Did you know that you have a bodyguard that never sleeps? As your 24/7/365 protector, day and night, your skin is doing an Avengers impersonation, providing a barrier against pollutants, bacteria, and other minuscule particles that are too tiny to see, but have big effects that none of us want: Dull complexion. Freckles. Skin discoloration. Hyper-pigmentation. Age spots. Dry skin. Acne. Scarring. Your skin works non-stop, but even the Hulk has his limits. If you don’t give your skin some solid backup support, it’ll start to show.
Enter Vitamin C. A superhero with stupendous brightening powers, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, repairing free radical damage that contributes to the aging and discoloration of skin. Vitamin C helps even out skin tone, purifying skin and making it glow. It works to inhibit the development of melanin, which is the pigment which gives your skin its color. Using products with brightening agents like vitamin C, over time, both prevent and reduce the appearance of hyper-pigmentation and blemish scars.
That’s why brightening products are sometimes labeled as whitening products. It’s not because they are actually bleaching your skin in any way (though be careful, because it is a reality that some products may actually attempt to do so, shopper beware). That would be traumatic and damaging to your skin’s balance and health! Brightening product lines like SKINFOOD’s Yuja C Dark Spot Clear, Tomato Brightening, and Rice all battle free radical damage, reducing its effects and improving the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. Repeated use of vitamin C will provide much-needed antioxidant protection for your skin and boost your skin’s radiance -- two outcomes sure to brighten anyone’s day!
The ABCs of Vitamin C
There are probably more applications of Vitamin C and brightening products for your skin than there are superheroes in the MCU, so here’s a quick primer to get you started.
Look for ascorbic acid if you’re after the highest concentration of vitamin C in your brightening products. Keep your brightening products away from sun and water - both elements can act like kryptonite to destabilize or oxidize vitamin C, diminishing its super brightening powers. Check the percentage of vitamin C and use according to the instructions, since some applications may not require more or less product for maximum effectiveness, and anything more would just be wasting product.
Brightening products can be used in every form to tone, moisturize, treat, and prevent skin concerns, but since vitamin C is such a powerhouse, many vitamin C products are available as serums, essences, and creams, which are more concentrated doses of brightening ingredients. Remember, brightening products work best over time on reducing the appearance of aging and blemishes, but they are also amazing preventative products too! So no matter what your skin needs are, there’s always going to be a place for vitamin C and other brightening products in your regimen. Just some advice from your friendly neighborhood SKINFOOD.
Tomato
Tomato contains a large amount of the antioxidant lycopene. Lycopene prevents skin aging by removing free radicals that accumulate in the body, along with its buddies, Vitamins A, C and E. Together with their sidekick, beta-carotene, they all work to neutralize harmful free radicals.
Try the Tomato Brightening Essence, which contains 30% sun-kissed tomato extract and Vitamin-C to enhance complexion.
Yuja C
Yuja, a citrus fruit grown in Asia, has three times more vitamin C than lemon! As a potent antioxidant, vitamin C actively reduces free radical damage. Yuja’s essential oils have a strong fragrance, which soothes and moisturizes rough skin, as well as relaxes the body and mind.
Try Yuja C Dark Spot Clear Cream, a brightening cream containing 30% Goheung yuja extract and bursting ampoule capsules that reduces the appearance of dark spots while moisturizing and softening skin.
Rice
If you’re looking for a gentler product for brightening, look to Rice. Milling rice produces rice bran oil, rice bran powder and rice water, all of which, applied topically, can have smoothing, brightening, hydrating effects on the condition of your skin. Rice is a rich source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant that fights aging and free radical damage, and linoleic acids. Linoleic acids have anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, softening skin and making it supple. They also provide healing support to skin cell regeneration, making rice a potent acne-fighter.
Try Rice Daily Brightening Cleansing Water, a mild cleansing water that purifies skin without stripping it of its natural oils and moisture. For an on-the-go application, try Rice Daily Brightening Cleansing Tissue, a cleansing tissue containing rice bran water that removes makeup while leaving skin bright and refreshed.
