Get a Fresh Start - How to make the most out of Vitamin C
Do you have pigmentation? The answer....Vitamin C. Does your skin lack that “glow”? The answer…Vitamin C. Does your skin lack collagen? The answer…Vitamin C. Okay so I think you get the picture. Our skin is exposed to many environmental factors that in turn accelerate skin damage, putting the skin under stress resulting in hyperpigmentation, dullness, wrinkles, lines and a loss of firmness. Vitamin C is a wonder ingredient that can address a multitude of skin concerns. This is what makes it such a powerful ingredient to have in your skincare routine.
Vitamin C is a naturally occurring antioxidant within the epidermis and dermis (different layers of the skin), however as we age it naturally declines in production – just like collagen and elastin! Hence the need to include it within our skincare routine.
Something very cool about Vitamin C … when applied topically it almost acts like a detective in our skin to seek out free radicals and regenerate antioxidants that have been affected by free radicals!! Super cool!!
Vitamin C is normally the go-to for brightening the skin and working on pigmentation, however it is worth noting that being a potent antioxidant it assists with the production of the most valued protein in our skin…Collagen. Some other noteworthy benefits of Vitamin C are:
- Evens out skin tone
- Reduces Redness
- Heals blemishes and scarring
- Protects against sun damage
You can see why Vitamin C is an all-rounder when it comes to skincare and it is definitely one serum that we should all be using. However it is not always listed in a products ingredients as ‘Vitamin C’, so remember to keep an eye out for the below derivatives when reading the ingredient list:
- L-ascorbic Acid – this is the most potent form of Vitamin C and is the most beneficial for normal to oily skins.
- Ascorbyl Palmitate – this is a water soluble formulation of Vitamin C meaning it is more suited to dry or sensitive skins as it is less irritating.
- Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate – this formulation is also best suited to dry or sensitive skin due to being water soluble.
When choosing to incorporate Vitamin C in your skincare routine, to achieve the best results it is better to use this ingredient in the form of a serum. As serums have the smallest molecular structure (thinnest consistency in texture) it means that it penetrates deep into the skin to work effectively on the deeper layers – where the work is required. It is also good to incorporate a “buddy serum” with Vitamin C – the best “buddy serum” for Vitamin C is Vitamin E. They both fight the effects of free radical damage and assisting in Collagen production! DOUBLE WHAMMY!!
Keep in mind that if you have sensitive skin, to mix your serum into your moisturiser for a more delicate release into the skin.
Start slowly. As Vitamin C is such a potent active ingredient, don’t rush to using daily. Particularly if serums are new to your skincare routine, you need to remember that the goal here is to nourish and love your skin – so treat it with as much care as you would your beloved pet or children! Starting 2 or 3 times a week, with a regular skincare routine, you will see the results. Over the period of a month you can aim to be using daily. BUT! Always reassess your skin to see how it is reacting each day.
Finally, I cannot stress enough the importance of an SPF!! Particularly when using an active ingredient like Vitamin C. Even though it fights against sun damage, it is best to think of your skincare as a layering system. Applying the SPF either before or after your moisturiser (depending on how the SPF is to be used) creates that safety net for your skin. Locking in all the goodness of each product and the actives of each ingredient so they can all do what they need to do.
So, let’s all give our skin a fresh start with some Vitamin C!!
