WHY VITAMIN C LIVES UP TO THE HYPE
Easy as
Vitamin A like Retinol, a Vitamin A derivative
Vitamin B3 like great effects of Niacinamide
Vitamin C ...
We’re going to take a deep dive into this topic; now A and B, we kindly ask you to step aside.
Definitely deserving of all the fame, making it to beauty editor’s “must-have” lists, and on many, including our, top shelves is vitamin C serum.
Before we dive in and dissect this topic into everything you need to know let me tell you one think: An effective vitamin C serum can’t be cheap, so don’t get fooled by when you come across drugstore prices. We all know that a lot of luxury beauty products come with a big price tag just because of their brand recognitation but vitamin C may be one of the few worthy high end purchases you might want to consider. In fact, the quality of the formula and overall concentration in the product define the price. Also, unlike several of other skincare products, you can be pretty sure that the better the formula and concentration, the more effective the vitamin C serum will be.
WHAT IS VITAMIN C ?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects our cells from free radicals that, simply put, damage your DNA. This damage to our DNA contributes heavily to the natural process of aging. While our body’s natural self-repair mechanism combat our constant exposure to free radicals, we can further support our system by consuming antioxidant rich products. A little support from the inside by eating antiinflammatory and antioxidant foods is recommended, as well as a little boost from the outside: this is where a good vitamin C topical comes in handy.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS IN SKINCARE?
Vitamin C promotes collagen production, brightens the skin, and targets post inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Higher concentrations or certain chemical formulations, which are often worth their steep price are even more effective and target fine lines and further signs of aging.
Vitamin C is unstable to light and warmth and therefore should be kept in a tinted packaging and stored in a cool dark place. The fridge is a great spot since you also benefit from a cooling effect in the morning which helps to depuff.
HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCES AMONG VIT. C SERUMS
In order to make sure you are purchasing the best quality vitamin C serum, always check for a chemical formulation with an active vitamin C compound (usually available on the back of the packaging). Make sure to check the product contains at least one of the following: L-ascorbic acid (high potent), ascorbyl-6-palmitate or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Always beware of products where the active ingredients are not listed because it's likely a sign that products have inactive quantities of the chemical you are looking for. Obviously, these inactive formulations will be cheap, but they will also be noneffective. Secondly, vitamin C should be listed as a top ingredient and not found somewhere towards the end of the list since the ingredients are listed by quanitity — from highest to lowest. Studies have shown that combination of vitamin C with other actives such as vitamin B3 enhance the efficacy of vitamin C serums.
BPO (benzoyl peroxide, commonly used in acne treatment), however, is one important combination to avoid since it basically washes out the effect of vitamin C.
HOW TO INCLUDE VITAMIN C IN YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
If you have sensitive skin, begin with using vitamin C only every other day to minimize irritation. It definitely is a great AM serum while retinol or treatments with BPO would be something to use at night. Wearing sunscreen will protect your skin against free radicals and support the efficacy of the Vitamins.
Remember to store your serums in a dark and cool place to maintain their chemical stability and profit from a cooling depuffing effect when applying it in the morning.
Also do not forget to integrate your neck and decollete into your routine since we often tend to forget about this part of our body. Neck wrinkles and sagginess are real ;).
Brands to check out:
We researched the most current, cutting edge Vitamin C products and Skinceuticals Ferulic CF clearly earns its place as the champion among them all.
The Ordinary, Vichy active C, Drunk Elephant are a few other brands with great Vitamin C Serums
What are you using ?
Mimi xx
