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Vitamin C for Brighter and younger skin – splash on your skin every day.

You should Cleanse, Feed and Protect your skin every day. One of the most basic and important foods for your skin is Vitamin C which has been proven in many studies as a fantastic anti-oxidant and is an important ingredient for the synthesis of collagen to decrease wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. Some studies have shown that Vitamin C may also help prevent and treat ultraviolet (UV)-induced photo damage. Also, this Vitamin will help reduces melanin production and it also reduces oxidation of the melanin leading to reduce skin pigmentation.

Does consuming Vitamin C help the skin?

The body needs Vitamin C every day for the growth and repairs the tissues for your whole body. It is important in the production of skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. It is needed for healing wounds, repairing and maintaining bones and teeth. The problem is that the small amount digested every day even with supplements the skin is one of the last organs to be given the vitamin thus not enough to really fight the signs of aging or keep the skin and collagen healthy. The best solution is to feed the skin by using a topical serum applied to the skin every morning.

Which source of Vitamin C is best for the skin?

There are so many Vit C and its derivatives on the market it is important to know which Vit C is best in your skincare products. The top type of Vit C is Ascorbic Acid, this ingredient is the gold standard of all Vit C types but it is also the most unstable of all of them.  Light, heat, cold, and other ingredients can destroy its effectiveness very quickly. Unless it is Ascorbic Acid in an oil based serum or encapsulated or left in powder form it has a very limited shelf life of less than a few months of being manufactured. There are several skincare companies that sell Ascorbic Acid in powder form (very stable) and all you have to do is mix it with your moisturiser when you want to use it. The problem with this method is that you could be not using the correct amount or it is at the correct pH to give you the benefits that you are wanting. In a water based serum (which most moisturisers are) you need a level of 10 to 20% at a very low 3.5pH, which can lead to skin irritation.

Whereas encapsulated Ascorbic Acid or an oil base serum enables the Vit C to be at a high pH thus reducing skin irritation potential and extends effectiveness and the shelf life of the product by years. When either encapsulation or oil based serum is used Vitamin C can be delivered deeper into the skin and directly to the cells for faster improvement to the skin.

Derivatives of Ascorbic Acid – include Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Ascorbates, Ascorbyl Glucoside, and Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. All much more stable and offering a longer shelf life and extend and less irritating to the skin in water base serums but they need to go through a conversion to become Ascorbic Acid to enable the benefits of Vitamin C to be delivered to the skin. They provide a good alternative but they do not deliver the results that Ascorbic Acid does. The best Derivative is Ascorbyl Glucoside as it has been proven to be absorbed and perfect for sensitive skin.

Extracts and Oils high in Vitamin C – There are many extracts and oils high in vitamins like Sea Buckthorn, Australia’s Kakadu Plum, Acerola, Mango and Guava, and Rose Hip Oil.

Purchase Your Vitamin C in the proper packaging

Due to that light, heat, cold, and other ingredients can destroy its effectiveness of the Vit C it must be properly packaged to protect it. Opaque Airless containers will protect it from light and air. The second best packaging is Opaque pump containers or dark glass containers.

How and When to use your Vitamin C serum to get the best results.

The best time to use Vit C is in the morning straight after cleansing & toning the skin. Don’t be in a rush to apply your moisturiser, sunscreen, and makeup. It is important to allow your Vit C to have time to be absorbed into the skin so other ingredients can trigger oxidation and renders the Vitamin C inactive. I like to clean my teeth to give the Vit C ample time to work its miracles. After you have allowed time for absorption then apply your moisturiser, sunscreen, and makeup (if required).

 

 

Information courtesy from Debra Spence – Answering your skin problems with Science and Nature. Debra Spence is a Cosmetic Chemist and Skin Specialist that provides skincare and treatment tips, products recommendation and reviews to professional and patients. www.debraspence.com