Vitamin C
Vitamin C
The ingredient every skin loves
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential water-soluble vitamin that is linked to many impressive health benefits. Our body needs it for immune function, bone structure, iron absorption and healthy skin. Whether you are just dabbling into skincare or you’re the friend everyone goes to for skincare advices, we’re willing to bet you’ve heard of this ubiquitous skincare ingredient and the wonders it does to our skin!
But how exactly does it work on the skin?
First, maintaining overall skin health
Vitamin C is found in high concentration in both dermis and epidermis of our skin, suggesting that our skin actively accumulates vitamin C from blood circulation for a number of biological functions to maintain skin health. This includes limiting damage induced by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, promoting skin healing, inhibiting melanin production that causes hyperpigmentation.. and the list goes on.
Here, we will specifically look at the roles of vitamin C in formation of skin barrier and collagen in the dermis, as well as anti-oxidation.
(Vitamin) C for Collagen!
Vitamin C is well known as a ‘collagen booster‘, needed for the synthesis and maintenance of collagen in our body.
It is one of the most critical nutrients for fibroblasts to produce collagen efficiently. Through hydroxylation of collagen molecules, vitamin C helps the two enzymes prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase stabilise the triple-helix structure of collagen molecules – sort of acts as a glue that binds collagen fibers together! Moreover, vitamin C is also known to stimulate elastin synthesis in skin cells.
Remember: Collagen and elastin are both naturally occurring protein fibers that help keep our skin smooth and firm. So, by increasing the quantity and quality of collagen fibers in our skin, vitamin C can help us maintain a youthful, healthy skin.
Powerful Antioxidant
Vitamin C also has strong antioxidant properties. It helps to diminish signs of premature skin ageing by scavenging free radicals from the environment, pollution, and UV radiation, resulting in younger-looking skin. Besides, oral supplementation with vitamin C works best when used in combination with vitamin E (another key ingredient in TRINITY Skin Collagen!), as it functions to recycle the lipid-soluble vitamin E to continuously fight oxidative stress in our skin.