Does Vitamin C Darken Your Skin?

Vitamin C is a powerful and popular antioxidant often found in many skin care products, like serums, moisturizers and masks. With its multitude of benefits for the skin, including brightening, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helping to protect the skin from environmental stressors, it’s no wonder vitamin C can be found almost everywhere in the beauty world. However, some people have experienced that vitamin C can cause their skin to darken. This may come across as confusing since vitamin C products typically tout their benefits for illuminating one’s complexion. So, does vitamin c darken skin? Let’s dive into the details below!

Does Vitamin C Cause Skin Darkening?

Well, not permanently. It instead can cause temporary skin staining, which happens when l-ascorbic acid (the most common form of vitamin C and one that is less shelf-stable) oxidizes and turns into erythrulose (a key ingredient in many self-tanner products). 

This process of degradation occurs when the byproducts of oxidized l-ascorbic acid react with proteins on the surface and give the uppermost layers of your skin a darker color. That is, however, until they are exfoliated and polished off.So, while certain types of vitamin C can produce this effect temporarily, overall, vitamin C has been shown to actually have a brightening effect on the skin, which can help to even out skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots. Just make sure to use a high-quality vitamin C derivative and products. Read more about the different types of vitamin C to see which type is best for your skin.

How Does Vitamin C Help Your Skin?

Vitamin C plays many roles in benefitting the skin and with the combination of these efforts, your skin thrives appearing strong, youthful and radiant. Below are some of the top benefits you can see when using vitamin C, which include protecting, plumping and brightening your skin.

Protects skin from environmental stressors

Vitamin C helps to protect your skin from environmental stressors by neutralizing impact from variables outside of our control (like harsh elements and pollution). With its rich antioxidant quality, applying vitamin C topically supports the skin’s natural defense, so that you have a fortified and healthy-looking skin barrier.

Plumps skin

Additionally, it helps to boost the look of skin plumpness, reducing the appearance of large pores, as well as the look of wrinkles and fine lines. With consistent use of a well-sourced vitamin C skin care elixir, say hello to bouncy-looking, supple skin!

Brightens skin

Vitamin C, most notably known to brighten skin, helps by inhibiting tyrosinase which is tied to melanin production. This inhibition helps reduce the appearance of dark spots for an overall, more even-toned glow!

Does Vitamin C Serum Help With Dark Spots?

Because vitamin C is a wonderful brightening ingredient (inhibiting tyrosinase as we covered above), it does wonders to reduce the appearance of dark spots and reveal a more even-toned complexion. This is especially possible when applied topically in the form of a serum. Serums are aqueous-based solutions teeming with activated ingredients that work synergistically together to deliver amazing nutrients and benefits to the skin. Since serums are hydrators, their molecular size is smaller compared to their oil-based counterparts, which allows them to drive deeper into the skin layers for a more targeted approach.

Can Vitamin C Lighten Your Skin?

While vitamin C helps with brightening your skin, it will not lighten your general skin shade. The inhibition of excess color helps with evening out the look of darkened areas, which creates a smooth, uniform complexion.

What Vitamin Makes My Skin Darker?

Out of the vitamins, vitamin D usually comes up in conversations when considering what can contribute to skin darkening in tone. This correlation is due to our bodies naturally producing vitamin D when our skin is exposed to sunlight, which helps to regulate the skin’s innate production of melanin (the pigment that gives color to the skin, hair and eyes). It is important to note that it is highly unlikely that vitamin D supplements contribute to darkening the skin. It is the skin’s exposure to sunlight that the body’s natural production of melanin increases, resulting in a darker skin shade. 

Incorporating a high-quality vitamin C product can be an effective way to brighten the complexion and achieve a more radiant and youthful appearance. With so many forms out there on the market, it is important to do your research and find which vitamin C form works best for you and your skin type. 

You can look for products that harness ingredients from nature abundant in vitamin C like kakadu plum, or safe yet effective vitamin C derivatives like tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. We may be biased here, but we really believe this to be one of the best and gentlest forms of vitamin C available, making it a great option for all skin types, especially if you’re wondering if vitamin C serums are suitable for those with sensitive skin types!