A go-to ingredient for fending off colds and flu as well as lessening stress levels, we’re used to taking vitamin C to boost our health, but if you didn’t know already it also works wonders on our skin.

　　维生素C能够预防感冒和流感，还能缓解压力。我们习惯服用维生素C来增强抵抗力，但是许多人不知道它同样还能改善我们的皮肤。

　　Hyped by beauty buffs everywhere, it’s considered a superhero vitamin that’s right up there with other age-defying ingredients like retinol or ceramides, but what exactly does it do?

　　不管哪里的美女都会称赞它，维生素C俨然已经成为抵抗衰老的超级英雄，同维生素A和天然保湿因子一起被大众谈及。但是它具体是如何起功效的呢?

　　What are the benefits?

　　它到底有什么好处?

　　A cult ingredient, not only does it penetrate your skin to fight free radical damage caused by the environment, but it also helps fade pigment, stop inflammation and repair tired or lacklustre complexions.

　　受大众喜爱的维生素C不仅能渗透到你的皮肤深处，帮你抵挡环境里的辐射，它还能缓解炎症、修复暗黄受损面容。

　　Vitamin C is also hailed as a wonder anti-ageing skincare ingredient as it acts as a great collagen booster, making skin look firmer and more luminous.

　　维生素C还被称为抗衰护肤的宝物，因为它就像胶原蛋白精华，使皮肤看起来更加紧致亮白。

　　What type should you be using?

　　你应该使用哪种类型的产品?

　　When it comes to looking for a suitable vitamin C product, it’s important to know that there are several different types including L-ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate and retinyl ascorbate.

　　在选择合适的维生素C产品时，了解以下几种不同的种类十分重要。这些种类包括左旋维生素C、抗坏血酸磷酸酯钠、 抗坏血酸棕榈酸盐和抗坏血酸视黄醇。

　　While any of the above will undoubtedly benefit your skin, L-ascorbic acid is considered to be the most favourable, with the most amount of scientific research behind it.

　　上面任意一种都会改善你的皮肤质量。左旋维生素C被认为是效果最好，所以有大量关于它的科学研究。

　　Similarly, the right concentration is important here too. Most products should tell you how much of the ingredient they contain and, as a rule, potency between three and 20 per cent will be the most effective.

　　同样，浓度适当也很重要。大多数产品会标明其中所含的原料种类，3%-20%的维生素C浓度被认为是效果最好的比例。

　　Of course, the higher the percentage the quicker you’re likely to see results but, because the maximum skin absorption of vitamin C occurs at 20 per cent, anything above this may prove redundant.

　　当然，浓度越高效果越明显。但是皮肤能吸收的维生素浓度最多为20%，超过也是徒劳多余。

　　How often should you use it?

　　你该多久使用一次?

　　A wonder ingredient that’s hailed for its ability to protect your skin from UV damage and environmental aggressors, vitamin C is best used as part of your morning skincare routine; that being said, you can use it at night too.

　　维生素C能保护你皮肤隔离紫外线和环境损伤，所以补充维C应该成为每天早上护肤的必备步骤，当然，晚上你也应该使用它。