Vitamin C: Everything you need to know about this season’s must-have ingredient.
- 28 December 2018
- Posted by: seo.digitpoint@gmail.com
- Category: Blog
Vitamin C: Everything you need to know about this season’s must-have ingredient.
By Emily Ruse, Front of House Manager
And no, we’re not talking satsumas for breakfast, we’re talking about the high-tech antioxidant, L-Ascorbic Acid.
Vitamin C is this seasons must-have ingredient and it has taken the skin care industry by storm this year, with increasing numbers of people eager to find out more about the benefits it has to offer. If you don’t already include Vitamin C in your skincare regime, you will soon want to get your hands on the stuff. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables and also just so happens to be a skincare superstar. While there are many different types of Vitamin C, L-ascorbic acid is usually what you’ll find in skincare products.
This form of Vitamin C is bursting with beneficial qualities – it helps to prevent UV damage thanks to its antioxidant properties, is an anti-inflammatory, stimulates collagen and is a skin brightening agent, meaning it can help to combat hyperpigmentation in the skin.
Free radical damage, alongside sun damage, is one of the primary causes of skin ageing. For those of you who don’t know, free radicals are unavoidable in daily life as they can be created from pollution, dust, smoking, alcohol, certain unhealthy foods and, of course, the sun. When it comes to fighting off these environmental aggressors, antioxidants such as Vitamin C are your superhero. With everyday use, it can create brighter, younger and firmer-feeling skin. It’s a no-brainer addition to any skin care routine!
Putting the misconceptions to bed…
A very common misconception about Vitamin C is that oral supplementation will help the skin. Although the tablet form may be great for boosting the immune system, the truth is that when Vitamin C is taken orally, only a small amount of it actually reaches the skin after being metabolized in the gut. Therefore, applying it directly to the skin through the form of serum, for example, is going to be much more effective.
So, now you know what Vitamin C can do, how should you be using it? Well, a few drops of Vitamin C every morning can do as much for your skin as several other serums combined. It should be used in concentrations of up to 20%, any higher than this may cause irritation and ideally it should be applied every morning after before sunscreen application.
Our Vitamin C recommendations:
As Vitamin C is technically an acid if you are using other acids on your skin be sure to wait at least ten minutes between applications and stop using one or the other if you begin to suffer from redness or irritation. I would always recommend starting with a product that has a concentration of 10% L-ascorbic Acid and slowly works your way up from there.
Obagi Professional-C Serum 10%
This is a concentrated formula with 10% L-ascorbic acid, gentle enough for dry, irritated or sensitive skin. With daily use, the skin will stay protected from free radical damage and oxidative stress, the factors that lead to premature ageing, loss of elasticity and hyperpigmentation. In turn, it will keep your skin looking bright, healthy and youthful. (also comes in strengths of 15% and 20%)
Zo Ossential C-Bright Serum (10% Vitamin C)
Provides a potent dose of Vitamin C that brightens and redefines the skin, encouraging a more even skin tone while also minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Obagi Professional-C Suncare SPF 30
This multi-tasking beauty is a non-comedogenic, broad-spectrum sunscreen that helps to protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays while also addressing the appearance of skin ageing with 10% L-ascorbic acid. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Book a complimentary consultation with one of our skincare experts. We offer a wide range of skincare treatments that can be individually adapted to your needs.
Call 01892 22 22 22