Ammon News - Walk down any skincare aisle, and you’ll see vitamin C and vitamin E everywhere—serums, oils, moisturizers, you name it. They’re both often credited for helping skin look its best, but when it comes to choosing vitamin C vs. vitamin E, which is better for your skin?

Dermatologists and nutritionists affirm the benefits of both vitamins. However, they said, each has a different role, and the best results are often obtained when they are used together, according to Prevention magazine.

One of the most obvious ways in which vitamin C is beneficial for skin is that it helps with the production of collagen.

“[Collagen] is important for skin structure, wound healing and firmness,” said Marissa Beck, MS, RDN, owner of REVV Health in Seattle, Washington. “It also helps protect against oxidative stress from UV light, and also pollution.”

Beyond those extremely necessary functions, there’s also evidence to suggest vitamin C may help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and raised scars, as well as assist with tightening up sagging skin.

Vitamin C also helps to brighten the skin and improve discoloration to even skin tone.

A recent study even suggested vitamin C might help reactivate genes related to skin growth and repair.

Unlike vitamin C, vitamin E is actually already produced by our body; it’s part of the sebum that serves as a barrier to help skin stay moisturized. This is also why you’ll often find vitamin E as an ingredient in popular moisturizing products. Vitamin E oil, in particular, might be useful for treating dry, flaky skin or improving symptoms of eczema.

“Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, and because of this, it works primarily within the cell membranes of the skin by helping reduce UV-induced free radical damage and supporting the skin barrier,” Beck explained. “It might also help with inflammation as an antioxidant.”

When it comes to ensuring you’re getting enough of each vitamin to support skin health, you can look to both diet and topical application.

For vitamin C, nutritionists recommend oranges, bell peppers, tomatoes, kiwi, strawberries and broccoli. To increase vitamin E intake, they suggests looking to plant-based oils such as wheat germ oil, nuts, seeds, and avocados.

Experts conclude that the two vitamins will serve best working in tandem, while keeping all the other important aspects of skin health in mind.

Of course, eating a balanced diet is important for overall health, but adding vitamin C or vitamin E-infused products to skincare routine has its own benefits.