Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants with benefits for your skin that protects you from premature aging, helps with uneven skin tone, and much more. But it is also one of the more unstable ingredients when it comes to product formulation and can irritate some skin based on the form of Vitamin C applied.
In this post, you’ll learn all about 3 key factors to consider when looking to get the best Vitamin C benefits into your skincare routine.
This post is all about getting the best vitamin c benefits in your skincare routine.
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Why should you consider adding Vitamin C to your skincare routine?
Vitamin C is one of the most popular antioxidants used universally throughout the skincare industry.
Antioxidants are a great way to combat oxidative stressors to the skin that is a leading cause of premature aging.
Think about when you slice an apple in half. If you leave either half open to the air, it will rapidly turn brown in certain areas. This is due to the oxidation causing rapid aging in the fruit.
A similar process happens with our skin, oxidative stress from environmental pollution degrades the integrity of your skin. Antioxidants help by combating these stressors while protecting the integrity of your natural skin barrier.
Who can benefit from Vitamin C?
Who Benefits? Anyone with dull skin, pigmentation, or visible premature aging and is generally good for anyone 25 and older.
Why does age matter?
Vitamin C levels are higher when we are young, but depletes much like collagen does as we age.
UV damage also depletes Vitamin C levels in the skin, which generally we notice as we age.
Bonus to those who deal with hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor which suppresses overactive melanin production that leads to hyperpigmentation.
So what to look for when choosing a product to get the most Vitamin C benefits?
Vitamin C is a highly unstable ingredient.
This means that factors like light exposure and exposure to the air can easily decrease the efficacy of Vitamin C.
To get the best vitamin c benefits for your skin, you want to look for formulas that are either made without water or are encapsulated.
The anhydrous (water-free) formulas will give you better stability and shelf-life of the vitamin c, and encapsulated vitamin c will give you a better delivery system so you get the most efficacy from your product.
Ready to get started? Have a look at these Vitamin C Skincare Options
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Haven’t had good luck with L-Ascorbic Acid? Try these instead.
Some may experience irritation when using the L-Ascorbic Acid version of Vitamin C.
Alternative forms of Vitamin C offer safer delivery of the ingredient with less irritation but with all the benefits.
Derivates for the most Vitamin C Benefits:
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate is nonirritating and water soluble making it effective in the epidermis the top outermost layer of the skin.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate is a derivative where 60% of the ingredient converts to vitamin c within the skin.
3-0 Ethyl Ascorbic Acid is another form where 80% effectively converts to L-Ascorbic Acid.
Ascorbyl Glucoside is typically available in anhydrous formulas and a favorite among formulators. Learn more about it here.
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is the favorite among formulators that want to deliver superior vitamin c skin benefits with the least amount of irritation to the skin, choose this fat-soluble derivative that offers the safest delivery.
Packaging makes a difference
Another way to protect your Vitamin C Serum is to look at the packaging.
The best packaging would be an airless pump bottle. This would ensure the serum doesn’t get exposed to air with each use which can degrade the formula.
What Mistakes to Avoid when using Vitamin C in your skincare routine?
Don’t exfoliate with Vitamin A (Retinol) at the same time you plan to use L-Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).
L-Ascorbic Acid already lowers the PH of your skin, exfoliating your skin at the same time would further alter your PH and that can lead to some dangerous results.
If you are using a retinol or exfoliating, use it on another night than your vitamin C application.
Don’t forget to boost your Antioxidants!
Vitamin C works best with other Antioxidants. Combine Vitamin A and E with your Vitamin C to give you a good mix of Antioxidant protection.
Use soothing ingredients with your Vitamin C.
This counteracts the adjustment to your skin’s PH and helps to keep irritation at bay.
Use the derivatives (alternatives to L-Ascorbic Acid) mentioned above in the daytime and L-Ascorbic Acid at night.
When you can reach for an encapsulated version of Vitamin C that works well with the lipids in your skin and delivers its benefits safely.
Very helpful and in-depth information on how to get the best vitamin C benefits into a skincare routine. As I get older – this has become a lot more important. Thank you for the tips.
That’s a great vitamin c routine. I love using my vitamin c too!