Why Vitamin C Is the Holy Grail of Skin Care

Many people are calling vitamin C the holy grail of skin care. You can find vitamin C in serums, moisturizers, and masks, and it is a true powerhouse skin care ingredient. But what makes it so special, and why should you consider using it as part of your morning or evening skin care routines? Read on to learn what vitamin C does for your skin, the science behind how it works, and how Shaklee can help you discover your healthiest glow yet.

What is vitamin C and what does it do for your skin?

Vitamin C is known as ascorbic acid, and it is a powerful antioxidant that supports many bodily functions. When it comes to your skin, vitamin C and its derivatives can help brighten, smooth, and firm skin. Vitamin C also helps protect skin against environmental damage like urban pollution, smoke, blue light, and UV rays that can cause your skin to age. How does it work? Let’s take a look at the science.

The science behind vitamin C

Every day your skin is exposed to free radicals, unstable molecules that trigger oxidative stress, damaging skin cells. And this damage can lead to premature aging and dullness in your skin. Because vitamin C is an antioxidant, it neutralizes these free radicals, helping to protect your skin and boost its resilience. Vitamin C also supports healthy collagen, an essential protein for skin, which helps support skin elasticity and reduce fine lines. Another benefit of vitamin C is that it addresses skin discoloration and boosts brightness.

Choosing the right vitamin C serum

If you’re thinking about incorporating this science-backed ingredient into your skin care regimen, there are a few things you should be on the lookout for. Not all vitamin C products are created equal, and it’s important to know what makes a vitamin C serum the most effective without causing irritation. Here are some guidelines to follow.

Forms of vitamin C

Not all vitamin C is the same! When choosing a vitamin C serum, make sure to check the label to see which form of vitamin C is used. If you see ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid on the label, this is the most powerful and bioavailable form of vitamin C. Skin care products can also use vitamin C derivatives like ascorbyl glucoside, THD ascorbate, and glyceryl ascorbate; these are forms of ascorbic acid designed to reduce skin irritation and improve stability (more on vitamin C stability below.) But vitamin C form isn’t the only factor that tells you how effective a vitamin C serum is. Here are some other traits to look for.

Vitamin C concentration

Skin care products that feature vitamin C often have different concentrations, but more vitamin C doesn’t necessarily mean more benefits. Using too much vitamin C can irritate your skin, so you’ll want to look for vitamin C concentrations of at least 10% and no more than 20%.

Vitamin C stability

In order for vitamin C to be effective in skin care, it must remain stable. So packaging and form of vitamin C make a huge difference for a vitamin C product. Vitamin C in its pure form, ascorbic acid, degrades easily and loses efficacy once it’s exposed to air, light, and water. Look for serums that come in opaque and airtight packaging; this will help keep the vitamin C stable. Another way to ensure that vitamin C remains stable is by using single-dose packaging or ampules that limit exposure to light, moisture, and air. Serums can also use vitamin C derivatives to ensure stability. These are designed to be more stable, and they’re metabolized in the skin to release the active form of vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid.

Bonus ingredients

When you look for a C serum, look for other ingredients and nutrients that work together with vitamin C to benefit your skin. For example, our YOUTH® Superoxidant Boost C Serum™ features niacinamide (vitamin B3) to enhance the skin’s lipid barrier, and our Radiance C+E includes vitamin E to further neutralize free radicals and protect the skin.

How to use vitamin C in your skin care routine

Vitamin C serums can be used both in the morning and evening. Using vitamin C like Superoxidant Boost C Serum in your morning routine can be a great way to get antioxidant protection for your skin. At nighttime, vitamin C like Radiance C+E can be a powerful tool for skin repair while you sleep. Your serum also layers with any toners or moisturizers you use. If you have a multi-step skin care routine, the best place to slot your vitamin C serum is after you cleanse and tone your skin and before you apply any moisturizers or SPF protection.

QUICK TIP: Start slow, especially if you have sensitive skin. If it’s your first time using vitamin C, it’s a good idea to build up to daily use. Try using once a day only in the morning or evening, or limit your serum use to only a few times a week.

Shaklee’s two vitamin C serums

If you’re looking for vitamin C serums to add to your skin care routine, we have two that you can use—one in the morning and one at night—for healthy, glowing skin with antioxidant protection. Here’s why you should use them together to get the full benefits of vitamin C.

Use YOUTH® Superoxidant Boost C Serum™ in the morning

Superoxidant Boost C Serum is a supercharged multivitamin C serum that boosts luminosity, skin health, and resilience. It is the perfect fusion of 13 antioxidants and essential skin nutrients to nourish, protect, and brighten. What makes our multivitamin C serum special is that it features three forms of vitamin C, THD ascorbate, 3-glyceryl ascorbate, and ascorbyl glucoside, designed to target each of the three layers of skin. Each form is highly bioavailable, ultra-stable, and neutral pH, dosed at an optimized 10% level to boost skin brightness and deliver immediate glow and luminosity, minus the irritation. Superoxidant Boost C Serum also features antipollution benefits with 13 antioxidants that protect your skin against environmental stressors. This supercharged C serum comes in an opaque bottle with a pump; this protects the serum from not only light but also air exposure because the lid never needs to be removed.

Use YOUTH® Radiance C+E in the evening

Radiance C+E is a clinically tested serum that combines 20% vitamin C with vitamin E and raspberry cell extract to visibly reduce signs of aging, including fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots. This blend also supports collagen production, evens skin tone, brightens, protects against stressors that prematurely age the skin, and reinforces the moisture barrier. The single-dose ampules also help keep the vitamin C stable and the serum potent.

Discover your healthiest glow

Vitamin C is a must-have for any skin care routine with powerful and proven results when used properly. If you use a serum both morning and night, you can expect to see visible brightening within 1–2 weeks, more even skin tone in 4–6 weeks, and smoother and firmer skin in up to 12 weeks. Remember, consistency is key! It’s also a good idea to make sure you’re using daily SPF to best protect your skin.

If you’re ready for brighter, healthier skin, give Superoxidant Boost C Serum and Radiance C+E a try. You can also learn more about our other serums and build your complete skin care routine at Shaklee.com.