5 Glow-Enhancing Face Masks That Contain One *Very* Key Ingredient
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You've seen plenty of beauty brands touting their vitamin C-enriched products of late, and know that the ingredient can help promote a glowier, more even-looking complexion, while also helping to prevent future skin damage from things like free radicals. And while vitamin C is often touted as the hero ingredient in serums and creams, it's worth incorporating one of the best vitamin C masks into your routine, too. Ahead, you'll find five top-quality picks for every skin type and budget; but first, some key tips and insights from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Jordana Herschthal, M.D., with whom Bustle spoke for this article.
"Vitamin C is a reliable and naturally occurring antioxidant important for our skin's health," explains Dr. Herschthal. "Normal skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C, as it is vital for collagen production and antioxidant protection. As we age, the levels of vitamin C in our skin can decrease. If present in the correct formulation, topical vitamin C as ascorbic acid can help boost the skin's vitamin C content." Dr. Herschthal also notes that topical vitamin C "has been shown to augment sunscreen's protective effects."
Though Dr. Herschthal reports that, occasionally, some acne-prone patients may experience breakouts with the use of topical antioxidants, for the most part, vitamin C is a well-tolerated ingredient for most skin types — even people with sensitive or redness-prone skin. The quality of your topical vitamin C product is more important than the chosen delivery method, so if you prefer a vitamin C mask over a vitamin C serum (or vice versa), that's absolutely fine.
To that end, below are five of the best face masks containing vitamin C, including a travel-ready sheet mask, an at-home facial peel, and a formula created specifically for acne-prone skin. All will leave your skin looking and feeling its best — so scroll on to shop them now.
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Vitamin C is needed to make collagen, one of the fibres that builds your baby's body. So, it's no surprise that your need increases during pregnancy. Fortunately, it's easy to get an adequate supply from a diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Learn about the benefits of vitamin C in pregnancy, how it can help iron absorption and which foods are the best sources of vitamin C .
Why is vitamin C so important during pregnancy?
Not only does it boost your immune system and reduce your risk of suffering from iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnancy, Vitamin C is key to your baby's physical development too.
Vitamin C:
Aids in the production of collagen, which supports normal growth, healthy tissue and wound healing1
Supports your baby's immune system2
Helps your baby to absorb iron and build up stores for later use2
How much vitamin C do you need when you're pregnant?
The Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) of vitamin C during pregnancy – the amount considered to be enough to meet most people's needs – is 50mg per day, which is 25% more than you would normally need3. A 100g portion of strawberries contain 57mg. If you decide to breastfeed your baby, you shouldn't need to make any dietary changes but it's a good idea to eat healthily. You can always talk to your midwife or healthcare professional if you'd like more advice. Read more about a healthy breastfeeding diet.
Since it is a water-soluble vitamin, it isn't stored by your body, which means a daily intake during pregnancy is essential. Fortunately, you can get all the vitamin C you need to support you and your baby by eating a healthy, balanced pregnancy diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables4.
Which foods contain Vitamin C?
Foods rich in vitamin C include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kiwi fruit, citrus fruits, red, green or yellow pepper, sweet potatoes, strawberries and tomatoes.
Peppers contain over twice as much vitamin C as oranges. Peppers contain around 126mg per 100g whereas oranges only contain 52mg of vitamin C per 100g5.
The graph below shows the amount of vitamin C you get from different foods6:
Food
Portion
Average nutrient quantity (mcg)
Red peppers
100g
126
Broccoli (best raw or steamed)
100g
79
Strawberries
100g
57
Cabbage (green or white raw)
100g
45
Citrus fruit (oranges are the best)
100g
42-52
Orange juice
100g
40
Tomatoes (best cooked)
100g
30
Spinach
100g
30
Steam and grill to boost your vitamin C intake
As with other water-soluble vitamins, the way you prepare and cook foods can affect the vitamin C content5.
Boiling can destroy some of the vitamin C within the foods you're preparing. To retain as much nutrient quality as possible, it's best to steam or grill your vegetables5. Or better still, eat them raw in salads.
Vitamin C boosts your iron absorption
Vitamin C helps the body absorb non-haem iron, the type found in plant sources such as spinach and chickpeas. Eating good sources of vitamin C with plant sources of iron during pregnancy can increase your daily intake considerably7. To get the most out of your diet, include fruit and iron sources within the same meal, whether it's adding chopped fruit to a salad or having a whole fruit for dessert7.
An adequate intake of iron is essential to support your increased blood volume and reduce the risk of iron-deficiency anaemia, and to help build up your baby's iron stores to support their learning and growth for the first 6 months of life2. Read more about the importance of iron in your pregnancy diet.
Try increasing your intake with these vitamin C-rich snacks and meals:
Porridge topped with sliced strawberries
Sliced red peppers dipped in hummus
Blackberry & raspberry ginger yoghurt pots
Corn & courgette fritters with poached eggs
Sesame-crusted tuna steaks with quinoa
Sweet potato with homemade beans & feta
Italian panzanella salad with roast chicken
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Maggini S et al. Essential Role of Vitamin C and Zinc in Child Immunity and Health. J Int Med Res 2010; 38: 386 - 414
NHS. Vitamins for children [Online] 2015 Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/vitamins-for-children.aspx [Accessed October 2017].
NHS UK. Iron-deficiency anaemia – complications [Online]. 2014. Available at: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Anaemia-iron-deficiency-/Pages/Complications.aspx [Accessed June 2014]
Rumbold A, Crowther CA. Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2, 2005.
Royal Surrey County Hospital (NHS). Check your iron intake pdf [Online]. 2012. Available at: www.royalsurrey.nhs.uk/Patients/Information-Leaflets/DownloadPDF?DocID=1233%2c1139%2c5%2c1%2cDocuments&MediaID=d863305d-d3d2-409b-abbb-841da008bcf2&Filename=PIN543_Check_your_iron_intake_w.pdf[Accessed June 2014]
Dietary reference values for food energy and nutrients for the United Kingdom. Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy. Report on Health and Social Subjects 41, 1991.
Department of Health. Nutrient analysis of fruit and vegetables [Online]. 2013. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/167942/Nutrient_analysis_of_fruit_and_vegetables_-_Summary_Report.pdf [Accessed June 2014]
Gov.UK. Nutrient Analysis of Fruit and Vegetables [Online]. 2013. Available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/nutrient-analysis-of-fruit-and-vegetables [Accessed August 2014]
NHS UK. Vitamins and minerals [Online]. 2012. Available at: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/vitamins-minerals.aspx [Accessed June 2014]
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Get Your Glow On With These 5 Skin-Protecting Vitamin C Creams
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Vitamin C: Not just for treating scurvy anymore. "Vitamin C is essential for good skin health," NYC-based dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Howe tells Bustle. "It's the most abundant and important antioxidant in our skin." As an antioxidant, vitamin C protects your skin from environmental aggressors like the sun, pollution, and smoke; and, according to Dr. Howe, an overabundance of those free radicals can result in collagen depletion, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. It follows, then, that infusing your skin with vitamin C can result in a glowier, clearer complexion, so you'll want to get your topical vitamin C wherever you can. The best vitamin C creams are a good place to start.
Vitamin C is especially valuable for providing a deeper layer of sun protection that SPF can't quite reach. "Even the most diligent sunscreen applier will still have some UV rays penetrate the skin — sunscreens are screens, after all; they block the transmission of only a given percentage of incident UV radiation," Dr. Howe says. "Some of it still gets through. And that's where antioxidants like vitamin C come in. Antioxidants snuff out the damage that UV rays cause by quenching free radicals present in the skin." That said, this is not a reason to skimp on the face sunscreen you're already wearing every day (right?).
Dr. Howe recommends applying vitamin C products in the morning; that way, you're providing your skin with a fresh supply of the antioxidant's protective powers. And because they're typically used during the day, lots of vitamin C creams include other ingredients that brighten, smooth, hydrate, and otherwise benefit your skin.
Ahead, you'll find five of the best vitamin C creams for all manner of budgets and skin types. Put them on in the morning for luminous skin all day long, then drink a glass of orange juice so your teeth don't fall out.
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Hepatitis is a condition that causes inflammation of your liver. Currently, there are an estimated 6 million people living with hepatitis in the United States, and more than 50,000 people are diagnosed with this disease every year. There are three primary types of hepatitis, and while their symptoms can be similar, they vary largely in the ways they're transmitted. Learning more about each type of hepatitis can help you better understand the condition as a whole.
Hepatitis A is the most easily transmitted of the three viruses. It affects approximately 2,500 people every year in the United States. It typically spreads through feces-contaminated food or water and is found in the feces of people who have the virus. Hepatitis A causes a short-term, acute sickness that most people heal from without treatment. However, it can cause serious illness in some people. This virus is more common in places with underdeveloped sanitation systems.
While doctors can't treat hepatitis A with medication, people who get this virus can manage its symptoms with fluids, rest and good nutrition. There's also a safe and effective vaccine available to protect you against hepatitis A.
What Is Hepatitis B?
Hepatitis B can occur both acutely (meaning it develops quickly and lasts a short time) and chronically (meaning it develops slowly over time and worsens over months or years). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 2 million people in the United States are chronically affected with hepatitis B. Hepatitis B can be transmitted through sexual activity and exposure to infected blood. It can also be passed from a parent to their newborn child during birth.
Hepatitis B usually causes short-term discomfort that many people recover from completely after about four to eight weeks. However, it can turn into a chronic condition that lasts for years; this is more likely in older adults. Doctors can treat severe chronic hepatitis B with antiviral medications. However, in most cases, treatments focus on proper hydration and nutrition. There's a safe vaccine available to protect you against hepatitis B, too.
What Is Hepatitis C?
Approximately 4 million people in the United States are affected with hepatitis C. This form of hepatitis causes a chronic illness in over 50% of people who get this type of the virus. It's the least transmissible of the three viruses and can spread through contact with infected blood.
Hepatitis C occurs more commonly in people who engage in intravenous drug use. If you received a blood transfusion before 1992, you should also get tested for hepatitis C if you haven't previously. Hepatitis C can spread through unprotected sexual intercourse, but this is a less common way to transmit it. While there's no vaccine for chronic hepatitis C, treatments that are available today offer a 95% cure rate.
Chronic hepatitis C can significantly affect how your liver works. It can cause cirrhosis, which means that your normal liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue. It can also cause liver cancer. However, there are medications that can help keep this disease in check. Making lifestyle changes, such as reducing or eliminating alcohol from your diet, can also decrease your chances of experiencing complications. In severe cases, hepatitis C may require a liver transplant.
The varying forms of viral hepatitis affect millions of people in the United States. Chronic hepatitis often has few symptoms in its early stages, so recognizing the associated dangers and getting tested if you've been exposed may save your life. Although there are five types of viral hepatitis, only A, B and C are the forms commonly found in the United States.
Resource Links:
"Hepatitis A, B, and C: Learn the Differences," Immunization Action Coalition
"What's the Difference Between Hepatitis A, B and C?," UNC Health Talk
"The ABCs of Hepatitis," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
"What's the Difference: Hepatitis B vs Hepatitis C?," Hepatitis B Foundation
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required for the maintenance of skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage, and wound healing. (1,2)
Vitamin C also helps protect cells against oxidative stress, which in turn provides protection against certain diseases, including cancer. (1,3)
Vitamin C, like zinc and vitamin A, also helps support your immune system. (4,5,6)
High vitamin C foods include guavas, bell peppers, kiwifruit, strawberries, oranges, papayas, broccoli, tomatoes, kale, and snow peas. The current daily value (% DV) for vitamin C is 90mg. (7)
Below is a list high vitamin C foods ranked by a common serving size, use the nutrient ranking of over 200 foods high in vitamin C to see the foods highest in vitamin C by nutrient density (per gram), or see rankings of fruits high in vitamin C, and vegetables high in vitamin C.
Introduction
High Vitamin C Foods
Printable
Vitamin C Foods by Nutrient Density (Vitamin C per Gram)
Other Vitamin C Rich Foods
About the Data
Nutrient Ranking Tool
Related
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References
#1: Guavas
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
377mg (419% DV)
228mg (254% DV)
671mg (746% DV)
#2: Kiwifruit
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
167mg (185% DV)
93mg (103% DV)
304mg (338% DV)
#3: Bell Peppers
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
152mg (169% DV)
128mg (142% DV)
982mg (1091% DV)
#4: Strawberries
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
98mg (108% DV)
59mg (65% DV)
368mg (408% DV)
#5: Oranges
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
96mg (106% DV)
53mg (59% DV)
226mg (252% DV)
#6: Papaya
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
88mg (98% DV)
61mg (68% DV)
283mg (315% DV)
#7: Broccoli
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
81mg (90% DV)
89mg (99% DV)
525mg (583% DV)
#8: Tomato
Vitamin C per Cup Cooked
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
55mg (61% DV)
23mg (25% DV)
253mg (281% DV)
#9: Snow Peas
Vitamin C per Cup
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
38mg (42% DV)
60mg (67% DV)
286mg (317% DV)
#10: Kale
Vitamin C per Cup Cooked
Vitamin C per 100g
Vitamin C per 200 Calories
23mg (26% DV)
18mg (20% DV)
99mg (110% DV)
See All 200 Foods High in Vitamin C
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Vitamin C Foods by Nutrient Density (Vitamin C per Gram)
Other Vitamin C Rich Foods
About the Data
Data for the curated food lists comes from the USDA Food Data Central Repository.
You can check our data against the USDA by clicking the (Source) link at the bottom of each food listing.
Note: When checking data please be sure the serving sizes are the same. In the rare case you find any difference, please contact us and we will fix it right away.
Foods High in Vitamin C
Foods Low in Vitamin C
Vegetables High in Vitamin C
Fruits High in Vitamin C
Vegetarian Foods High in Vitamin C
Nuts High in Vitamin C
Beans High in Vitamin C
Dairy High in Vitamin C
Breakfast Cereals High in Vitamin C
Fast Foods High in Vitamin C
View more food groups with the nutrient ranking tool, or see ratios with the nutrient ratio tool.
Vitamin E Foods
Beta Carotene Food Sources
High Lycopene Foods
High Iron Foods
High Potassium Foods
feedback
Data Sources and References
Mitochondria, Energy and Cancer: The Relationship with Ascorbic Acid. J Orthomol Med. 2010; 25(1): 29–38.
Office of Dietary Supplements Fact Sheet: Vitamin C
L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) induces the apoptosis of B16 murine melanoma cells via a caspase-8-independent pathway. Cancer Immunol Immunother. 2003;52:693–698.
Vitamin C and Immune Function Nutrients. 2017 Nov; 9(11): 1211.
The role of vitamin A and related retinoids in immune function. Nutr Rev. 1998 Jan;56(1 Pt 2):S38-48.
Zinc in Human Health: Effect of Zinc on Immune Cells Mol Med. 2008 May-Jun; 14(5-6): 353–357. Published online 2008 Apr 3. doi: 10.2119/2008-00033.Prasad.
FDA Daily Values Guidelines
U.S. Agricultural Research Service Food Data Central
MyFoodData provides nutrition data tools and articles to help you organize and understand the foods you eat. Read more...
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Natrol® Easy-C® is a high potency antioxidant vitamin C supplement essential for optimal nutrition. Our new easy-on-the-stomach formula with Esterified Vitamin C supports your immune health.†
Product Description
Vitamin C has a long history of supporting immune health. Discovered in the 1930's, vitamin C is considered one of the foundations of modern nutrition. Vitamin C is also required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body, it aids in iron absorption, collagen production and overall skin and bone health.
Natrol Easy-C is a high potency antioxidant that contains esterified Vitamin C. Esterified Vitamin C is a dietary supplement formulated to eliminate vitamin C's usual acidity, making it easy-on-the-stomach. Esterified Vitamin C is both water and fat soluble and provides quicker absorption and better retention for superior health benefits. Esterified C is four times more effective than conventional Vitamin C.
Natrol Easy-C Benefits:
Supports immune health with Vitamin C†
Powerful antioxidant formula
Esterified Vitamin C
100% vegetarian
Help build your body's defenses with Easy-C. Looking and feeling healthy has never felt so easy!
Additional Information
Please consult your healthcare professional prior to use if you have or suspect a medical condition, are taking prescription drugs, or are pregnant or lactating.
Individual results may vary.
Product details
Drug Free
Yes
Form
Tablet
Free Of
Milk, Egg, Fish, Crustacean Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts, Wheat, Soybeans, Yeast, Artificial Colors or Flavors, Added Sugar or Preservatives
Vitamin A should be an integral part of every person's diet. It plays vital roles in your body by helping to maintain your vision, skin health and even your immune system's ability to work properly. But it's important to consume the right amount; vitamin A can be harmful when your body gets too much of it. Learn more about vitamin A, including what it does, where to find it and what happens when you get too much of it.
Vitamin A is actually a group of fat-soluble vitamins like retinol, retinal and retinyl esters, all of which have various health benefits. Vitamin A is particularly important in the maintenance of vision — especially your ability to see in low light. Your body converts this vitamin to retinal, which combines with other molecules to form rhodopsin. This is the protein principally responsible for your eyes' absorption of light. If you're worried about your vision getting worse over time, make sure you get enough vitamin A. It's a good way to strengthen your sight naturally.
Consuming sufficient amounts of vitamin A can also work wonders for your immune system. Vitamin A promotes the production of white blood cells, particularly T cells, which eliminate viruses and bacteria from your body. Vitamin A also stimulates the production of special T cells called regulatory T cells. These help to reduce the risk of your body attacking its own healthy cells, which is what happens with some autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, vitamin A fortifies the linings of your respiratory, intestinal and urinary tracts, along with your skin and mucous membranes. It also sends additional immune cells there to prevent bacteria from entering your body and causing an infection.
Vitamin A is also involved in the maintenance of healthy skin by helping immature skin cells age properly into mature skin cells. It reduces sebum production, which can be problematic in oily skin. In fact, Isotretinoin is a common prescription-only vitamin A derivative used as a treatment for acne.
Vitamin A can also contribute to improved bone growth, cell division and cell differentiation. It even promotes reproduction and is a healthy supplement for people who are breastfeeding.
Food Sources of Vitamin A
Vitamin A is quite easy to come by naturally. Many of the most basic staples in our diets — meat, eggs, milk and cheese, for example — are excellent sources of vitamin A. Other specific animal sources have high vitamin A levels as well, such as kidney and liver. However, it's important to note that some of these foods have high cholesterol and saturated fat levels, so be sure to keep a healthy balance of these in your diet if you choose to eat them.
Vitamin A exists as either preformed vitamin A or as provitamin A carotenoids. Preformed vitamin A is found in animal and dairy sources. Provitamin A carotenoids include beta-carotene and alpha-carotene, which your body converts into vitamin A and other derivatives. Beta-carotene is found in foods like carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, grapefruits, spinach, broccoli and apricots. As a general rule, the more vibrant the color of a fruit or vegetable is, the more beta-carotene it contains. As a bonus, you won't have to worry about the fat or cholesterol content in these foods.
Side Effects of Too Much Vitamin A
Getting the right amount of vitamin A in your diet shouldn't have any negative side effects. However, a vitamin A deficiency can lead to health issues over time. If you don't get enough vitamin A, you could develop vision problems. Plus, your immune system could weaken, leaving you susceptible to infectious diseases.
Perhaps even more serious are the side effects of consuming too much vitamin A, also known as hypervitaminosis A. Initially, too much vitamin A can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and even vomiting. Because vitamin A is fat-soluble, it tends to get stored in your liver if you consume too much of it, which can lead to liver problems and even liver failure. There's also evidence that getting excess vitamin A can cause osteoporosis and bone fractures.
In particular, pregnant people must be careful about their intake of vitamin A, as getting too much vitamin A can cause birth defects. Pregnant people shouldn't eat foods that are high in vitamin A, such as pate and fish liver oil. In general, babies and small children are more sensitive to vitamin A overdoses and deficiencies, so it's important to closely monitor their daily vitamin A consumption, too.
Taking Vitamin A: Daily Dosage Recommendations
According to the Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board, most adult men should consume around 900 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin A per day, and women should have around 700mcg per day. The recommended daily intake is lower (750–770mcg per day) in pregnant people and higher (1200–1300mcg per day) for people who are breastfeeding.
The daily dosage for children varies with age. From 0 to 6 months, infants should have 400mcg per day, after which they should consume 500mcg per day until they reach the age of 1. Children 1 to 3 years of age should get 300mcg per day, while those from 4 to 8 years of age need 400mcg per day. Those from 9 to 13 years old need 600mcg each day. Daily recommendations for children don't change based on gender.
These dosage requirements are general guidelines. Individuals may have differing daily recommendations for vitamin A, depending on their health status and lifestyle. Most people can get a sufficient amount of vitamin A simply by eating a balanced diet. Consult a doctor before taking any vitamin A supplements or changing from the recommended dosage for your age and sex.
In summary, it's important to be aware of the foods that'll give you an adequate supply of vitamin A. Provided you have a balanced diet, you might not need to take vitamin A supplements. Be aware of foods containing high levels of vitamin A, and avoid eating too much of these, particularly during pregnancy.