Your most commonly asked questions about Vitamin C, answered!
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid is a nutrient and antioxidant with many benefits for skin, hair and body functions including the synthesis of collagen. Vitamin C can be synthetically derived or naturally occurring in citrus fruits and is scientifically proven to repair and build skin tissue. In particular this antioxidant is known for its ability to target and improve the visible signs of ageing, including wrinkles, laxity and discolouration. This water soluble molecule can neutralise free radicals, helping prevent against the damage free radicals cause, and also fight against oxidative stress.
How does vitamin C fight free radical damage?
Vitamin C helps protect our body from harmful substances called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable particles that can damage our cells and cause problems like ageing. Over time these free radicals resulting in increased fine lines, wrinkles, discoloration, and skin laxity. Vitamin C acts like a shield and stops the free radicals from causing damage by donating an electron to stabilise them. This helps to keep our cells healthy and prevent harm from the free radicals. By doing this, vitamin C supports our overall health and helps keep us looking and feeling our best.
How to use vitamin C?
Use a small amount of vitamin C serum and gently massage it into your skin, focusing on areas that need it the most. Let the serum soak into your skin for a few minutes before applying your moisturiser and sunscreen. Start by using it once or twice a week and gradually increasing the frequency as your skin becomes used to it. It's always best to patch test a new product on a small area of skin before using it on your face, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Can I apply Vitamin C everyday?
Yes, a vitamin c serum is generally suitable to use daily. A vitamin c serum will deliver best results with regular use and is generally applied in the morning. If you see any signs of irritation with increased use, decrease frequency or use of product. By incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine, you can help to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin.
What does Vitamin C do for skin?
As well as antioxidant protection Vitamin C has many benefits for the skin, including:
- Brightening: Vitamin C can help brighten the skin and improve the appearance of dark spots, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin tone.
- Collagen production: Vitamin C plays a role in the production of collagen, a protein that gives the skin its structure and firmness. By supporting collagen production, vitamin C can help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Sun protection: Vitamin C can help protect the skin from damage caused by the sun's UV rays.
- Inflammation reduction: Vitamin C has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness.
By incorporating vitamin C into your skincare routine, you can help to improve the overall health and appearance of your skin. However, it's important to use a stable form of vitamin C, such as L-ascorbic acid, and to start slow, especially if your skin is sensitive. Consult with a dermatologist if you have any concerns or questions.
What should I look for when choosing a vitamin C?
The first thing you need to consider is that Vitamin C is inherently unstable and easily loses its antioxidant properties when exposed to heat, light and air. For this reason we recommend to use high quality products that have extensive research and development to make sure the vitamin c is made in an optimal formulation for enhanced and skin penetration. The efficacy of a Vitamin C antioxidant serum is largely based on what form of vitamin C the formula includes, and the potency. Vitamin C serums are effectively formulated to deliver results with concentrations of pure vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) at 10% to 20%. But really the most important things to watch out for are the way the product is stored and its concentration of vitamin C.
Can vitamin C serums improve hyperpigmentation?
Vitamin C helps to inhibit the production of the enzyme tyrosinase, which helps prevent excess melanin production. This mean that the serum will help lighten any visible signs of hyperpigmentation and brown spots that are result of sun exposure, or post-blemish scarring, resulting in a more even complexion.
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