Next time you are thinking about how to improve your skin, keep walking past the cosmetics aisle and head on over to the produce section – because research is showing that Vitamin C is a valuable ally in protecting and enhancing your skin. Vitamin C is found in everything from oranges to bell peppers to broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cantaloupe—and no matter how you consume it, you can reap its benefits.
A new study out of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology study found that Vitamin C doesn't just protect skin—it reprograms it by turning on genes that help rebuild aging skin from the inside, making it thicker and more resilient. The study looked at human epidermal equivalents, which are laboratory-grown models that closely mimic real human skin. Importantly, the study revealed that Vitamin C helps skin cells grow, by reactivating genes associated with cell proliferation. All that means is that Vitamin C can not only reduce the damage from UV exposure and prevent dry skin, it can actually thicken thinning skin, repair damaged skin, and even help reduce wrinkles.
So how do you get the skin healing benefits of Vitamin C? Researchers have found that topical applications work best to combat age-related changes (as it has a more direct application to the target area), but prioritizing it in your diet can also bring a long list of skin and health benefits. So consider the produce section as your new opportunity to eat right, but look right as well.
Go Deeper:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250625075013.htm
https://www.beautyindependent.com/beauty-brands-using-term-pro-aging-industry-making-strides-ageism/
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-is-topical-vitamin-c-important-for-skin-health-202111102635
https://www.webmd.com/beauty/ss/slideshow-benefits-of-vitamin-c-for-skin