We all know that a healthy diet is rich in vitamin C, but did you know that your skin also deserves a daily dose? It’s true! Vitamin C offers a number of benefits to ensure a healthy, strong, and radiant complexion. One simple way to give your skin what it craves is with a vitamin C enriched moisturizer. Read on as we discuss the benefits of an effective vitamin C moisturizer, how to use it, and which is our absolute favorite.
IN A NUTSHELL
Main Takeaways: Good moisturizers usually incorporate a combination of 3 specific kinds of ingredients, which are humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Look for a vitamin C moisturizer that includes at least one of each, so your skin is getting the nourishment it needs in addition to the brightening benefits of vitamin C.
Good to Know: As an antioxidant, Vitamin C helps protect your skin from environmental stressors and the associated damage. It is also an unrivaled glow-getter, offering skin-brightening and tone-evening effects not easily achieved with lesser skincare ingredients.
Recommended Products: Crème de la Cream Brightening Moisturizer.
Vitamin C Moisturizer Benefits
Delivers and seals in moisture.
A properly formulated vitamin C moisturizer can effectively deliver all the protective moisture your skin needs to thrive. Look for one crafted with a blend of humectants, emollients, and noncomedogenic occlusives; this combination of ingredients will draw in, deliver and seal in much needed moisture and hydration to your skin.
Brightens your complexion.
The antidote to a dull and lackluster complexion, vitamin C is a notorious skin brightener. It is so effective, in fact ,that some users report results after just one application. When regularly incorporated into a daily skincare regimen, vitamin C works to achieve glowing, luminous, radiant skin.
Protects against environmental stressors.
As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C works to defend against things like the elements, extreme weather, pollution, smoke and other environmental stressors that can harm the skin.
Prevents photodamage.
Vitamin C moisturizers are particularly effective at protecting against harmful UV rays and preventing hyperpigmentation (aka dark spots). By neutralizing ultraviolet light and downregulating an enzyme in the skin known as tyrosinase, vitamin C inhibits melanin synthesis, which effectively nixes the development of those pesky UV related dark patches. This preserves an evenly toned complexion and a youthful appearance.
Minimizes the development of fine lines and wrinkles.
You might be surprised to know that most visible signs of aging are actually a result of UV exposure rather than a high number of trips around the sun. In dispelling UV rays, vitamin C not only minimizes the development of age spots, but also prevents fine lines and wrinkles. It can also promote collagen formation, which keeps your skin smooth, firm and youthful.
What to Look for in a Vitamin C Moisturizer
A good vitamin C moisturizer should nourish and moisturize your skin while delivering the brightening benefits of vitamin C. Good moisturizers usually incorporate a combination of 3 specific kinds of ingredients, which are humectants, emollients, and occlusives. Look for a vitamin C moisturizer that includes at least one of each type of ingredient, so your skin is getting the moisture and hydration it needs, in addition to the benefits of vitamin C.
Here are some of the best ingredients to look for when you are shopping for a vitamin C moisturizer:
Vitamin E offers both humectant and emollient properties while also being an amazing antioxidant. It helps to soften, soothe and moisturize your skin and is often found in skincare products, because it is so effective.
Squalane is one of our favorite plant-based ingredients that offers many anti-aging benefits. Very similar to our skin’s own sebum, it balances your skin and keeps your skin from over-producing oil. As an emollient, it also helps those with dry skin by restoring needed moisture and helping to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.
How to Use a Vitamin C Moisturizer
Incorporating a vitamin C moisturizer into your routine is as easy as A-B-C.
A. Cleanse.
Always start with a gentle cleanse. Then, pat with a fresh cloth; no dirty towels allowed! And be sure to leave your skin a bit damp. This will help enable proper absorption and more even product distribution.
B. Use any water-based products next.
Now is the time for any toners and/or serums. But make sure that any products used are compatible with your shiny new moisturizer; keep reading to learn more about what you should avoid using in conjunction with vitamin C.
C. Apply your moisturizer.
Gently dot your vitamin C moisturizer all over the face and neck– and don’t forget your décolleté! Massage it into your skin, using upward strokes to lift your skin, fighting the effects of gravity and time.
D. Protect.
We know many of you love soaking in that Vitamin D, but applying sunscreen during the day is an absolute must to keep your skin protected from harmful UV rays.
Best Vitamin C Moisturizer
Our top pick for a vitamin C moisturizer is our very own skin brightening Crème de la Cream. Your skin will drink up this natural blend of humectants, emollients, and noncomedogenic occlusives for unmatched brightening prowess and sustained moisture.
In addition to vitamin C, our vegan face cream includes vitamin E, squalane, and jojoba oil, plus botanicals like geranium, dandelion, acai, and grapefruit peel oil to valiantly deflect environmental stressors and protect your skin from photodamage and visible signs of aging. A straight up overachiever, Crème de la Cream can also help smooth and revitalize your skin’s appearance by minimizing the look of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots.
Apply day and night on all skin types to enjoy a smoother, brighter, more nourished complexion that just won’t quit.
What to Avoid Mixing with Vitamin C Moisturizer
Retinol
Like vitamin C, retinol is a highly active antioxidant. Regarded by many in the skincare community as a modern-day fountain of youth, it has the power to radically minimize the visible signs of aging and all but vanish things like fine lines and wrinkles from your face. It works by encouraging cell turnover, which can lead to things like redness, peeling, and irritation in some users. Pair this with vitamin C, and those active ingredients can be too much for your skin to handle at once. To reap the benefits of retinol and vitamin C, best practice is to apply vitamin C products in the morning and retinol products at night.
Other Acids
We rarely think of vitamin C as an acid, but that’s precisely what it is. In fact, another term for it is ascorbic acid. So layering vitamin C with other commonly used skincare acids (things like alpha-hydroxy acids, beta-hydroxy acids, glycolic, salicylic, lactic acids… the list goes on) is a big don’t, as it can cause irritation to your skin. Again, if you have both ingredients in your skincare regimen, it is best to alternate use, or talk to your skincare professional for advice.
