As far as buzzy skincare ingredients go, vitamin C is one of the most talked about — and for good reason. It often appears in the form of a serum, and when used on a daily basis, it can help brighten dull skin , diminish acne scars, even out skin tone, hydrate skin and protect it from pollution. Also known as ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a powerhouse antioxidant that uses electrons to neutralize free radicals a. Additionally, vitamin C blocks the enzyme responsible for melanin or pigmentation production, which means it brightens skin and prevents dark spots. According to the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts, vitamin C is highly effective in its pure form, but it is a tricky ingredient to formulate with because it is very unstable and can degrade with exposure to oxygen, light, water and high pH.

Here's the lowdown on how to subscribe to Allure's print edition for more beauty routines, recommendations, and features. Want brighter, tighter, and, overall better-looking skin? There's an ingredient for that: vitamin C. The powerhouse skin-care staple is a potent antioxidant that helps reduce skin inflammation and irregular pigmentation while promoting healthy collagen production, explains Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Furthermore, he says it may even help protect the skin from pre-cancerous changes from UV light exposure by neutralizing free radicals.

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