So many things just go perfectly together: chocolate and strawberries, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, lip liner and lipstick. Each are great on their own but bring them together and that’s where the magic happens. The same is true of vitamin C and SPF, two must-use skincare ingredients that, when paired together, actually enhance each other’s benefits for gorgeous, healthy, protected skin.
“Think of your typical video game – there are power-ups or health boosts, then there’s armor,” says Dr. Geeta Yadev, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Facet Dermatology in Toronto, Canada. “You need both to get through the game unscathed, right? Vitamin C works like a power-up, while the SPF is your armor.”
Science tells us that, when used together, these two ingredients more effectively neutralize and protect against free radical and UV damage. In turn, your skin remains healthier and stronger than if you’d only used one or the other. (Feel free to put on your researcher cap and check out this robust study on the matter!)
To better understand just how important it is to use vitamin C and SPF daily, keep reading.
Vitamin C: An Antioxidant Powerhouse
There’s a solid chance you’ve heard the word “antioxidant” floating around both in terms of skincare and the foods you eat. But what does antioxidant even mean?
Well, you know how rust can accumulate on metal? That’s a form of oxidation, and the same can occur at a micro-level on our skin via free radicals. Long story short, these pesky unpaired oxygen atoms attach to your skin and accelerate the deterioration of collagen, which leads to premature signs of aging. Specifically, they can cause sunspots, fine lines and wrinkles, and skin laxity. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidation hero that basically tells free radicals to get lost so your skin continues looking healthy for longer.
“You should wear vitamin C every day,” says Dr. Yadev. “It’s a simple way to help protect and strengthen your skin as well as deliver multiple skincare benefits, including brightening, firming, and smoothing.” And like we mentioned above, wearing vitamin C with your SPF can actually strengthen the efficacy of your sunscreen. In fact, many sunscreens are pre-formulated with vitamin C precisely for this reason. ILIA’s C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C 10% + Niacinamide, $64, and Iris&Romeo’s Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow, $47, are two prime examples.
Of course, you can always wear a layer of your favorite vitamin C serum or cream underneath your sunscreen for the same result.
SPF: Your Best Defense Against the Sun
Sunscreen is another non-negotiable ingredient to keep in your beauty lineup, and with so many amazing formulations to choose from, there’s zero excuse to skip it. Especially when you think about the fact that it’s your number one defense against skin cancer – the most common cancer in the world.
“SPF protects your skin against continuous harm from UVA and UVB exposure, which can lead to the development of skin cancers and worsened aging of the skin with increased uneven pigmentation, wrinkles, and loss of skin elasticity,” notes Dr. Morgana Colombo, a board-certified dermatologist in Reston, Virginia. Like vitamin C, she says you should slather sunscreen daily and then reapply every two to four hours. Even on cloudy days and days spent inside, your skin is subjected to the ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun.
“I tell patients to apply a good [broad spectrum] sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to face and neck daily and rest of body when exposed,” says Dr. Colombo. “A layer thick enough to cover your whole face and neck should be applied, which is about the size of a nickel or two fingertips. One ounce should cover the whole body.”
Because it can be inconvenient to apply another layer of SPF when you’re wearing makeup, Dr. Yadev suggests using a powder sunscreen formula for reapplications. These can be easily dusted over your makeup and can even help zap excess oil and shininess. Try Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Brush-On Shield SPF 50, $69, or the Supergoop (Re)setting 100% Mineral Powder SPF 35, $30. Pro tip: Keep one stocked on your desk and/or in your purse for easy reapplication.
Check out our fave sunscreens to apply over makeup here.
Bottom Line on SPF and Vitamin C
If there are two ingredients every single person should keep in their skincare regimen, it’s definitely vitamin C and SPF. Better yet, by pairing these two together, your skin gets an additional boost of antioxidant protection and UV protection. Consider this timeless duo extra insurance for healthy and radiant skin.
Like vitamin C and SPF, there are tons of ingredient combinations that make the perfect pairing. We’ve listed four of the best duos in the skincare kingdom here – thank us later, boo!
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Why You Must Use SPF and Vitamin C Every Day This Summer
Chocolate and strawberries, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, lip liner and lipstick—there are just so many things that mix well together. Even if they are all fantastic on their own, the magic happens when you combine them. The same is true for vitamin C and SPF, two essential components of skincare whose advantages when combined actually increase for beautiful, healthy, protected skin.
A board-certified dermatologist and the creator of Facet Dermatology in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Geeta Yadev argues that armour is similar to power-ups or health enhancements in video games. "You need both to complete the game successfully, right? Vitamin C acts as a boost, and SPF acts as protection.
According to science, these two substances work better together to neutralise free radicals and protect against UV ray damage. As a result, your skin is stronger and healthier than it would be if you only used one or the other. Put on your researcher hat and have a look at this thorough investigation on the subject.
Continue reading to learn more about how crucial it is to utilise SPF and vitamin C every day.
An Antioxidant Powerhouse: Vitamin C
You've probably heard the phrase "antioxidant" spoken in relation to both foods and skincare products. What does antioxidant actually imply, though?
You are aware of how rust can build up on metal, right? That is an example of oxidation, and free radicals on our skin can cause the same thing to happen on a smaller scale. To cut a long story short, these annoying unpaired oxygen atoms stick to your skin and hasten the breakdown of collagen, resulting in early signs of ageing. They can specifically result in skin laxity, fine lines and wrinkles, and sunspots. Free radicals are effectively told to go by vitamin C, an anti-oxidation hero, ensuring that your skin looks young and healthy for longer.
Dr. Yadev advises wearing vitamin C every day. It's an easy approach to provide many skincare benefits, such as smoothing, firming, and brightening, as well as to protect and fortify your skin. And as we already explained, using vitamin C together with your sunscreen can actually increase its effectiveness. In fact, a lot of sunscreens already contain vitamin C because of this. Examples include Iris&Romeo's Weekend Skin SPF 50 + Vitamin C + Glow, $47, and ILIA's C Beyond Triple Serum SPF 40 Mineral Sunscreen with Vitamin C 10% + Niacinamide, $64.
Of course, you can get the same results by wearing a layer of your preferred vitamin C serum or lotion under your sunscreen.
SPF: The Best Sun Protection Factor
There is really no justification for skipping sunscreen now when there are so many wonderful formulations to select from. Sunscreen is another essential component to keep in your cosmetic arsenal. especially when you consider that it is your top line of protection against skin cancer, which is the most prevalent cancer worldwide.
According to Dr. Morgana Colombo, a board-certified dermatologist in Reston, Virginia, "SPF protects your skin against continuous harm from UVA and UVB exposure, which can lead to the development of skin cancers and worsened ageing of the skin with increased uneven pigmentation, wrinkles, and loss of skin elasticity." Similar to vitamin C, she advises applying sunscreen everyday and reapplying every two to four hours.
Dr. Colombo advises patients to use a decent [wide spectrum] sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection on their face, neck, and other exposed body parts every day. Apply a coating that is about the thickness of a nickel or two fingertips, thick enough to cover your entire face and neck. The entire body should be covered by one ounce.
Conclusion on SPF and Vitamin C
Vitamin C and SPF are the two elements that every single person has to include in their skincare routine. Even better, by combining these two, your skin receives an extra burst of UV and antioxidant defence. Think of this classic pair as additional protection for beautiful, healthy skin.
There are several component combinations that work well together, same to how vitamin C and SPF do. Here, we've compiled a list of four of the top skincare pairings; you can thank us later, boo!