Exploring the skin benefits of vitamin C-squalene

Vitamin C plays a central role in skin health, particularly in stimulating collagen production. Getting vitamin C into the skin is the hard part, because the epidermis is built to keep things out. Researchers have been working on ways to improve how well vitamin C is absorbed and how well it works once it gets there.

In a study published on QxMD, scientists bonded vitamin C to squalene, a lipid that occurs naturally in the skin. The resulting bioconjugate, vitamin C-squalene (Vit C-SQ), is designed to penetrate the skin more effectively than conventional forms of vitamin C.

The researchers tested the compound on human skin explants. Using ex vivo models, they ran histology and analysed protein and gene expression. Vit C-SQ significantly increased epidermal thickness, and it promoted collagen III production more effectively than vitamin C bound to palmitic acid (Vit C-palmitate) or free vitamin C.

Vit C-SQ also performed better than the other forms tested at increasing glycosaminoglycans, molecules that matter for skin hydration and firmness. Microdissection showed clear changes in gene activity in both the dermal and epidermal layers.

The study points to vitamin C-squalene as a promising ingredient for anti-ageing formulations, and gives a scientific basis for future products aimed at skin health and appearance.