Say HELLO to Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of the body, including the skin, but we cannot produce it on our own. The powerful antioxidant is found naturally in fruits and vegetables and commonly produced synthetically in skincare products, such as moisturizers, toners, and, most often, serums.

The first form of vitamin C worth mentioning is the pure form, L-ascorbic acid. This is the most biologically active and well-studied form of vitamin C, but there are also several vitamin C derivatives, such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl palmitate, retinyl ascorbate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. These derivatives are not pure vitamin C, rather they are combined with other ingredients, which might help keep the vitamin C stable. If a product contains 10 percent of one of these derivatives, they might only release 3 percent of pure vitamin C on the skin. The variants mostly differ in their hydrophilicity (their ability to easily dissolve in water) and pH.


Vitamin C is also very reactive and easily loses its antioxidant properties when exposed to heat, light, air, and other chemicals. To prevent it from oxidizing and deactivating, use vitamin C products at come in air-tight, opaque packages and store them in a cool, dark environment. If your product has turned brown, it’s best to toss it and replace it with a new bottle, as this change in colour indicates that the formula has oxidized and is no longer effective.

Vitamin C is an impressive skincare ingredient that is shown to be effective in the following areas:

• Protects against environmental stressors: As an antioxidant, one of vitamin C’s main functions is protecting the skin. Normal cellular processes, as well as environmental insults like ultraviolet light and pollution, create free radicals in the skin. Free radicals are inherently unstable molecules that damage cells, promoting skin dullness, wrinkles, and even cancers. By scavenging these free radicals, vitamin C protects the skin, keeping it healthy and improving visible signs of aging.
  

• Promotes collagen production: Vitamin C also plays an important role in collagen synthesis. Collagen gives our skin support and structure, and as it degrades with age, we begin to notice wrinkles and lines. Vitamin C is a necessary cofactor for building collagen bundles, without which this process halts.
  

• Lightens brown spots: Vitamin C is also helpful in lightening unwanted brown spots or decreasing brown discolouration by blocking the pathway of pigment synthesis.
  
  

  One highly debated topic when it comes to vitamin C is what time of the day is best for application. While some argue that morning is best for protecting the skin, others are in favor of night time when the skin's vitamin C is most depleted.
  
  Consistency is most important, whether you decide to apply it in the morning or before bed, but avoid using it at the same time as benzoyl peroxide, retinol, and other acids. We recommend using it daily or every other day, and if you're using a serum (the most common vehicle for vitamin C), apply it after cleansing.