12 January 2024 , 11:13
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Wrinkles are a natural part of ageing, as our skin begins to make less collagen.
And while nothing is wrong with 'growing old gracefully' - many of us wish we could turn the clock back a few years, back to when our skin was plump, firm, and smooth. If Botox isn't for you, there may be a simpler and cheaper way to avoid those fine lines and wrinkles.
Of course, no one ingredient is going to be the perfect panacea for your beauty woes, but several studies have started to explore whether a popular vitamin could help improve coarse wrinkles around the face and neck - garnering some surprising conclusions.
Vitamin C has long been hailed in the skincare world for reducing the appearance of dark spots and brightening our tired, dull skin. When paired with other topical ingredients, Vitamin C can also help protect our skin from harmful sun rays (though it should never be used a complete replacement of SPF).
According to Harvard Health, the vitamin (also known as ascorbic acid) could also improve wrinkles. It cites one study where participants who used a vitamin C formulation daily for at least three months improved the appearance of fine and coarse wrinkles on their faces and neck.
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It concluded that signs of ageing in human skin could be made better "through the provision of vitamin C" - stating that several other studies support this. However, it pointed out that measurement of skin changes is "difficult".
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A literature review published last year aimed to identify whether topical Vitamin C really can improve wrinkles, or whether claims around the ingredient were flawed. It says while the ingredient can 'stimulate collagen gene expression as well as prevent collagen degradation' - more studies are needed to gain a better understanding of Vitamin C's role in wrinkle reduction.
This is because many creams and serums containing Vitamin C can also contain other ingredients that may also target fine lines. Researchers say this "thereby complicates any specific conclusions regarding the efficacy of vitamin C".
What's your top skincare tip? Let us know in the comments section below