Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins in beauty. The reason? Vitamin C is packed with properties that you’ll discover in this article.

Vitamin C: What It Is and What It Does

More commonly known as ascorbic acid in skincare ingredient lists, it’s famous for its ability to protect the skin from environmental aggressors thanks to its antioxidant properties and its role in collagen synthesis (which is essential for skin firmness). In short, Vitamin C has four main functions:

• Protection against free radicals and UV radiation damage due to antioxidants.
• Anti-aging, thanks to its role in collagen production.
• Anti-spot and brightening: it’s a key ingredient in treatments to reduce skin discoloration and even out the complexion.
• Hydrating to maintain firmer skin. If you notice your complexion looks tired, dull, or uneven, this vitamin is your best ally.

But how does it work and how should it be used? We’ll explain it in the next section!

Vitamin C in Your Skincare Routine

You can use Vitamin C treatments both in the morning and at night. We recommend including it in your morning routine, as it helps brighten your skin immediately. When used as a single ingredient (such as in some boosters), it’s best applied after cleansing/exfoliating and before your moisturizer and/or sunscreen to provide a stronger shield against UV rays. Vitamin C is unstable, meaning it tends to oxidize quickly, which is why it’s often paired with Vitamin E or other ingredients like green tea to boost its anti-aging effect. Alternatively, to solve this problem, more stable forms of Vitamin C (such as magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) are used, or other substances are added to increase its stability. To make the most of Vitamin C’s properties, it is often encapsulated in pressure capsules to preserve its integrity.

Vitamin C and Skin: Contraindications

Generally, there are no contraindications. You can use these products alongside other brightening or hydrating ingredients, for example. However, be cautious if you have sensitive or reactive skin: if you use too many products or a high concentration of active ingredients, your skin could react with redness or other issues. Additionally, for safety, always use a cream or sunscreen with a high SPF when exposed to the sun.

The Best Products

A good skincare routine cannot do without a Vitamin C serum. Thanks to its antioxidant action, it’s a great multitasking product that works on various levels to make your skin radiant, revitalized, and even, enhancing the effectiveness of your cream. If your goal is to tackle not only skin aging by stimulating natural collagen production but also hyperpigmentation and skin imperfections, a serum becomes an essential product. The result? Brighter, firmer, and more even skin. However, be careful to choose a stabilized Vitamin C serum, as it is photosensitive and deteriorates quickly.

Face Creams and Sun Exposure

In addition to serums and boosters, there are many multitasking treatments that have anti-aging, lightening, and brightening actions. Below is a selection of products we’ve tried for you:

Acque alle Rose Spray Illuminating Face Mist

Refreshes and energizes dull, lackluster skin. Its formula contains over 95% natural ingredients and is enriched with Vitamin C from rose hips, which brightens and comforts the skin.

Concentrate Serum by Freshly Cosmetics

Protects the skin from free radicals with antioxidant action while stimulating cell regeneration and giving skin a brighter appearance.

The Real C by Cocunat

A true superfood for the skin, it contains a formula up to 178 times more potent than common Vitamin C derivatives. This serum penetrates deeply thanks to the addition of Vitamin E, promoting collagen synthesis and counteracting the signs of aging.

DET-OXY! Cleansing Foam by Mulac

A soft and velvety foam that gently cleanses, removes makeup residues, and deeply purifies the skin. Its special formulation, based on OXYskin and panthenol, leaves the skin fresh and radiant.

Glow Recipe Cloudberry Bright Essence Toner

This concentrated toner is formulated with cloudberry, a superfruit rich in Vitamin C, and the powerful antioxidant Coenzyme Q10. It brightens and helps even out the complexion, reduces the appearance of dark spots, and hydrates and softens dull, dehydrated skin.

Revitalift Illuminating and Smoothing Cream by L’Oréal Paris

Thanks to advanced dermo-active ingredients in a lightweight, fast-absorbing texture, this cream fights signs of aging, improving the skin’s appearance from the first use. It contains Vitamin C, salicylic acid, and light-reflecting pigments.

Vitamin C Booster by Skin First

This concentrated booster contains 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, a highly effective and stable form of Vitamin C with antioxidant, smoothing, illuminating, and soothing actions. It counteracts aging and photo-aging caused by the sun, improves the appearance of wrinkles, and helps prevent the formation of skin spots, both brown and post-inflammatory.

Vitamin C Capsule Care by Pixi

A perfect dose of nourishing serum preserved in biodegradable, travel-friendly capsules; it’s formulated with a brightening and nourishing blend of Vitamins (C and E) and plant oils for energized skin.

LAVERA Glow by Nature Day Cream

Made with sea buckthorn, orange, lime, lemon, kiwi, and goji berries, combined with natural Coenzyme Q10, it energizes skin cells, revitalizing the skin for a long-lasting luminous, toned, and hydrated complexion.

Korff Collagen Regimen Firming Ampoules

A concentrated serum for the face, neck, and décolletage, enriched with Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and hydrolyzed marine collagen. It helps restore tone and density. Apply with circular motions on the face, neck, and décolletage.

FeruliC + HA Serum by LeLang Skincare

This brightening and anti-spot serum is designed for an antioxidant beauty routine, perfect for welcoming the new season. The high concentration of Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid brightens dull skin and reduces discoloration, also working on tone loss and dehydration. Skin imperfections often arise after excessive sun exposure, like at the end of summer, or intensify during the season change (such as dehydration), making it important to rebalance your skincare.

Garnier Skinactive Vitamin C Night Serum

The first night serum by Garnier with the highest concentration of pure Vitamin C (10%), derived from corn through a Green Transformation process. Combined with hyaluronic acid, it works on dull and tired skin during the night when it is most receptive.

A-OXitive Serum by Eau Thermale Avène

Equivalent to 15% pure Vitamin C, this serum helps the skin defend against the harmful effects of oxidative stress.

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This article first appeared on Grazia.it – Author: Michela Marra