Skin care is important in every environment and every season, but the topic of how to achieve glowing, beautiful skin is often at the forefront in the summer when your skin is most visible.

According to National Geographic, the average adult carries some eight pounds and 22 square feet of skin. As young adults, our skin is strong, supple and soft. As we age, skin becomes thinner, drier and less elastic. Certain environmental and lifestyle stresses, like excess sun exposure and smoking, exacerbate skin aging.

While it’s impossible to stop the process of skin aging entirely, there are a few natural remedies to help keep your skin healthy and supple longer. Vitamin C is one such “remedy.” Vitamin C is key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels and gives skin its firmness and strength. Vitamin C may also fight inflammation. Its antioxidant properties can neutralize highly reactive oxygen molecules that damage cells and may prematurely age your skin.

What’s more, according to health.howstuffworks.com, research suggests vitamin C may reduce sunburn caused by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and prevent the consequences of long-term sun exposure.

Help keep your skin healthy and supple this summer! Incorporate vitamin C into your daily routine in the following ways:

1. Use a Moisturizer with Vitamin C – As you know from skincare marketing campaigns, vitamin C is a prime ingredient in most beauty creams. A well-formulated, stably packaged topical skincare product with vitamin C can protect skin cells and skin’s support structure from UV-related damage, improve the appearance of sun-damaged skin, strengthen the skin’s barrier response and reduce inflammation. Incorporating a daily moisturizer packed with vitamin C into your daily routine can have a positive effect on the epidermis (or outmost layer of skin). However, making a true impact on the dermis (the thick middle layer of skin that gives your skin its strength and elasticity) requires more than just topical creams.
2. Eat More Citrus Fruits – Citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and Acerola cherries can help tighten skin and prevent wrinkles. Citrus fruits are especially high in vitamin C. Hot peppers, bell peppers, tomatoes and sprouts can also do the trick for those unable to consume citrus fruits.
3. Take a Daily vitamin C Supplement – According to health.howstuffworks.com, even if you are consuming the recommended nine daily servings of fruits and vegetables, you’re probably only meeting the minimum daily recommendations for vitamin C. That’s where dietary vitamin C supplements come in. High performance vitamin C, like that in Altrient® C, delivers an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant that can protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals and support collagen production for healthier skin.*

When it comes to healthier skin this summer and beyond, the answer is quite simple: Use a moisturizer with vitamin C, eat more citrus fruits and take a daily vitamin C supplement. To pump up your vitamin C intake, learn about Altrient® C at www.altrient-europe.com.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.