Vitamin C | The Pros and Cons of using it in your skincare routine.
Vitamin C
What is it?
If the skincare world were full of superheroes, Vitamin C would be Superman or woman for us feminists.
Some of its superpowers would be:
Reduce free radicals
Protects from pollution
Protect against UV rays
Anti-aging
Brightening skin tone
You can find Vitamin C in many foods we consume. A few examples are citrus fruits, tomatoes, and even potatoes! Of course, eating these foods is a good idea. It's proven to help fight inflammation, boost your immune system, and keep your cells healthy.
Unfortunately, you will not eat enough Vitamin C to see benefits in your skin. To see those you'll need to find skincare products with Vitamin C in them to apply topically.
The active ingredient name for Vitamin C in products is L-ascorbic acid. It is common to see anywhere from 3% to 25%. When using Vitamin C for the first time, you should look for products that have less than 10% since too much at first can irritate.
Pros:
Okay, on to the good stuff; the powers of Vitamin C!
Reduce free radicals
Free radicals are unstable molecules produced naturally through metabolism and external sources like toxins, air pollution, smoking, and chemicals. Free radicals cause damage to collagen, dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals by giving one of their electrons to them. Once they stabilize, they stop damaging healthy cells.
Protect from pollution
Since pollution is one of the factors that can cause free radicals, Vitamin C is a must if you live in high-pollution surroundings, including near people who smoke or if you smoke. Once again, its antioxidant powers come to the rescue and help fight the damage caused by these surroundings.
Protect against UV Rays
While it can not block UV rays from entering the skin, Vitamin C can help neutralize any free radicals caused by them. This makes Vitamin C a great product to add to your skincare routine if you are in the sun. It is vital to still apply sunscreen because Vitamin C is just the sidekick when fighting the sun!
Anti-aging
Vitamin C's ability to stop damage before it even happens is impressive. Vitamin C prevents two enzymes, lysyl and prolyl hydroxylase, from becoming inactive during the production of collagen. By having Vitamin C there, you are helping to stop the problem before it even occurs!
Brightens skin tone
Once again, Vitamin C is here to stop any damage from happening. This time Vitamin C is stopping the enzyme tyrosinase, stopping the production of melanin, aka pigmentation in the skin. So before the dark spot even has a chance to appear, Vitamin C has stepped in and taken charge.
Cons:
Every superhero has its weaknesses. If Vitamin C is used too much or with too high of a concentration it can irritate. If this occurs to you, immediately stop use until it subsides. You may need to lower the concentration of your Vitamin C before using it again. It may also help to slow down your use. An example would be once a day instead of two or every other day instead of once a day. There are hundreds of formulations with Vitamin C, so don't worry if you have irritation. Find what works for you!
How to store it:
Vitamin C should be stored in a cool dark place, like a skincare fridge. You should also pay close attention to the packaging making sure to close the lid tightly after each use. This helps to keep oxygen out to prevent your product from oxidizing. Once you see that the product is changing color, it is a sign that it has oxidized or has expired and is no longer suitable.
How often to use it:
It is best to follow the directions of your product. Most will say twice a day, during your morning and nighttime routine after the toning step. If this is your first time adding Vitamin C to your routine, consider using it only once in the morning for the first two weeks. See how your skin reacts to it. If your skin does well, then increase it to twice a day.
Check out our high quality, plant active Vitamin C:
SKIN TYPE: Normal | Combo | Dry
A supercharged Vitamin C face serum to prevent and correct sun damage and aging skin – a multivitamin infusion for your skin.
This brightening serum packs a powerful punch with its synergistic combination of 3 variations of Vitamin C to penetrate deeply into the layers of skin. The anti-aging formula strengthens and protects against premature aging from stress and free radicals from UVA/UVB exposure. With the infusion of 20% active Vitamin C + Ferulic Acid, improve the appearance of discoloration, fine lines and uneven skin tone.
Contains approximately 130-165 pumps.
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