THE POWER OF VITAMIN C

SUMMER SKINCARE ESSENTIALS Reading THE POWER OF VITAMIN C 4 minutes Next MANDELIC ACID

By Jill JohnstonJun 18, 2025

FROM LIFE SUPPORT TO SKIN SUPPORT

In Latin, the word "vita" means life. Vitamins are essential substances your body needs to grow, heal, and function properly. Out of the 13 necessary vitamins, none plays a more vital and wide-ranging role than Vitamin C. Without it, we quite literally begin to fall apart.

Vitamin C is not just an ingredient. It is a cornerstone of both life and skincare. Let it be part of your daily ritual—internally and externally—and your skin will thank you.

As a skincare professional, I find it crucial to understand and educate on how Vitamin C not only supports your body internally—but transforms your skin externally.

Why Your Body Depends on Vitamin C

Vitamin C is central to:

Immune defense
Stress regulation
Neurological health
Cardiovascular support
Wound healing & bruise recovery
Collagen production

Vitamin C helps prevent and heal capillary damage, improves blood coagulation, protects against cardiovascular disease, and supports neurological health. It has been used in high doses in cancer therapy and is known to protect against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Most importantly, Vitamin C is the backbone of collagen synthesis—a fundamental process for youthful, firm, and resilient skin.

Why Collagen Matters

Collagen is the protein that holds our bodies together—supporting bones, skin, ligaments, muscles, and blood vessels. Without enough Vitamin C, collagen cannot form correctly. And when collagen breaks down faster than it’s built (from sun exposure, aging, pollution, or poor nutrition), the result is visible skin aging: sagging, fine lines, and dullness.

Topical Vitamin C helps prevent this breakdown. UV radiation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are the greatest enemies of collagen. Vitamin C is our best defender.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin C?

Unlike most animals, humans can’t produce their own Vitamin C. We must consume it through food or supplementation:

Daily dose: 250 mg to 1 gram in divided doses
Pregnancy, illness, aging: all increase need

Best food sources include citrus fruits, red pepper, tomatoes, broccoli, and brussels sprouts. I am also a fan of IV Vitamin C therapy in certain cases, as it bypasses the gut and delivers high concentrations directly into the bloodstream.

Even weaned infants may need supplementation, as neither cow's milk nor grain-based milk substitutes contain sufficient Vitamin C. Bleeding gums, fatigue, and easy bruising are common signs of deficiency.

Vitamin C and Your Skin

Normal, healthy skin contains high levels of Vitamin C—but these levels decrease with age and sun damage. The uppermost layer, the epidermis, holds more Vitamin C than the deeper dermis.

Vitamin C cannot easily penetrate the skin’s natural barrier due to its water-soluble structure, so formulation matters. A well-formulated topical product is necessary for effective delivery.

Why Meta C Serum Works

The Meta C Serum is a sophisticated, triple-formulated product:

L-Ascorbic Acid
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP)
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (BV-OSC)
Plus Vitamin E

This soft serum absorbs quickly and does not sting because the Vitamin C is used at the optimal functional level. Vitamin C supports collagen production, evens skin tone, brightens skin, softens the appearance of fine lines, and calms redness caused by inflammation. With regular use, clients often report a visible improvement in texture and hydration.

Topical Vitamin C has been shown to be 20 times more effective than oral or intravenous supplementation when it comes to skin health.

Professional Tips:

Before flying or heading into sun-exposed environments, apply Vitamin C to your skin. In-flight UV exposure and oxidative stress from pressurized cabin air are real threats to your skin’s barrier and moisture. Protect yourself inside and out.

Also: once you open a Vitamin C product, use it up. Heat and air degrade its potency. Don’t save it—finish it.