What is Vitamin C?

We most commonly associate Vitamin C with oranges and orange juice.  We know that when we get sick we are supposed to stock up on Vitamin C packs, lozenges and juices.  Did you know that Vitamin C also plays a very important role in skin care?  With regards to beauty, adding Vitamin C to your skin care routine can help you look great on many levels.  The topical use of Vitamin C revitalizes your skin, allowing for improvement in the tone and texture!  You will instantly look younger with smooth and silky skin on your face and body.  It works to protect you against UVB rays and can help you combat sun damage, wrinkles and photodamage. These are some of the most common skin worries of women today.

Vitamin C and Skin Care

There are many products out there formulated with Vitamin C as an ingredient.  But what role exactly Vitamin C play in your skin care products?  Here is an overview of what Vitamin C does in relation to your skin and why many recommend using a product with Vitamin C.

  • Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is key to the production of collagen
  • Vitamin C also helps create scar tissue and ligaments
  • Vitamin C helps your skin repair itself
  • Vitamin C is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage
  • Research further suggest that Vitamin C may also reduce sunburn caused by exposure to ultraviolet B radiation and prevent the consequences of long-term sun exposure

Specifically, what skin issues is Vitamin C said to help with?

  • Vitamin C reduces redness after UV burning
  • Other inflammatory conditions as psoriasis and eczema have also shown clinical improvement with vitamin C
  • vitamin C has been found to stimulate collagen synthesis
  • Reduce dark pigmentation of the skin

There are 3 forms of Vitamin C that are commonly used in cosmetics.  They are:

  • Ascorbyl palmitate
  • magnesium ascorbyl phosphate
  • L-ascorbic acid

The most common type of Vitamin C in cosmetics is the L-ascorbic acid.  L-ascorbic acid is the most ‘natural’ form of vitamin C.  If L-ascorbic acid is fresh and properly stored, it will work well for those who don’t have sensitive skin.  However, L-ascorbic acid has some reasons for concern.  First, it can irritate the skin.  Second, it is not very stable.  This means that it oxidizes easily when it is exposed to air. Oxidized Vitamin C will not provide any benefit to the skin and may even harm it by increasing free radical formation.  If you are not sure how L-ascorbic acid has been stored or how old it is, simply avoid using it.

Some skin care experts suggest that L-ascorbic acid is the ONLY type of Vitamin C you should look for in any eye serum.

Selecting a Vitamin C product is not as easy as finding the most expensive or least expensive item on the market.   In fact, Vitamin C is used and sold in several different forms and is more or less effective depending on its concentration, storage, and type.

If you haven’t checked out our Editor’s Choice, follow the link to see what was picked as the Best Eye Serum.