Four reasons why you need to include vitamin C in your summer skincare regime

By now you’ll know that vitamin C is one of the most important skincare ingredients to incorporate into your regime. Not only is it a potent anti-ageing ingredient, but it also helps minimise and prevent hyperpigmentation and acne while fighting skin-damaging free radicals.

While it’s an essential ingredient all year long, vitamin C is particularly important in summer. Here’s why:

It fights pigmentation

The sun is one of the leading causes of dark marks and uneven skin tone, which is why pigmentation often darkens during the summer months. Vitamin C inhibits an enzyme known as tyrosinase, which is known to produce melanin, the skin’s natural pigment. By inhibiting the body’s production of this enzyme, vitamin C may help prevent and reduce hyperpigmentation, resulting in a more even skin tone.

It helps manage acne

Acne isn’t seasonal, but due to the fact that we sweat more in summer and our skins get oilier and shinier in warmer temperatures, we also tend to break out more easily. Vitamin C is rich in anti-inflammatory properties and helps reduce the redness and swelling associated with pimples. It also treats and minimises post-inflammatory acne scars by increasing the skin’s synthesis of collagen (collagen is essential for the re-building of the skin).

It protects the skin from free radicals

Free radicals are highly reactive oxygen molecules that are responsible for breaking down the skin’s collagen, resulting in wrinkling, sagging and uneven skin tone. The way to counteract them is to apply antioxidants to the skin. Antioxidants neutralise free radicals and prevent them from wreaking havoc on the skin. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that has the ability to protect the skin from free radical damage.

It gives you a healthy glow

Vitamin C is brightening, and gives the skin a glowy and healthy appearance. A lot of women prefer using a tinted moisturiser or lightweight foundation in summer for a more natural appearance, and a healthy, glowing complexion will ensure your skin looks bright and healthy, naturally.

Keen to incorporate vitamin C skincare into your regime? Our editor recommends:

Catrice Clean ID Vitamin C Fresh Glow Primer (R151.95)

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With its peachy texture, this shimmering primer visibly balances skin tone, provides moisture, nourishes and revitalizes the skin. The 94% natural ingredient formula is enriched with vitamin C, kiwi fruit extract and peach oil for an overall fresh, healthy and glowing complexion. Shop online here.

Garnier Even & Matte Vitamin C Booster Serum (R186.00)

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This concentrated brightening formula is enriched with the power of 30 X vitamin C and lemons. It has a lightweight and non-oily formula that instantly penetrates into the skin, resulting in an instant glow and reduction of spots. Shop online here.

Garnier Even & Matte Vitamin C Dark Spot Corrector (R132.00)

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Infused with active ingredients like lemon, which is rich in vitamin C, this dark spot corrector unclogs and tightens pores, reduces dark marks and visibly restores your skin’s natural radiance. Shop online here.

Lamelle Vita C Lipid Serum (R930.00)

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Not all skins can tolerate pure Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and many derivative forms aren’t as effective. That’s why Lamelle invested so much time and effort into creating a lipid-soluble form of vitamin C that delivers ascorbic acid-comparable results but is gentle enough to be used on sensitive and dry skin. This serum contains an impressive 20% Tetrahexaldecyl Ascorbate in a dropper bottle. Shop online here.

Sothys Renovative Micro Capsules Serum with pure Vitamin C (R1595.00 for 60 capsules)

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These unique micro-capsules, which are plant-based and 100% biodegradable, deliver the right amount of pure vitamin C (20%) to your skin, in a velvety-soft formula. Suitable for all skin tones. Shop online here.

Exuviance Total Correct Vitamin C Tone Correcting Serum (R1230.00)

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Packed with clinically-proven antioxidants to correct and protect skin, revealing a brighter, firmer-looking complexion, tone and texture that is more even. This serum combats premature ageing. Even tone and visibly firm with vitamin C Tone Correcting Serum. Shop online here.

Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler 10% Pure Vitamin C Booster (R329.99)

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An anti-ageing serum with 10% pure and freshly-activated vitamin C, this product is suitable for all skin types. It fights free radicals and addresses the first signs of ageing, strengthens the skin, plumps up wrinkles, and gives the skin a smoother, fresher, and more radiant look. Shop online here.

Filorga Skin-Unify Intensive Illuminating Even Skin Tone Serum (R1070.00)

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An antioxidant-rich concentrated serum that effectively lightens dark marks and promotes an even skin tone, this product renews and resurfaces, illuminates skin and brightens tone, hydrates and plumps and protects against oxidative damage and pollution. Shop online here.