Time and time again, we hear experts sing the praises of vitamin C. We started sensing a trend here: Maybe the superfood we need to be more concerned about eating is a run of the mill, breakfast juice staple orange. Sure, it’s not as exotic as, say, kale, or chia seeds, but it tastes better. So why is vitamin C so incredibly essential? Well, according to Rianna Loving, founder of organic skincare brand ORGO Beauty, it’s responsible for creating and maintaining collagen—i.e., the “glue that holds the body together.” From strengthening blood vessels and giving skin its elasticity and strength, Vitamin C is an antioxidant our bodies need. MORE: Secret Beauty Ingredient: Orange However, because Vitamin C is water-soluble, Loving says, our bodies don’t store it or accumulate too much of it in our systems, which is why daily intake is highly important. But, in case you’re still not convinced, here’s what getting your C in daily can do for your hair, nails, and skin.
Vitamin C is one of the most effective nutrients to help grow and strengthen hair, Loving says. “Vitamin C helps build collagen, which is highly important for hair growth, but maintaining the strength of hair is just as crucial,” Loving says. “Vitamin C plays a necessary role in absorbing iron, which keeps our locks strong and healthy.” According to Elisa Zied, author of, YOUNGER NEXT WEEK: Your Ultimate Rx to Reverse the Clock, Boost Energy and Look and Feel Younger in 7 Days, iron is essnetial not just for our hair, but our overall beauty and well being. “When you deplete your iron stores, you can develop anemia and experience fatigue and weakness,” she says. “That certainly won’t help you look and feel vibrant or energized.” To give your locks a vital dose of Vitamin C, blend a pre-boiled, but not fully cooked, sweet potato, a half cup of gooseberries, three strawberries and half of a small red bell pepper until you get a creamy smooth mixture, then apply to scalp and hair.
Leave the mask on for 15-to-25 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. MORE: 7 Natural Remedies for Dry, Brittle Nails “Vitamin C helps maintain the integrity of our nails by strengthening our skin, connective tissue, bones, and blood vessel walls,” Loving says. “However, we also need to do our part by making sure that we are not cutting our nails too short, chipping off nail polish or filing down too close to the skin.” Because vitamin C strengthens and helps nails grow, it also prevents hang nails by aiding collagen formation, making this nagging issue a non-issue. Ingesting Vitamin C is the best route for optimal nail health, so be sure to take a supplement or eat citrus fruits often. Vitamin C maintains healthy skin by creating and promoting the expansion of collagen (yet again!), as well as the creation of ligaments and scar tissue, Loving says. By slowing the rate of free radicals, it also appears to slow the aging process by keeping wrinkles, dryness and fine lines at bay.
Zied says that a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vitamin C intake from food sources was linked with a less wrinkled appearance and less age-related skin dryness in middle-aged women. For a vitamin C-rich face mask, blend one kiwi and a half cup of papaya and apply the mixture to your face. Leave for 15-to-20 minutes, then wash off with cold water. Reviewed on November 28, 2016 I don't know about topical vitamin c but I've been taking redoxon 1000mg for 10 days along with zinc and it has made a noticeable difference. Make sure you eat before taking zinc because it might cause nausea etc.. However I also mix water and sea salt and let it sit on my face overnight every two days. It also makes my skin very dry so I moisturize with 100% pure shea butter every morning. I'm far from being completely cleared up but so far, so good. Reviewed on June 15, 2016 I read that putting vitamin c on your face works better than taking supplements.
I found an inexpensive vitamin C serum: [link removed] It's supposed to be used in the morning but I use it at night, too. My skin's a lot smoother. I've been using it about 6 months. by Nimz bella on 07/19/2016 07:03 Reviewed on May 25, 2016 I always forgot to take my vitamin C after my other supplements. Around my jaw, I had a lot of small rough bumps & pimples. In one of my school assignments, I read about a woman who would eat lots of citrus for her complexion. I thought, 'I have vitamin C in the fridge, it's the same concept, it shouldn't hurt, right'? Well a few days later I realised that my skin (with the exception of a few pimples) was smooth!! It did help with *some* of the pimples on my jaw but its biggest help was getting rid of the small bumps (they were like bumps you'd get from makeup but I hadn't worn makeup around that time). It may or may not work for you but there's no harm in trying vitamin C. I take 2000 mg a day. Reviewed on September 25, 2015 I've been taking 2000 mg per day of vitamin c I already see results and it's been nearly one week.
Iam also using it with Benzaclin that the docter prescribed me my face is 80% clear and my post acne marks/ hyperpigmentation is 80% gone. Vitamin c is good for overall health and is amazing at fighting acne,post acne marks, and uneven skin tone. Reviewed on April 20, 2015 vitamin c tablets are also very good for skin if any ne have acne and scars better to take vitamin c chewable tablets or take this vitamin c powder since from 1year i've suffered with this acne and scars but when i startedto take these tablets ..you wont belive within 1 month my skin got cleared and now haha ..i feel im so good by amrita20 on 04/18/2016 10:50 Reviewed on February 25, 2015 I started taking this vitamin C powder as recommedned by a naturopathic physician. I have acne since 14 years old, this is the first time my face is totally cleared. Reviewed on October 10, 2014 This worked great and fast. I was taking between 1000-2000mg daily. Soon I came to realize vitamin c raises your blood sugar and after about a week it gave me the worse BV and yeast infection I have ever had.
Needless to say that was the end of that. Reviewed on July 6, 2014 i take vitamin c 5 grams a day with 100mg zinc,2400iu vitamin a,1200mg fish oil(with 2000 vitamin d in d3 form) and 200mcg selenium a day although its probably best to take all the supplements i just listed here and maybe more but the only think that really helped me and not just make minor improvements was vitamin c zinc and vit a taken together it will reduce the inflammation caused by acne and dry up your skin so no(or extremely little) sebum will be produced drastically reducing acne another amazing part of the combination is that scars heal very fast Reviewed on April 4, 2014 It does not help against acne, in most cases (maybe it will for some), and it did not help me either. But you can't take to much Vitamin C. The worst that can happen is diarrhea, and that is if you take a lot. Vitamin C is really healthy! I take 400-600 mg a day, and that has not helped with acne. I do recommend trying, though!