Ascorbic acid is the most potent form of vitamin C, and it is the most active. Now the question here is whether ascorbic acid is an exfoliant or not.
To determine whether it can exfoliate the skin, let’s look at its main function, benefits, and comparison with other acids. Keep on reading to learn more 😉
L Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
An ascorbic acid is a potent form of Vitamin C that can be found in natural sources like oranges. It helps with anti-ageing, antioxidizing, and reducing redness, dullness, rosiness, and dark pigmentations. In other words, Ascorbic Acid serves to rejuvenate the skin by preventing ageing, promoting skin firmness, repairing skin damage, and brightening the skin.
Vitamin L-Ascorbic Acid plays a role in both rejuvenation and reducing the effects of UVB rays on the body.
Benefits
The benefits of Vitamin C for skin health are undeniable. By neutralizing free radicals, vitamin C protects your skin from premature ageing. Your skin will also become firmer, even toned, and more radiant with this product because it normalizes collagen production and blocks excess melanin formation.
Additionally, vitamin C inhibits the production of melanin in the skin. As a result, it lightens hyperpigmentation and brown spots, evens out skin tone, and enhances skin radiance. Vitamin C also brightens the complexion in addition to enlivening the skin with its antioxidant properties.
Dermatologists recommend topical vitamin C for softening wrinkles, treating dark spots, and improving acne scarring. Vitamin C may slow early skin ageing and protect against sun damage.
What is an acid?
An acid is a chemical exfoliant that loosens and peels away dead skin cells. As a result, dead cell build-up absorbs light instead of reflecting it, giving an immediate brightening effect. Dark spots are also removed, fine lines and acne are reduced, and firmness is increased over time using acids.
Exfoliating is important for two reasons. One, because it helps open up the pores, thereby removing dead skin and toxins. In addition, it helps shed the outermost layer of the skin, which is our dead layer of skin. This can help in decreasing the occurrence of blemishes and blocking the effects of UV light.
Does Vitamin C exfoliate?
Vitamin C is the one ingredient that solves just about every skin concern! When dead skin cells are sitting on top of your skin, they can’t do their job as well. Does vitamin C exfoliate? This is a question many of us have wondered about.
Regular skin exfoliation is just as important for healthy skin as vitamin C.
Vitamin C is incredibly beneficial for the skin, just like consuming it can help fight off the common cold. This powerful antioxidant penetrates the skin barrier with ease. Consequently, it combats stubborn hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, making it a must-have for ageing concerns.
Regular exfoliation is just as essential for healthier skin as vitamin C. Since vitamin C has similar benefits for the skin, we need to know whether it can exfoliate as well. So, is vitamin C effective at exfoliating skin?
In contrast to exfoliants that remove dead skin cells chemically (AHAs) or physically (face scrubs), the answer to “does vitamin C exfoliate skin?” is no. However, it promotes healthy cellular turnover and new skin cell production, which is advantageous for proper exfoliation. This is crucial to the appearance and feel of our skin.
Is ascorbic acid an AHA or BHA?
Ascorbic acid is neither an AHA nor a BHA, but rather a vitamin C. Yes, these are two types of acids, but they are different from ascorbic acid.
Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) target the epidermis’ surface layers, while beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) unclog pores.
As mentioned, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that boosts radiance and diminishes the effects of sun damage.
The question would be then whether it is possible to combine it with either an AHA or BHA.
Due to vitamin C’s exfoliating properties, it is not recommended to mix it with AHAs and BHAs. Vitamin C can irritate in the same way as AHAs and BHAs combined.
Is there an alternative?
There is, however, a correct way to layer acids into your skincare regime. It is not advisable for beginners.
There is no doubt that vitamin C and acids are superior ingredients for addressing dullness and discolourations, but their methods of action differ. In other words, if you pair them together rather than using either one individually, you are likely to get better results.
Check out this article here where I explain how to pair an acid and vitamin C in your skincare routine.
But, in summary, you can either apply them at different times of the day or apply them alternatively either in the morning or at night depending on your preference (although it is preferable to apply vitamin C in the morning to protect the skin against the sun). The two can even be applied simultaneously (but precautions must be taken) and you must be familiar with acids.
Does L ascorbic acid alone irritate the skin? Is it sensitive-friendly?
It is common for people with sensitive, reactive skin to experience dryness, peeling, and redness when they use certain forms of vitamin C. The downside to great skincare ingredients is that they come with great responsibility, and we’re not just talking about how some formulations of vitamin C are less potent than others.
Bazaar explains that there is quite a bit of chemistry involved here, the formula’s pH, the skin’s pH, and their interactions. Vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) causes the most irritation in people with sensitive skin. L-AA must be formulated at a very low pH to be stable in water. Due to its limited skin compatibility, Ascorbic acid can weaken the barrier function, causing many sensitive skin types to peel, turn red, and experience other adverse reactions.
The concentration of L-Ascorbic Acid in topical skincare products ranges from 5 per cent to 15 per cent. Higher concentrations can irritate the skin. For extremely sensitive skin types, L-Ascorbic Acid with a concentration between 5 per cent and 15 per cent is unsuitable since it has a lower pH.
When it comes to vitamin C, the stronger the form, the more irritating for people with sensitive skin. It is therefore recommended to start with a lower concentration.
Vitamin C will help elevate your skincare routine, whether you use it in serums, scrubs, or moisturizers. However, make sure to take your precautions since it can be a bit too strong on the skin, particularly for beginners. However, do not let this stop you from giving this vitamin C a try; make sure to patch test to determine if your skin can tolerate it. 🙂
