Busting Five Common Myths About Vitamin C

Along with retinol, vitamin C is one of the most Googled skincare ingredients, and it’s easy to see why. It’s got tons of buzz surrounding it, it’s super-effective and it’s often labelled one of the most important anti-aging skincare ingredients available. But what is vitamin C, and what does it do for the skin? Simply put, vitamin C (also known as L-ascorbic acid) is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the skin against damaging free radicals (think UV rays and pollution) while brightening it and helping reduce hyperpigmentation. And those are just a few of the benefits of vitamin C—it really is a multi-hitter when it comes to healthy skin. But when a skincare ingredient like vitamin C surges in popularity, misinformation often comes with it, which can cause confusion. Here, we’re busting five common myths about vitamin C and giving you the truth about this holy grail skincare antioxidant. We’ve also included a few key notes on why L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Vitamin C Serum is a must-try.

Myth #1: If you have sensitive skin, you can’t use vitamin C.

While vitamin C ticks a lot of anti-aging boxes for the skin—like boosting collagen production, minimizing hyperpigmentation and providing a more even tone—that doesn’t mean it’s harsh. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Vitamin C Serum is a gentle yet effective formula that contains 12% pure vitamin C but doesn’t contain some common irritants that might cause problems for sensitive skin like parabens, mineral oils and colourants. This means that this serum is safe for all skin types, even sensitive, to use daily. If you’ve got ultra-sensitive skin, it’s always best to start slowly with a new product, even if its ingredients are gentle, like vitamin C. Begin by applying it two to three times a week for a few weeks before jumping fully into daily application.

Myth #2: All vitamin C is the same.

You’ll notice that when you Google types of vitamin C in skincare, many come up. And while most can have benefits for the skin, not all types of vitamin C are the same. The most effective and dermatologist-recommended form of the antioxidant is pure vitamin C, which is also called ascorbic acid or L-ascorbic acid. It’s the purest form of vitamin C that’s available. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives12% Vitamin C Serum contains ascorbic acid to deliver all the benefits of vitamin C straight into the skin in a gentle formula. It’s also packaged to ensure that the 12% vitamin C stays active and effective—the antioxidant is notoriously unstable; if it isn’t packaged and formulated correctly, it will quickly become inactive. 

Myth #3: You only need to use vitamin C in the summer.

While using vitamin C in the summer months is important—that’s when skin is exposed to the most damaging UV rays—it’s still essential to include it in your morning skincare routine all year round. Skin is exposed to external aggressors 365 days a year, from pollution to UVA and other potential irritants. Plus, because vitamin C also helps to boost collagen production and give skin a more even tone, using it every day—no matter which season it is—will help keep your skin glowing and healthy for the long haul. Skincare is a long game, not a sprint.

Myth #4: The percent of vitamin C in a serum isn’t important.

Just like the percentages of retinol in a formula help to determine its strength on the skin, the same goes for vitamin C. A product that has 5% vitamin C or under isn’t going to deliver all the benefits of the antioxidant, but 12% is the sweet spot for skin absorption without causing irritation. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Vitamin C Serum contains just the right dose of pure vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to provide visible results in a week, with skin becoming more radiant week by week. 

Myth #5: Vitamin C makes your skin sensitive to the sun.

Like we mentioned previously, there’s no doubt about the importance of using a vitamin C serum all year round. Because the antioxidant is so effective at neutralizing free-radical damage from the sun, it has gotten a rep for making skin more sensitive to the sun, which is just not true. While other active skincare ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid have exfoliating properties that can make the skin more sensitive to the sun, vitamin C does not fall into that category. L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives 12% Vitamin C Serum can safely be used every morning without exposing the skin to additional damage from UV. It’s also recommended to use a sunscreen like L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power LZR Anti-Aging Day Lotion SPF 30 daily so skin is fully protected. The combination of vitamin C and SPF is loved by dermatologists because it provides comprehensive protection from sun and free-radical damage 365 days a year.