Ingesting Vitamin C vs. Applying Topically: Tip of the Day 8-10-22
I’m a firm believer that every woman over 30 should have Vitamin C serum in her skincare cabinet. The antioxidants in Vitamin C are great for protecting against free radicals that age us prematurely. Vitamin C also helps to improve skin’s texture, tone, and clarity.
Occasionally, when chatting with women about the benefits of vitamin C, they tell me that instead of applying serum, they take supplements. There’s nothing wrong with having a skin-healthy diet! But, there are differences in skin results when it comes to eating vs applying antioxidants.
Researchers say, applying vitamin C to the skin is 20 times more effective than oral ingestion. By all means, eat foods rich in antioxidants! Vitamin C is needed for your body to produce collagen, which helps skin maintain firmness. Just know, when you ingest your antioxidants, the nutrients are dispersed from head to toe. Applying antioxidants topically offer the ability to target any area of concern. A combination of ingesting and applying topical antioxidants would be ideal.
Bonus tip: When taking Vitamin C supplements, remember that vitamin C is water-soluble. That means supplements are best absorbed on an empty stomach, taken in the morning, 30 minutes before eating. The absorption is the same when you eat raw foods containing vitamin C vs. taking vitamin C supplements. The heat from cooking can greatly diminish the nutritional value of Vitamin C.