Vitamin C: Antioxidant Protection for Your Skin

You’ve probably heard that everyone and their mother is adding a serum formulated with vitamin C to their skin care routine, but why? Well, vitamin C is an ingredient with lots to offer, including its ability to help brighten your complexion, even skin tone, and reduce wrinkles. Today, however, we're focused on one particular reason for its frequent praise: what it can contribute to your sun protection routine. Here’s everything you need to know about adding a skin care product with vitamin C to your beauty routine.

WHY YOU SHOULD INCLUDE VITAMIN C IN YOUR SUN PROTECTION ROUTINE

Whether it’s summer or winter, having a sun protection routine is extremely important if you want to keep your skin looking young and healthy. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, free radicals are produced by melanin and other skin tissues exposed to light. These free radicals are unstable, highly reactive oxidized molecules that can cause tissue damage. Antioxidants can help neutralize the negative effects of damaging free radicals and are sometimes added to sunscreen formulas as well as other skin care products. One benefit of products formulated with vitamin C is that they can be layered under sunscreen as another step in staying sun safe. This vital antioxidant is naturally found in skin and is proven to boost radiance and neutralize free radicals that can lead to skin aging. However, humans are not capable of producing vitamin C, which is why consuming it (like with your morning glass of OJ) and applying it topically are so important. 

WHAT IS A VITAMIN C SERUM?

A vitamin C serum is one way to introduce vitamin C and its antioxidant benefits to your skin care routine. Serums offer potent formulas, making them a prime pick when it comes to improving the appearance of your skin. The L’Oréal Paris Derm Intensives RevitaLift 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum is one such serum. The derm-validated, lightweight, yet high potency 10% pure vitamin C serum restores radiance, reduces hyperpigmentation, and improves clarity and skin's overall tone. After just one week of use, skin has a youthful radiance, while after two weeks, fine lines are visibly reduced. The formula, effortlessly glides onto skin, leaving it velvety soft. Packaged in an air-tight metal tube and formulated without water, the serum will stay stable and potent until you’re ready to use it. Equally as amazing—the formula is safe for sensitive skin and is paraben-free, fragrance-free, and free of synthetic dyes and mineral oils. 

HOW TO USE A VITAMIN C SERUM

Adding a serum with vitamin C to your skin care routine is not only super beneficial—but it’s also super easy! Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Step #1: Cleanse your skin

As with most skin care routines, this one should begin with a facial cleanser. Use the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser to gently exfoliate, nourish, and boost the radiance of your skin. The anti-aging formula will leave your skin looking brighter and more refined. To apply, moisten your face before gently massaging the cleanser onto your skin allowing it to create a rich, soft lather. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water before moving onto the next step.

Step #2: Apply your vitamin c serum

Take your serum with vitamin C and apply a dime-sized amount to your fingertips before applying it to your face and neck. Smooth it onto your skin, avoiding your eye area.

Step #3: Use a moisturizer with SPF

To complete your skin care routine and give your skin the added sun protection it needs, use a facial moisturizer with SPF. Try the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Day Lotion Moisturizer SPF 20, which offers lightweight moisture in addition to sun protection. Smooth it onto your skin, then toss it into your bag—you’ll need to reapply throughout the day.

If you prefer to keep your moisturizing and protecting steps separate, use the L'Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Intensive Anti-Aging Day Cream Moisturizer under your sunscreen of choice. This luxurious moisturizer, formulated with hyaluronic acid and patented Pro-Xylane, is trusted by women all across the United States—as evidenced by the recent #RevitaLiftChallenge where over 10,000 women tried the day cream, saw results in just one week, and when polled afterward, shared they trusted the product and would continue to use it. 

Want to know more about vitamin C? Check out our article, What Can Vitamin C Do for the Skin?