It’s not an exaggeration to name vitamin C the Swiss Military Knife of skincare. The ingredient has a plethora of perks, each immediately and over time. It does all the things from brightening to turning again the clock, making it a potent anti-ager.
“Vitamin C has three main benefits,” based on Ron Robinson, beauty chemist and founding father of BeautyStat. “It’s a powerful antioxidant, thus able to protect your skin from free radical damage. It helps to stimulate collagen, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and firming skin. It helps to inhibit the over-production of melanin, helping to even out skin tone and fade hyperpigmentation.”
Learn on for all the things it is advisable to know concerning the triple menace.
What are the advantages of vitamin C in skincare?
Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to guard the pores and skin in opposition to free radical harm, explains New York dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. “It also helps to brighten the skin and improve discoloration to even skin tone and supports collagen production, helping to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” she says. “By helping to protect against free radical damage which can occur as a result of UV exposure, vitamin C works well in a morning routine when paired with sunscreen to provide ultimate protection.”
The place in your skin-care routine do you have to use vitamin C?
On the whole, it’s best to make use of vitamin C as soon as day by day within the morning, utilized to scrub pores and skin. Robinson advises following it with moisturizer and sunscreen throughout the day. It may also be used at night time on clear pores and skin.
Nevertheless it additionally is dependent upon the kind of skin-care product. “If using a serum, it is best to use after cleansing and prior to moisturizing and sunscreen,” Dr. Garshick says. “It is helpful to use vitamin C in conjunction with sunscreen for best protection against UV damage.”
What substances are you able to and may you not use with vitamin C?
“If your skin is sensitive, it is best to not combine vitamin C with other acids or retinoids,” Robinson says. “But vitamin C is very compatible with other hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane.”
In actual fact, when vitamin C is partnered with another antioxidants, similar to vitamin E or ferulic acid, it will probably have an enhanced profit, serving to to enhance each stability and efficacy, based on Dr. Garshick. “Because vitamin C has a tendency to be unstable, certain ingredients, such as retinoids or exfoliating acids, can lower the efficacy and cause the vitamin C to break down or lead to irritation,” she says. “Unless the product is specifically formulated in combination with other ingredients, it is generally best to avoid mixing vitamin C with other ingredients given the risk of reducing efficacy and stability.”
What do you have to search for when buying a vitamin C product?
There are a couple of components to remember. “It is important to consider the product type, whether it is a serum, essence, moisturizer or other, the type of vitamin C, the concentration and whether it is combined with other ingredients to ensure stability and efficacy,” Dr. Garshick says.
For optimum outcomes, Robinson recommends searching for vitamin C serums that include between 10 to twenty perfcent of pure vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid). You probably have delicate pores and skin, you can begin off at a decrease focus to keep away from irritation and enhance as wanted.
These with delicate pores and skin could need to search for different types of vitamin C, similar to magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, which is a water-soluble vitamin C and will be much less irritating. “pH can also be important when it comes to selecting a vitamin C in someone with sensitive skin, as those with sensitive skin may prefer a vitamin C with a pH that more closely mimics the skin’s natural pH,” Dr. Garshick says. “Often vitamin C products are formulated to have a low pH to help with stability, but the lower pH can be irritating, so it may be important to consider this if you have sensitive skin.”
Moreover, some vitamin C formulations include moisturizing substances that may also be an possibility for these with dry or delicate pores and skin, whereas others incorporate different substances that may assist to handle oil. “In general, vitamin C products often contain other antioxidants which may help to stabilize and boost results, soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hydrating and moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid,” Dr. Garshick says.
As beauty chemist Kelly Dobos explains, “Vitamin C is readily water-soluble, and while many cosmetic creams and lotions feature water-based vitamin C, in these types of formulations it is unstable with respect to heat, light and exposure to oxygen, and at pH levels near or above 7. Trace sources of metals like copper and iron are also known to be detrimental. Although less efficacious, derivatives of vitamin C like sodium ascorbyl phosphate and sodium ascorbyl palmitate have greater stability,” she notes.
Opaque containers and airless pump packaging is right to assist shield the ingredient. Dobos provides that superior provider methods like liposomes may also be used to ship sustained launch of vitamin C over time. Should you’re searching for a dynamic duo combining vitamin C with nutritional vitamins A and E have a been proven to boost the ingredient’s efficacy, she says.
How have you learnt if a product comprises vitamin C?
Merely try the label! However do not forget that there are a number of varieties of vitamin C, so search for L-ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbic phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, magnesium ascorbic phosphate and ethyl ascorbic acid.
“Most manufacturers disclose the type of vitamin C they use,” Robinson says. “It could be the pure form of vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) or a vitamin C derivative, such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate or THD ascorbate.”
Store vitamin C skincare
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Alastin C-Radical Protection Antioxidant Serum ($199)
A protracted-time Beauty editor, reader and Mind Belief fave, you possibly can’t go mistaken with the no-nonsense Alastin vitamin C. “What sets the Alastin formula apart in the crowded vitamin C space is its dual performance: serious brightening power paired with impressive redness-reducing benefits,” says Beauty Mind Belief member Bart Kaczanowicz of OMGBart. “It’s a dream for anyone with sensitivities to conventional C serums—remarkably hydrating, soothing, and anti-inflammatory. And the silky texture? It layers beautifully under sunscreen.”
Dallas dermatologist Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, MD concurs: “I love vitamin C and the different formulations. Alastin has an encapsulated form of vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), which helps protect against free-radical damage, while supporting the skin’s ability to conserve elastin. The formulation also has 15 proven antioxidants to help neutralize free radicals, and protect against UV damage and other environmental stressors.”
BUY NOW – $199
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Blüh Alchemy Multi C Serum ($140)
A standout within the indie magnificence world, Blüh Alchemy’s Multi C Serum is so good, Kaczanowicz says he’s misplaced rely of what number of bottles he’s used, however guesses it’s nearing double-digits. “Its ability to target hyperpigmentation so effectively comes down to the brand’s innovative cellular extraction process, which captures the full plant profile of Kakadu Plum, the most potent natural source of vitamin C. Expect noticeably brighter, more energized, bouncier-feeling skin within a couple of weeks.”
BUY NOW – $140
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Dr. Few C Serum ($195)
Dr. Few proves that much less actually is extra with this streamlined, luxe system that delivers massive outcomes from simply six substances. “It’s a water-based serum powered by Ascorbic Acid, which helps support collagen and elastin production while protecting skin from environmental stressors,” says Kaczanowicz. “If you, like me, gravitate toward light, fast-absorbing textures, this one hits all the right notes.”
BUY NOW – $195
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Revision C+ Correcting Complicated 30% ($185)
At Pores and skin 22 in Beverly Hills, Ted Vuong extremely recommends Revision’s C+ Correcting Complicated 30%. “It’s an antioxidant powerhouse that protects the skin, promotes collagen production and calms inflammation, leaving your skin brighter and more resilient as it recovers.” Dr. Houshmand agrees: “This serum from Revision is clinically effective at brightening the skin, and it is a tolerable form of vitamin C.”
BUY NOW – $185
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Vichy Pure Vitamin C 16% Brightening Serum ($35)
Dr. Houshmand says that is certainly one of her favourite vitamin C merchandise, because it delivers “excellent quality” at an reasonably priced value level. “It is formulated without alcohol, fragrance, parabens, oils, or silicone. It helps brighten the complexion, improve uneven skin tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines.” Plus, as she factors out, the distinctive Vichy Volcanic Water sourced from French volcanoes options 15 important minerals that “help strengthen the skin’s barrier and protect skin from damaging environmental factors like UV rays and pollution.”
BUY NOW – $35
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BeautyStat Common C Pores and skin Refiner ($85)
“We use one of the highest levels of pure vitamin C available in an over-the-counter cosmetic product (20 peren pure L-Ascorbic Acid),” Robinson says. “We have three patents on the ability to encapsulate pure vitamin C so that it does not degrade or oxidize (many competitors turn orange or brown due to oxidation). We are the only company that has this technology, given the exclusive patents.
We also combined our 20 percent pure vitamin C with EGCG (the most active component in green tea). This combo helped us get significant results in an independent clinical study. It’s clinically tested and dermatologist-approved to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, firm and tighten skin, even out skin tone and fade hyperpigmentation and diminish the look of pores. Other vitamin C serums can be sticky/tacky or oily, but ours is silky and velvety and absorbs quickly, leaving a natural finish.”
BUY ON BEAUTYSTAT – $85
BUY ON AMAZON – $85
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SkinCeuticals Silymarin CF ($182)
“This vitamin C is a great option for those with oily skin as the salicylic acid helps to reduce oil and blemishes,” Dr. Garshick says. “It combines 0.5 percent silymarin, 15 percent L-ascorbic acid, 0.5 percent ferulic acid and 0.5 percent salicylic acid and has been shown to reduce oil oxidation by up to 76 percent while also improving the appearance of skin texture.”
BUY ON DERMSTORE – $182
BUY ON SKINCEUTICALS – $182
Award Picture: Silymarin CF
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CeraVe Pores and skin Renewing Vitamin C Serum ($29)
“This vitamin C is a great drugstore option for those with sensitive skin as it contains 10 percent ascorbic acid, a gentle but effective concentration, as well as ceramides to support the skin barrier, hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and vitamin B5, which is soothing on the skin,” Dr. Garshick says. “The packaging also helps to prevent oxidation and maintain stability.”
BUY ON DERMSTORE – $29
BUY ON ULTA – $30
