Achieving brighter, more luminous skin is a goal that’s always on our beauty radar. Luckily, we can rely on Vitamin C to save the dullest of skin and turn up our glow from within!

Uneven skin tone, fine lines and dark spots – you can name any complexion concern and there’s a good chance that Vitamin C will be the prescribed fix. But how does this so-called superhero ingredient work? And is it as good as everyone says?

With Spring here, now’s the perfect time to refresh your skincare routine and revel in its brightening and smoothing effects. Given its recent cult-following, we felt a deeper dive into the Vitamin C obsession was warranted. 

Scroll on to learn more about this antioxidant powerhouse.

Firstly, what is Vitamin C?

Otherwise known as the holy grail of good skin, Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods. When consumed, it acts as a powerful antioxidant and protects cells from the damage caused by free radicals. As we’ve said before, antioxidants are like nature’s secret weapon against early signs of ageing.

Besides great skin, Vitamin C is also involved in the growth of bones, tendons, ligaments. It also increases the absorption of iron from food!

How can it benefit me?

1. It’s a free-radical-fighter

Vitamin C is commonly revered for being a potent and powerful antioxidant. Need a quick refresher on antioxidants? They neutralise highly unstable molecules (free radicals) that are usually triggered by environmental stressors. To become stable, free radicals steal electrons from other sources and cause serious cell damage in the process. When too many free radicals roam around, we experience oxidative stress - i.e premature ageing. In other words, antioxidants are essential for healthy insides and outsides! 

2. Supports faster regeneration + production of collagen

Amazingly, Vitamin C’s skin-saving benefits aren’t limited to its antioxidant powers. It’s got plenty of other skin-healing properties that make it worthy of a permanent spot in your bathroom. For one, it's got the ability to help skin heal faster by accelerating the production of collagen and elastin. Otherwise known as the protein fibres responsible for creating smooth and supple skin. By applying Vitamin C topically, you're giving your complexion the power to remain plump and line-free for longer.

3. Prevents pigmentation + promotes brighter skin

Did someone say clear, glowing skin? After the cold, lustre-draining effects of winter, the skin could really do with a pick-me-up. Luckily, Vitamin C is a known brightening agent. It inhibits your skin's melanin production, which causes hyperpigmentation, dark spots and scars. Thanks to this, it acts as a superior brightener, by soothing your skin and delivering that much sought-after 'lit from within' glow. 

4. It's an all-round health booster

As it turns out, there’s a reason why mum used to force-feed us citrus during a bout of sickness. Vitamin C isn't just a free-radical-fighting-machine, it's also great for your immunity too. The benefits of regular Vitamin C are far-reaching. They include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease and prenatal health problems. Oh and another cool thing? It's shown to help protect the skin against precancerous changes triggered by UV exposure. Just don't go replacing your SPF with Vitamin C, it's not a sunscreen substitute!

How can I add it to my routine?

Since we don’t produce Vitamin C naturally, we have to look elsewhere for our fix. To ensure you're upping your intake, double-down on your fruit and veg consumption. Luckily, most fruit and veggies contain a certain amount of Vitamin C. But for the best sources, opt for citric fruits, strawberries, mango, pineapples and these goodies. And for your veggies, stock up on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, leafy greens, tomatoes and potatoes.

While ingesting Vitamin C is a great way to get your daily dose, you can also get it in serum form. Try weaving it into your skincare regime and watch this antioxidant perform its spot-correcting and skin-brightening magic. Luckily, the beauty world is brimming with great ethical options, ripe for the picking. Not to mention, Aleph has something very exciting in the works that should satisfy your Vitamin C needs. We’re very close to releasing our very own Serum/Primer, which includes some Vitamin C rich oils. Keep an eye out!

That said, it takes more than regular Vitamin C consumption to achieve naturally radiant skin. Truly beautiful skin comes from a holistic approach. It's a combination of healthy lifestyle choices. Like eating well, drinking water, getting plenty of sleep and making conscious beauty decisions. But a little Vitamin C certainly helps speed up the process!