. Dermatol. 137, 1373–1375.

Is vitamin C serum good for discoloration?