Antipodes founder and CEO Elizabeth Barbalich has built an award-winning range of luxury natural skincare using New Zealand ingredients, backed by science and innovation to produce high-tech certified organic and premium formulations.
Synonymous with wellness, glowing skin, and long renowned for a healthy immune system, Vitamin C has cemented its place in recent years as an essential skincare ingredient. So why do beauty experts call Vitamin C the ’Holy Grail’ of youthful looking skin, and what’s the best way to get the benefits? Read on to find out why Vitamin C skincare deserves a spot in your routine.
What is vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that naturally occurs in many fruits and vegetables (it also goes by the name of ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is one of the most powerful antioxidants available to us, but the human body can’t synthesis Vitamin C on its own. That makes external sources, such as food, crucial for getting our fix.
How does vitamin C work?
As a powerful antioxidant, Vitamin C is crucial to keeping us healthy. It helps protect us from the effects of environmental damage by seeking out and disposing of free radicals – the nasties that break down our body’s cells and cause inflammation. By destroying these free radicals, Vitamin C helps support our immune response and keep us well, year-round.
Why do we need Vitamin C skincare?
While consuming fruit and vegetables keeps us healthy, our skin is unlikely to see the benefits. That’s because the Vitamin C benefits we gain from our diet are unable to reach the top layer of skin (epidermis). Vitamin C skincare benefits this layer because it can be directly absorbed by the skin.
Vitamin C is essential for skin health because of its ability to support the body from free radical damage – the reason we see signs of early aging such as pigmentation, uneven skin tone, and dullness.
What are the benefits of vitamin C skincare?
- Vitamin C promotes the appearance of youthful skin
Vitamin C is a powerful ingredient to support healthy aging because it’s key to the formation of collagen – one of the building blocks of skin, which keeps our complexion looking plump and firm. By encouraging healthy cell growth, Vitamin C also improves the texture of the skin and helps to repair damage caused by collagen loss, which happens naturally as we age.
- Vitamin C helps protect against the appearance of premature aging
Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties help shield skin against environmental factors that can damage skin, leading to dullness, fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and discolouration. Vitamin C seeks out and disposes of free radicals, which can help slow down the rate of damage.
- Vitamin C supports hydrated skin
This powerful water-soluble vitamin supports moisture levels in the skin, keeping it hydrated for longer and preventing it from becoming too oily or too dry. This balancing effect is one of the reasons why Vitamin C can benefit all skin types.
- Vitamin C supports a strong skin barrier
Vitamin C supports the skin’s natural defence systems, helping to protect as a barrier against UV exposure and environmental stress. Don’t bin your sunscreen, though – you'll still need your daily dose of SPF.
- Vitamin C helps brighten the skin’s appearance
By inhibiting the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that produces melanin (the substance that causes skin to become darker), Vitamin C supports an even skin tone, reducing the appearance of dark spots and redness. As a result, skin appears brighter and fresher.
- What is the best Vitamin C product for skin?
Just like food and drink can enhance your health on the inside, a Vitamin C skincare routine can nurture your skin’s health from the outside. Leave-on formulations such as serums are the most effective. Serums' low molecular weight means their benefits are more easily absorbed by the skin.
What to look for in vitamin C skincare products
Natural
Vitamin C can be synthetic or natural. While synthetic Vitamin C is usually similar in chemical composition, the production process is very different. Synthetic Vitamin C is made artificially using an industrial process, which removes the additional nutrients that whole foods provide.
Effective
It’s wise to use high-quality formulations with a range of active ingredients and authentic scientific testing, so you can trust that the product will deliver results.
Want to learn more about bright and radiant skin? Here's are six ingredients you need to know about to target dullness and pigmentation.
Must-have ingredients for bright, luminous skin
- Kakadu plum
Sourced from wild-harvested fruit in Australia’s northern territory, Kakadu plum boasts an impressive antioxidant profile – it is known as nature’s richest source of Vitamin C. Kakadu plum gets its potent antioxidant properties from extremely high exposure to harmful sun rays. The fruit develops a self-defense system composed of powerful antioxidant molecules to protect itself from sun-induced free radical attacks. As a result of this unique environmental response, Kakadu plum boasts the world’s highest recorded natural amount of Vitamin C – up to 100 times the Vitamin C of oranges.
- Tone-correcting peptides
Peptides are short chains of amino acids: the building blocks of proteins like collagen and elastin that support skin structure. Peptides have many functions. Some unique types of peptide (such as Melanostatine™ 5) are scientifically proven to help to block the synthesis of melanin, helping to prevent pigmentation and promote even, radiant skin.
Peptides may be a high-tech ingredient, but that doesn't mean they are toxic. Antipodes uses natural-origin peptides, created from a fermentation process using sugarcane, water, and healthy bacteria.
- Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA)
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are well known for their exfoliating properties and ability to promote cell turnover. They work by gently dissolving the bonds between dead skin cells, helping to slough off dull and rough outer layers, revealing newer, fresher skin underneath. This improves the skin's texture and helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. AHAs come from many sources, our favourite at Antipodes is lime caviar AHA, which comes from hand-picked finger limes.
- Bakuchiol
Long used in traditional Chinese healthcare, this natural plant extract is often referred to as ‘nature’s retinol’ because of its ability to help smooth and firm the skin. Even better, it doesn’t carry the irritating side effects of retinol and can be used while pregnant or breastfeeding, so it’s considered safe for all skin types.
- Hyaluronic acid
The key to fresh, hydrated skin lies in this naturally occurring molecule. Hyaluronic acid is a natural humectant, holding up to 1000x times its weight in water, which means it draws moisture deep within the skin.
- Vinanza® Grape & Kiwi
Extracted from polyphenol-rich Marlborough sauvignon blanc grapes and kiwifruit skin, this revolutionary antioxidant compound is clinically shown to improve skin appearance by addressing pigmentation.
Your simple skin brightening skincare regime
Cleanser
Glowing skin starts with cleansing to rid your skin of makeup and impurities. Gospel Vitamin C Skin-Glow Gel Cleanser clears impurities to reveal fresh, glowing skin.
Toner
Achieve an instant brightening boost and target pigmentation with Glory Vitamin C Triple-Action Glow Toner. This toner works three ways to gently remove dead skin cells, help reduce pigmentation, and prepare skin for the next steps in your regime.
- Kakadu plum brightens by helping to reduce the effects of free radical damage, which can result in dark spots, dull skin, fine lines, and loss of elasticity.
- Melanostatine™ 5, a scientifically proven peptide, helps correct pigmentation by helping to block the synthesis of melanin – the substance that gives skin its colour – to diminish discolouration and cultivate brighter skin.
- Lime caviar is a rich natural source of beneficial AHAs, which stimulate cell renewal (break down old collagen fibres to make way for new ones) to foster a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Serum
Follow by a massaging a few generous drops of Glow Vitamin C Daily Serum into your face, neck and décolletage. With plant hyaluronic acid, Kakadu plum, Bakuchiol, Vinanza® Grape & Kiwi, this popular daily serum brightens, hydrates, and protects your skin. You can wear the serum on its own or mix a few drops into your moisturiser for an extra boost.
Eye cream
Bright eyes are mandatory in a glow routine. Pat a few dots of an eye cream like Kiwi Seed Gold Luminous Eye Cream to the orbital bone and under-eye area. With real flakes of 23k gold this luxurious eye cream brightens under eyes, targets dark circles, and improves signs of ageing.
Moisturiser
Lock in the benefits of your regime with Diem Vitamin C Pigment-Correcting Water Cream, a light-textured, hydrating moisturiser with plant-powered ingredients for an all-day glow. Diem targets pigmentation and early signs of ageing and sits beautifully underneath SPF and makeup.
SPF50+
One thing all dermatologists can agree on is the importance of daily high-protection SPF. Apply Supernatural SPF50+ Ceramide Silk Facial Sunscreen as the final step in your morning skincare ritual before makeup, if wearing.
Supernatural SPF50+ is 100% natural-origin mineral sunscreen, combining reef-safe zinc oxide with anti-ageing ceramides and nourishing plant oils. With a luminous finish, this revolutionary sunscreen provides daily protection against UVA + UVB rays.
Holistic tips for bright, healthy skin
Eat your 5+ a day
They may not directly benefit your skin but increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables helps keep your body happy and healthy. Look for citrus fruit like oranges as well as richly coloured fruits like strawberries and blackcurrants. Vegetables including broccoli, brussels sprouts and capsicums are all rich in Vitamin C, too.
Get moving
A natural glow comes easily with regular daily exercise. According to the Ministry of Health, we should all be getting at least 30 minutes a day – enough to make us sweat. Exercise increases endorphins, so you’ll feel happier and more energetic, too.
Slip, slop, slap
Don't just chase the glow – protect it, too. A daily sunscreen shields your skin from UV exposure and environmental pollutants, so it’s a must-have in your vitamin C skincare routine – alongside your hat, sunglasses and sun-smart habits like avoiding the harsh midday sun where possible.
| Shop all Vitamin C skincare → | Shop all Antipodes → |