Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

Not Using These Two Vitamins Together? You May Be Missing Out On Benefits

Jamie Schneider
Author:
June 09, 2023
Jamie Schneider
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
By Jamie Schneider
Former Senior Beauty & Lifestyle Editor
Jamie Schneider is the former Senior Beauty Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.A. in Organizational Studies and English from the University of Michigan, and her work has appeared in Coveteur, The Chill Times, and Wyld Skincare.
Image by Monica Pronk / Stocksy
June 09, 2023
We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.

Plenty of vitamins and nutrients boast antioxidant abilities all on their own, but some of them do make impressive power couples. Zinc and magnesium? A fabulous duo. Resveratrol and piperine? BFFs. Some antioxidants should certainly stay in their own lanes (like, say, mixing topical vitamin C and retinol are a no-go), but you'd be surprised by how many thrive when they buddy up. It's all about knowing how to play matchmaker. 

On the skin care front, vitamins C and E receive quite a lot of attention as a glow-inducing pair.* And, well, the praise is well warranted: If you aren't using them together, you may be missing out on some supercharged benefits. 

The power of vitamins C and E as a pair

Both vitamins C and E come with their own impressive résumés: The two are beloved for evening skin tone, supporting skin repair, and supporting collagen production.* And when you pair them together—the benefits abound. 

"Certain antioxidants are synergistic," says board-certified dermatologist Julia T. Hunter, M.D., founder of Wholistic Dermatology in Beverly Hills about the ingredient. "They strengthen one another, regenerate one another, and last longer in the body, so they're more available in the skin."

And vitamins C and E are famously synergistic. One study even found that vitamin E (and ferulic acid) increase vitamin C's effectiveness1 eightfold; on the other hand, vitamin C regenerates vitamin E after the latter scavenges free radicals, further reducing oxidative stress2 to cell membranes.* All of this is a very science-y way of saying: Vitamins C and E have each other's backs.

You'll often find that many topical vitamin C serums will loop vitamin E into the formula, considering how well the two perform together. "When paired, vitamins C and E provide a powerful antioxidant combination," dual board-certified dermatologist Brendan Camp, M.D., says in our vitamin E explainer. Plus, "Vitamin E helps stabilize vitamin C and keeps it from degrading quickly." Vitamin C, as you may know, is a very finicky and unstable topical—so anything that helps extend its shelf life is worth noting. 

Supplements that include the dynamic duo

But let's not forget about taking the two internally! When consumed together, vitamins C and E amp up their antioxidant power, per the studies we mentioned above, not to mention, both vitamins can support your body's natural collagen production.*

First up: Vitamin E intake protects against collagen cross-linking3, where collagen becomes hard and stiff4 and leads to skin aging.* And vitamin C is a vital part of the collagen production process, as it is actually able to promote fibroblast production5, tend to collagen DNA, and regulate collagen synthesis6, or the pathway in which collagen is made.*

Your body cannot effectively produce collagen without the antioxidant7, so consider collagen and vitamin C another must-have nutrient duo.* 

The takeaway

Vitamins C and E are a lovely skin care duo—together, they provide extra collagen support and even supercharge each other's abilities.* It's why we chose to include them both in our beauty & gut collagen+ supplement, along with hyaluronic acid (which plays nice with everyone), biotin, and a host of other skin-supporting ingredients you can brush up on here.*

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medications, consult with your doctor before starting a supplement routine. It is always optimal to consult with a health care provider when considering what supplements are right for you.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Health
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.