HOW TO ADD VITAMIC C TO YOUR SKIN-CARE
For brightening up a dull complexion and erasing sunspots, vitamin C is the gold standard of ingredients, especially as the years go by. As such, getting familiar with the powerhouse antioxidant is essential for any robust skincare strategy.
Vitamin C is the most potent topical antioxidant. It neutralizes free radical damage and protects the skin against UV light and other environmental aggressors, as well as blocking abnormal production of pigmentation to even skin tone and fade dark spots. And while it’s best known for brightening, it can also be instrumental in skin firming.
Here are some tips on how best to utilize the hero ingredient for a brighter, smoother, and plumper complexion.
Choose the Right Concentration
Identifying the right concentration for your skin type is essential to how effective your topical vitamin C will be. Begin with a low concentration of 10% and increase to 15% or 20% as tolerated. For oily or normal skin, L-ascorbic acid is the most potent form of vitamin C and can be the most beneficial, while for dry and sensitive skin, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble vitamin C, is less irritating.
Pay Attention to pH
Absorption of a vitamin C is largely contingent on its pH level. If you have normal skin, look for one with a low pH of approximately 3.5 for optimal absorption. If you have sensitive skin, you should use a formula with a pH of 5 to 6. This is the skin’s natural pH and will not be as irritating.
Go with a Serum
Designed to deliver a high concentration of actives, serums are the most common form of delivery for vitamin C. They keep that ingredient stable and enhance penetration through the outer skin layer. As far as complementary ingredients are concerned, vitamin C works best in combination with vitamin E, ferulic
Acid, vitamin B, and hyaluronic acid.
Start Slowly
To keep skin happy, take a gradual approach when adding vitamin C to your regimen. With any active, it’s important to start slowly when incorporating ingredients into your routine.
Store It Safely
Vitamin C serums come in two broad categories: Water-based and anhydrous (which literally means “without water”). The former is more unstable and very sensitive and is typically held in opaque or amber coloured bottles for that reason, while the latter tends to be more stable, even in the presence of sunlight. No matter what kind you opt for, ensuring your vitamin C is stabilized and kept airtight in a dark, cool space is essential. If the colour becomes dark or cloudy it has already oxidized.
Layer It Under SPF
Unlike hydroxy acids or retinol, vitamin C does not make the skin more vulnerable to sunburn. That being said, the most potent forms of vitamin C are vulnerable to light exposure, and therefore the use of vitamin C must be in conjunction with broadspectrum UVA/UVB coverage. The good news is that, when layered underneath sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30, vitamin C protects the skin even further. Think of it as a safety net to help neutralize free radical damage that can occur from UV light penetration despite our best protection efforts with sunscreen.