Vitamin C and sunscreen: why you need both
Sunscreen and vitamin C are two of the most talked-about names in skincare. They aren’t competitors. They do different jobs, and they work best together.
What sunscreen does
Sunscreen filters UV rays before they can damage skin. SunKids uses one active ingredient, non-nano zinc oxide at 24.1%, for broad spectrum SPF 50 protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
What vitamin C does
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. Sun exposure creates unstable molecules called free radicals, and antioxidants like vitamin C help neutralize them. Vitamin C also plays a role in supporting the skin’s own collagen.1
Why the combination matters
No sunscreen filters 100% of UV rays. Antioxidants help deal with what gets through. In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, a topical combination of vitamins C and E gave skin more protection against UV damage than either vitamin alone.2 As The INKEY List explains in Vitamin C and sunscreen: why you need both in your routine, SPF and vitamin C each do a different job, and vitamin C never replaces sunscreen.
High SPF + high vitamin C = a powerful, multilayer defense against sun damage.
How SunKids brings them together
Every SunKids pouch is powered by our Vita Glow Complex, a priority blend releasing vitamin C, vitamin E, B12, antioxidants/polyphenols and squalane. Its vitamin C comes from Kakadu plum, one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C ever recorded. Nourishing young skin while they enjoy the outdoors.
The basics still count
- Apply liberally 15 minutes before sun exposure.
- Reapply at least every 2 hours, and after 40 minutes of swimming or sweating.
- Add shade, hats, sunglasses and long sleeves, especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
- For babies under 6 months, ask your doctor.
Sources
- Pullar JM, Carr AC, Vissers MCM. The Roles of Vitamin C in Skin Health. Nutrients. 2017;9(8):866.
- Lin JY, Selim MA, Shea CR, et al. UV photoprotection by combination topical antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2003;48(6):866–874.
