The antioxidant superhero vitamin C, or ascorbic acid if you want to get a little more technical, is worth its weight in gold. But, what exactly is vitamin C? How does it work in skincare? And is it right for you? Here’s everything you need to know about incorporating vitamin C into your regime and which HIGHBORNs to look out for. What's more, you can get 17% OFF all of them today and for a limited time only in our special Easter shop.

When it comes to skincare ingredients, many faddy trends come and go – snail slime anyone? – while others undeniably stand the test of time. But why is it that some ingredients consistently crop up everywhere you look, while others just fade away into obscurity? Simple: they work. And as for vitamin C ... smoother, brighter, stronger, more protected skin? Yes please.

Take the irrefutable queen of antioxidants, for example, the mighty vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the most highly researched ingredients in topical skincare and has been used for centuries to brighten, protect, strengthen and revitalise the skin.

It’s used in everything from cleansers and toners through to serums, moisturisers, even sunscreen. And its popularity is not going away. In fact, vitamin C was the most Googled skincare ingredient in 2020.

So, let’s get to know vitamin C a bit better and understand what it can really do for your skin ... plus highlight which HIGHBORNs contain the most beneficial forms of Vitamin C.

What Is Vitamin C?

Otherwise known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an essential nutrient and antioxidant. It’s vital for your overall health and key for your immune system as it helps prevent infection and fight disease.

The bad news is that your body can’t store it naturally which is why you have to make sure your diet has plenty of vitamin C up its sleeves. Sweet peppers, guava, oranges, strawberries, papaya, broccoli and potatoes are among the best sources, in case you were wondering.

The Benefits Of Vitamin C In Skincare

When applied topically, vitamin C is just as important to your skin as the rest of your body because it not only promotes collagen production (the stuff that provides strength and structure to your skin) but it protects it from free radical damage too. Free radicals are produced by your skin when it’s exposed to stuff it hates – ie: environmental aggressors like pollution, UV radiation and cigarette smoke.

They might sound harmless, but free radicals like to alter the DNA of your skin and attack the proteins that keep it healthy and youthful-looking. This makes them the absolute devil for causing fine lines, wrinkles, dryness, poor texture, dark spots and everything else your skin would prefer to avoid.

The good news is that for every free radical villain out there, there’s an equally powerful antioxidant superhero that works hard to neutralise its arch enemy and protect your skin from damage. And as antioxidants go, vitamin C is touted as one of the best. 

Studies also show that topical vitamin C contains properties that disrupt melanin production which may fade unwanted dark spots. And another impressive notch on its bed post? It’s been shown to boost the overall effectiveness of your sunscreen to help prevent the long-term consequences of spending too much time in the sun. 

How To Include Vitamin C In Your Skincare Routine

With all the incredible skincare benefits vitamin C has to offer, there has to be a catch, right? Well, yes. The thing is, not all topical vitamin C formulations are created equally. In fact, there are many forms and derivatives of vitamin C – some of which are great, and others? Well, not so much.

In order for you to get the most effective results from vitamin C, we believe there are three forms to look out for: ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate and naturally occurring botanicals. And here are the HIGHBORNs for your best hit of vitamin C ...

1) Imperial Moisturiser 

We use vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in its purest form in our Imperial Moisturiser because it’s the most well-studied and effective form of vitamin C. Of course, this figures because it's pure, delivering unadulterated vitamin C straight to your skin.

In addition to ascorbic acid, Imperial Moisturiser contains passionfruit extract, goji berry fruit extract and rosehip seed oil which are also packed with natural vitamin C. Looking to really up your C-levels? Then, Imperial Moisturiser is an absolute must.

2) Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum

Another extremely effective form of vitamin C is sodium ascorbyl phosphate which you’ll find in Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum and Diamond Toner. Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a gentler type of vitamin C which contains salt to help preserve it and maintain its stability.

We specifically use sodium ascorbyl phosphate in our serum because it’s so kind to the skin. Why? Well, pure ascorbic acid has the potential to be extremely potent in a serum formulation because serums deliver active ingredients much deeper into your skin than moisturisers. Sodium ascorbyl phosphate, however, has to be converted back to ascorbic acid by the skin first, making it a much gentler, but equally as effective type of vitamin C. Just right for Pre-Eminent Beauty Serum.

3) Natural Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil

Of course, vitamin C can also be found in your skincare within natural botanicals like orange peel oil, orange blossom flower oil and rosehip seed oil (you’ll find all of these and more in our Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil). Not forgetting the rich natural vitamin C contents of Imperial Moisturiser 

These natural ingredients aren’t to be dismissed because, as well as being packed with vitamin C, they have the added benefits of containing skin-refining goodies such as fatty acids, enzymes, antioxidants and vitamins which work to further tackle the visible signs of ageing.

Always be on the lookout for botanical oils and extracts when scouring your skincare labels – they’re often bursting with nutrients your skin will love. And you'll find more than twenty in our Organic Age-Defying Facial Oil. Not forgetting the rich natural vitamin C contents of Imperial Moisturiser. 

To conclude, we believe natural and certain synthetic forms of vitamin C have a place in your skincare routine. And if you combine them both your skin gets to reap the benefits of this superhero ingredient from all sides. Win-win! Check out our vitamin C HIGHBORN heroes and save 17% today [discount code EGG2021].