What is Vitamin C?
Ever wondered why we wax lyrical about the wonders of Vitamin C in Skin Care and what benefits this could have for your skin?
Okay, so we will go into the many benefits of adding Vitamin C into your regime later, but firstly lets talk about what Vitamin C actually is:
Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is a powerful anti-oxidant found in citrus fruits and green vegetables.
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient involved in the repair of tissue and formation of collagen.
As humans don’t naturally produce vitamin C, we must acquire it through our dietary intake.
Some Vitamin C rich foods include:
- Oranges
- Kiwi
- Broccoli
- Pineapple
- Spinach
- Kale
- & Red Peppers
There are also various tablets and supplements you can take to get your necessary dose of Vitamin C.
So if we can consume Vitamin C through our diet, we don’t need to apply it to our skin, right?
Wrong, our bodies likes to use Vitamin C to help protect the cells in your organs against the effects of free radicals. This often means our skin is the last place in the body to get any benefit from it!
The best way to ensure your skin benefits from Vitamin C, is to apply it topically through your skincare regime.
What are the benefits of Vitamin C in skincare?
Vitamin C is considered one of the gold standard ingredients for glowing skin, with a whole range of other amazing benefits such as:
- Decreasing oxidative stress,
- Reducing pigmentation,
- Providing your skin with a beautiful glow,
- Reducing damage from free-radicals,
- Promoting collagen production,
- Reducing redness,
- Promoting skin healing,
- Improving skin tone and firmness
- & Strengthening skin’s natural defence mechanism!
So, can you show me how Vitamin C works?
Absolutely, check out our Instagram post below to see a visual representation of the effects of using Vitamin C in your skincare routine…
View this post on Instagram
What should I look for when picking a Vitamin C product?
The first thing to consider when purchasing any skincare product is the retailer.
We advise to always purchase products from a skin specialist or a reputable store.
Secondly, different formulations of vitamin C can alter its strength and effects in the skin. L-ascorbic Acid is pure Vitamin C, and therefore the most potent. The ideal percentage is 10%-20% for vitamin C so its best to look for products with this ingredient/percentage.
Packaging is also important. A tinted/dark, airtight glass bottle is crucial in ensuring your product’s quality and longevity.
SkinHD’s Recommendations:
Our favourite Vitamin C product is the MediMD Antioxidant Serum (15%). We all swear by this serum as its super hydrating, inexpensive and can be used daily for defence against free radicals! It’s one of our best sellers!
How to use:
Apply 3 – 5 drops directly after facials to freshly cleansed skin and blend into the whole face and neck. Then apply your moisturiser and sunscreen. This serum can be safely applied after microneedling and chemical skin peels.
You can shop the MediMD Antioxidant Serum, the Obagi Professional-C serums and more skincare on our online shop
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