If there is any vitamin we have all heard about, it is vitamin C. Most people take vitamin C to boost immunity. For acne, however, vitamin C when it is used to keep immune responses in check. Vitamin C is the nutrient most people get from orange juice or by taking 1000-mg capsules. It turns out that neither orange juice nor 1000-mg capsules of synthetic ascorbic acid is the best way to get vitamin C for fighting acne. When the famous Hungarian-American scientist Albert Szent-Györgyi was researching treatments for scurvy nearly 90 years ago, he noticed that vitamin C wasn’t enough to treat the red and sore gums, red and sore skin, loose teeth, and connective tissue degeneration caused by this vitamin C deficiency disease. Vitamin C needed some kind of co-factor to regenerate it and to keep it active. Dr. Szent-Györgyi found that if people got their vitamin C from goulash made with paprika (he was Hungarian, after all), then they got better. If they didn’t get this factor he called “vitamin P,” the vitamin C didn’t work.
The term “vitamin P” was used in the medical literature not printed in English until just a few years ago. In the English-speaking world, what Dr. Szent-Györgyi called vitamin P we call citrus bioflavonoids. What this means is that natural sources of vitamin C are far more effective than synthetic sources of vitamin C. There is even a standardized product known as Acerola with Vitamin C USP that uses the Caribbean fruit acerola as the source of an intensely concentrated natural vitamin C that has the cofactors that stabilize the collagen in blood vessels. But what does that have to do with acne? Probably the most dramatic effect of taking a vitamin C supplement if you have acne is clearing up the redness in your skin. Redness is partially the result of inflammation. The immune system releases inflammatory chemicals known as leukotrienes to destroy acne bacteria, but the bacteria have a “decoy” system that redirect those chemicals toward the skin itself. Vitamin C in large doses doesn’t stimulate the immune system.
It “tones it down.” That’s a good thing, however, when the immune system is misfiring and destroying healthy skin rather than the acne bacteria in pores. The other way vitamin C helps take the red out of acne is by strengthening the linings of capillaries. These are microscopic blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the basal layer of the skin, about the thickness of 25 cells deep. The basal layer generates new skin cells that keep pushing outward to the stratum corneum, where they die and rupture to form a solid protective layer of protein and ceramides over the skin. The redness we see in pimples is mostly generated at this lower layer, but it is minimized when vitamin C with its cofactors helps stop leaks of bright red blood. It used to be standard procedure for nutrition experts to recommend very large doses of vitamin C. Daily doses of 1000, 5000, and even 25,000 mg of vitamin C were supposed to be thing to activate the immune system. Some people (who made their living by selling vitamin C) even tried to persuade their customers that the diarrhea and dehydration that come with taking huge doses of vitamin C was a good thing, a signal that the vitamin C was working.
But the old advertising pitch for vitamin C was based on at best a faulty understanding of how the nutrient actually works in the human body. Getting enough vitamin C to avoid scurvy really only requires an orange or an apple once or twice a week. (In the UK, however, many people don’t get that much.) Getting enough vitamin C for optimum health of your skin really isn’t especially hard, either. You can just fine on as little as 100 mg per day if you are sure to get it from natural sources. Some of these food choices provide more vitamin C than that in a single serving. All serving sizes in this list are 3-1/2 oz, which is roughly 100 grams. Just one to four (five if you only eat potatoes) servings of the foods on this list provides all the vitamin C you need for the health of your skin. There are other conditions that require more vitamin C, but 100 mg per day is enough for acne. Of course, some people just aren’t going to get their vitamin C from fruits and vegetables.
If that’s you, then there are two ways you need to get your vitamin C. Take vitamin C with bioflavonoids or Acerola with Vitamin C USP. One capsule or tablet per day is enough. Use skin care products that provide the form of vitamin C known as palmityl ascorbate. But be sure to buy it in tube form and to close the tube tightly to prevent the oxidation of the palmityl ascorbate by exposure to the air. Enhance your skin's smoothness Enjoy long-lasting hydration for essential moisturization and rejuvenation.Tightness, roughness, redness, inflamation: anyone whose skin is highly reactive (to the environment and other products) will know the uncomfortable effects of sensitive skin. Less is always more for sensitive types and Chanel’s revolutionary skin care cream contains just ten ingredients, with a powerful anti-oxidant, Silver Needle Tea extract, to soothe, de-stress and protect. This extra comforting moisturiser feels rich without being greasy and sinks in without a trace.
Try it on razor burn.Available to buy online at Harrods. It’s time to wage war on the waddle. A sagging jawline is an inevitable byproduct of time meeting gravity, so if your skin is starting to slack reach for this. Obscure ingredients such as coleus forskohlii root extract (rolls of the tongue doesn't it) and space station sounding palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 provide the key to minimising fat storage in the chin area and an overall more sculpted look. Conditioning and hydrating whey and oat protein also support a smoother appearance from fine lines and wrinkles. Consider it Thanksgiving for your turkey neck. Lab Series Skincare for Men MAX LS Power V Lifting Lotion, £54.Labseries.co.uk We’re not talking about the odd freckle. We’re talking about the dark spots that can appear over time or after sun exposure and don’t fade when your tan does. Hyperpigmentation is often hereditary and can affect different ethnicities more than others. It can leave skin looking dull and uneven and it’s tricky to shift without laser treatment – which is expensive and isn’t always effective.
The Dark Spot Corrector by Clinique For Men contains powerful Vitamin C and yeast extract to help break down the excess melanin causing the irregularities. Don’t expect results overnight, but stick with it: it’s above and beyond the best product we have found to keep recurring dark spots in check – with the added bonus of keeping our skin nice and smooth too. Clinique For Men Dark Spot Corrector, £42. This relative newcomer is so good we gave it an award. The oil has been swapped for for natural butters, which are far better for ensuring skin prone to shininess stays matt for longer. More importantly its light formula makes it a great option for daily use, all year round. Dove's rich cream uses glycerin to help cells retain moisture and emollients to create a surface barrier to keep dryness at bay for a full 24 hours. Think of this as the facial equivalent of Red Bull.Applied topically, Vitamin C is said to have 20 times the effect it does on the skin than taking orally.
And aside from the long-term benefits - using a moisturiser containing the ingredient is reported to increase collagen production, reverse sun damage and prevent wrinkles to name just three - add taurine and it can give skin a brighter, healthier look more or less instantly. If you're the kind of man whose skin tends to burn at the first sight of a blue sky, go for a moisturiser that gives you the highest level of protection every day - and with a formula infused with SPF50, this Kiehl's moisturiser will have you covered until sundown. Ultra Light Daily Moisturiser SPF50 by Kiehl's, £31 for 60ml. kiehls.co.uk Designed to provide light, natural coverage and minimise large pores, this is a suitably subtle instant fix if you're feeling a little drained. Good if your tan tends to fade quickly - even better for anyone who has an 8am meeting after the night before. If you're using a tinted moisturiser for the first time, try mixing a little with your regular moisturiser to get a feel for what works best for you.
The cooling effects of the tea tree give a pleasant, tingling feeling which is great after a heavy gym session. Naturally antibacterial, it also works wonders on blemishes, ingrowing hairs and blocked pores. Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion by The Body Shop, £8 for 50ml. bodyshop.co.uk Packed with a vertiable alphabet of goodness - vitamin A to zinc - the ingredients in this will help to preserve, soften and re-energise skin that has seen it all. This cream is intensive enough to serve both as a night cream and target patches of redness but also contains anti-inflammatory aloe vera leaf juice and antioxidant rice bran so is gentle enough to treat rosacea and even eczema. Dry Erase Ultra-Calming Face Cream by Jack Black, £35 for 73ml. groomu.co.uk This oil-free formula uses high concentrations of Retinol (a form of vitamin A) and arnica (for bruises) to reduce redness, eliminate oil and treat existing blemishes without drying out the skin. Skin Perfecting Lotion Blemish Control by Murad, £34 for 50ml. murad.co.uk
For when you care about the planet but don't want to compromise on performance; Neal's Yard pride themselves on natural, organic ingredients and ethical, sustainable supply chains.Here, shea butter soothes shaving irritation, antiseptic grapefruit opens pores and fights spots, herb sticky willy (seriously) acts as a natural cleanser and toner, and basil and coriander make it smell good. This is also a great option for all skin types facing harsh weather. For a good all-rounder, Neville's Face Reviver is hard to beat. It contains all the essentials - vitamins A and E, and aloe vera - and is rich enough without being greasy and is gentle on sensitive skin. Big project coming up? Sisley's nighttime saviour is a month long treatment that works to support skin function when it is under pressure with high performing plant extracts such as gingko biloba and rice peptides. So if you have to pull all nighters to hit a looming deadline at least it won't show in your face. Cursed with black heads and bumpy skin?