Vitamin C - A Favourite Active Ingredient!
We take vitamin C for our physical health and sometimes to fight colds. We should also apply vitamin C to our skin to fight the harmful effects of the sun and to give it a little boost of radiance! Did you know that?
Vitamin C comes in many different forms. The one we recommend for skin care is L-ascorbic acid. In fact, using a vitamin C cream or serum every day is one of our basic recommendations for anyone who wants to help keep their skin looking healthy. It's one of our favourite active ingredients. Here's why:
The effect of vitamin C on the skin
L-ascorbic acid acts on the production of collagen which is partly responsible for the elasticity of our skin. Supporting this production by adding vitamin C to one's daily routine helps to maintain or improve the firmness of the skin. The skin on the face, neck, neckline, and tops of the hands is particularly thin and a loss of elasticity in these areas ages us prematurely. By avoiding collagen loss, we can slow the effects that the years and the environment have on our skin.
Another lesser-known benefit of vitamin C - it helps to decrease the production of melanin. Melanin is produced naturally by our bodies and is responsible for the tone of our skin. But when it is produced in excess, it promotes the appearance of brown spots, which are often associated with aging or overexposure to the sun.
These spots appear most often on the cheeks, forehead, neckline, and on the tops of the hands.
Using vitamin C properly
There are serums, creams, masks, and even cleansers and toning sprays that contain vitamin C. Concentrations vary widely. As a rule, look for a product that stays on the skin (cream or serum) with a concentration between 10% and 20%.
Since vitamin C is an antioxidant, a product containing vitamin C that is in contact with the air will change colour over time. If the colour is dark, it may indicate that your product is less effective and that it's time to change it. But if you use your serum or cream daily, your product should not have time to lose its effectiveness.
When should I apply vitamin C?
To be most effective, vitamin C must be able to penetrate the skin. It is therefore best applied:
- On freshly cleansed skin
- After applying a toner
- Followed by a moisturizer
By doing so, you remove the barriers that would prevent your vitamin from seeping under the skin and “lock it in place” with the moisturizer.
One last tip: since it's better to prevent sun damage than to treat it, remember to apply sunscreen every day - and even a few times a day - even if you're not doing any outdoor activities. Your skin will thank you!
The Institut Figurra's Medical Team
