One of the most used ingredients in skincare is Vitamin C, but not all Vitamin C topicals are created equally. In this post, Dr. Zenovia dives into the science of this powerful antioxidant so that you can achieve better skin results.  

Vitamin C Skin Benefits

A holy grail ingredient, Vitamin C helps protect the skin from free radical damage and promotes collagen synthesis. As a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C’s multipurpose benefits include helping to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, preventing sun damage, and reducing the appearance of an uneven skin tone and hyperpigmentation.    

The Science of Vitamin C Topicals  

Vitamin C is an extremely unstable molecule. The minute you open the bottle, many Vitamin C topicals oxidize in our oxygenated environment, rendering them ineffective! When creating skincare topicals, the kind of Vitamin C used, and the way it’s packaged and formulated is critical to making it effective so that your skin can reap the full benefits. "The majority of Vitamin C topicals sold on the market just sit on the skin and oxidize upon application," Dr. Zenovia shares.  

For the Dr. Zenovia Skincare Line, our topicals are formulated with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate a stable form of Vitamin C that is more powerful than L-ascorbic acid. Lipid soluble tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is an extremely active and absorptive form of Vitamin C. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that is like medicine for the skin,” Dr. Zenovia says.   

How to Incorporate Vitamin C for Skin Health  

Dr. Zenovia recommends incorporating Vitamin C into your daily morning skincare regimen. This is because Vitamin C will help protect the skin from free radical damage, uneven tone, and age spots. For sensitive skin types or those using retinol, however, it is recommended to use Vitamin C topicals in the evening.  

Dr. Zenovia’s Vitamin C Brightening Toner hydrates the tissue after cleansing, prepping the skin for the application of additional topicals. “One of the problems with skincare is that many people will layer one topical over another,” Dr. Zenovia shares. “What happens is that a lot of the products you are applying (serums, moisturizers, retinol, etc.) end up sitting on top of the tissue. An efficacious toner creates a pH-balanced surface and hydrates the tissue so that your other topicals can actually be absorbed! A great toner, therefore, effectuates your other products. Our Brightening Toner is formulated with Vitamin C to help brighten the skin and fight against brown spots."

Active Vitamin C is also infused in our Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30. One of Dr. Zenovia’s favorite products in the line, this two-in-one power punch product provides hydration and broad-spectrum mineral protection. Formulated with transparent nano zinc-oxide this moisturizer protects against sun and free radical damage. “It won’t break you out or leave a white cast,” Dr. Zenovia says. “Everyone needs to incorporate antioxidation and SPF protection in their daily skincare regimen regardless of age or gender.” 

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