What is this ingredient? Vitamin C, listed here as ascorbic acid, is an essential water‑soluble vitamin that humans must obtain from food or supplements. It is a powerful reducing agent and a required cofactor for key enzymes involved in collagen synthesis, including prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases, which stabilize collagen’s triple‑helix structure [0,2,10,11]. Without sufficient vitamin C, these enzymes lose activity and newly formed collagen is fragile, contributing to the classic skin and hair changes seen in scurvy. Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant, helping neutralize reactive oxygen species and protect cellular lipids, proteins, and DNA from oxidative stress [0,7,11].
Experimental and clinical work shows that ascorbic acid can increase collagen type I and III production in fibroblasts and dermis, supporting dermal thickness and resilience [1,5,10,11]. In skin models and human studies, vitamin C has been linked to enhanced collagen gene expression, improved matrix organization, and better repair of UV‑induced damage [1,4–6,8,9,11].
Why include it in this formula? From its ingredient list—broad B‑vitamin complex, biotin, zinc, MSM, hydrolyzed keratin, a proprietary hair growth complex, fat‑soluble vitamins, and medium‑chain triglycerides—this product is clearly focused on supporting hair strength, density, and scalp/skin integrity. In this context, vitamin C is a central "collagen and antioxidant" pillar. Hair follicles and the surrounding dermis rely on robust collagen networks in the scalp for anchoring and support; vitamin C ensures that collagen‑building enzymes can properly hydroxylate amino acids and form stable fibers [0,2,10,11].
By helping maintain a healthy collagen-rich environment in the scalp and providing antioxidant protection against everyday oxidative stress, vitamin C complements structural ingredients like hydrolyzed keratin and sulfur donors such as MSM, as well as biotin and zinc, which are important for keratin infrastructure. This combination supports the foundational tissues around the follicle, aligning with the product’s goal of promoting resilient hair from the inside out rather than addressing hair only at the surface level.
References
- [0] Vitamin C
- [1] Topically applied vitamin C enhances the mRNA level of collagens I and III, their processing enzymes and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 in the human dermis
- [10] Effect of vitamin C and its derivatives on collagen synthesis and cross-linking by normal human fibroblasts
- [11] Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) as a Cosmeceutical to Increase Dermal Collagen for Skin Antiaging Purposes: Emerging Combination Therapies