When it comes to ingredients geared toward “Pigmented” skin, skin lighteners like hydroquinone and kojic acid get most of the attention. But you can actually protect and perfect your “Pigmented” skin at the same time with one wonderful ingredient: Vitamin C.

As an antioxidant, vitamin C helps shield skin from damaging free radicals that can compromise your skin—and lead to signs of aging like wrinkles as well as skin cancer. One recent study also showed that topical vitamin C can help protect the skin from UV damage. Although this doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen if you’re using vitamin C on a daily basis, the more protection the better, right?

Vitamin C also plays a vital role in boosting our skin’s natural collagen production, so supplementing your skin topically can both prevent and improve the appearance of fine lines.

And most important to “Pigmented” skin types, vitamin C has also been shown to help fade unwanted pigment. Research has shown that vitamin C has the ability to inhibit the formation of melanin, which means potentially less spots on your skin—especially when paired with sunscreen.

A few words to the wise… In order for vitamin C to penetrate the skin, it needs to be in an acidic base. It’s common for vitamin C products to sting a bit upon application, so if your skin is “Pigmented” and “Sensitive,” you may not be able to tolerate it. Vitamin C is also unstable when exposed to light and air, so the packaging of the product you choose makes a difference as well. If you want to introduce vitamin C to your skincare regimen, here are a few we recommend:

• iS Clinical Super Serum Advance+
• La Roche-Posay Active C
• SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic