I had heard so much about the importance of vitamin C but frankly I never really used it as I thought it was pure marketing. 3 years ago, I decided to give it a try as there was some huge sale (black Friday). I tried the skinceuticals vitam C with ferulic acid. I was really amazed buy the results after 2 months, my skin was so much better that I use it almost every 2 months as an intensive treatment.
Everybody knows that Vitamin C improves our health conditions, helping to boost the immune system when sick. However, many are not aware (as I used to) of its ability to keep the skin fresh, glowing and younger.
Vitamin C helps the body produce collagen – an effective nutrient for anti-aging. Collagen gives the skin its strength and elasticity. Vitamin C is also effective in inhibiting melanin (skin pigmentation) synthesis, helping to fade hyperpigmentation (dark spots caused by increased production of melanin) over time.
I really think Vitamin C should be part of your skin regimen – a routine that helps preserve your skin in the long run.
Here are reasons you should feed your skin with this super Vitamin.
Vitamin C – a protective antioxidant
Antioxidants fight the effects of free radical damage and inflammation caused by pollution, exposure to sun and other factors on your skin. These free radicals cause premature aging of the skin. These free radicals enhance the effects of oxidation as is well noticed when a cut apple is exposed to air. When lemon juice (with high Vitamin C content) is applied, this apple returns to its original state. Take note too, that consistency is vital here. Studies have shown that Vitamin C application on the skin over a 90-day period is very effective.
Vitamin C exists in different forms. The L-ascorbic acid form of Vitamin C penetrates deep into the layers of the skin, proving to be a more effective antioxidant for the skin cells.
An Effective Melanin Suppressant
The L-ascorbic form of Vitamin C is more effective in inhibiting the overproduction of melanin. With consistent use of Vitamin C over time, it can help lighten dark spots that are present as a result of the melanin pigmentation process. Although there are more effective short-term skin care remedies, Vitamin C remains one of the best solutions, as it is great even for sensitive skin. For better effect, especially in cases of skin discoloration, it is best to use Vitamin C in combination with other mild ingredients such as soy and licorice extract.
When purchasing your next skin care product, ensure you look up the product label for the ingredients list to check for the L-ascorbic form of Vitamin C. it is even healthier when the active form of Vitamin E, alpha tocopherol is also present. They are more effective as a team for the skin.
Other effective forms of Vitamin C
Although L-ascorbic acid is a more effective and outstanding form of Vitamin C, there are other stable and great forms of this Vitamin. These forms include ascobyl glucoside, ascorbyl palmitate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and retinyl ascorbate.
If you want to read about all the benefits of vitamin C serum, check the blog post by awesome sophie, I learnt a lot about different vitamin C serums, how to choose it and why it is that good for us.
My tip : I use my vitamin C serum right after a clay mask. The serum really penetrates much quicker.
It is also very important to remember that upon exposure to light, all antioxidants including Vitamin C are vulnerable and could break down. Therefore, using products in dark or opaque jars while ensuring they are away from light will preserve the Vitamin C content and ensure you have a brighter, fresher skin free from any unnecessary spots.
