Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help the formation of the skin barrier by stimulating collagen synthesis and promoting the production of dermal cells such as fibroblasts. A well-maintained skin barrier helps protect your skin from external damage and helps your skin retain water.

In skincare, Vitamin C is widely regarded for its antioxidant properties which help counteract skin oxidation, which is a major contributing factor to photoageing. Additionally, these properties reduce the action of free radicals created by the Sun’s radiation, which may also damage the skin and therefore helps to prevent premature ageing.

It is also known to block the action of an enzyme called tyrosinase. This enzyme is essential for the synthesis of the pigment melanin, so applying vitamin C to the skin slowly fades deposits of hyperpigmentation and hence reduces the appearance of blotches. It is worth noting that this does not affect normal skin colouration and applying Vitamin C will not fade normal dark skin pigmentation and will instead only affect abnormal melanin deposits associated with sun damage.