How to Choose a Vitamin C Skincare Product
What Does Vitamin C Skincare Do?
Well, you know what they say, “All vitamin C serums are not created equal”. Vitamin C is a potent skincare ingredient that is used for a range of purposes. Whether you simply want to keep your skin healthy or want to take your skincare routine to the next, vitamin C holds the key to it. It is an ingredient that checks the inflammation, prevents wrinkles and fine lines, repairs the damage by free radicals, brightens your skin, and many more. As it happens with any popular substance in the market, the world of vitamin C products is very confusing too. And, as I mentioned, not all of them are created equal. In order to select the best product that suits your need, you must understand what to look for in the vitamin C product. First, you must understand the role and functioning of vitamin C in the skincare routine.
Vitamin C (also known as Ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant which means it prevents damages to the cells. While eating food items rich in vitamin C is good for your body, the best to protect your skin is by using vitamin C products topically. It can be used both in the morning and at night. It also has photo-protective properties and protects your skin from free radicals throughout the day. Now that you understand the ingredient a little better, let’s see what you need to look for while purchasing it.
Form and Packaging
This is the first thing you should check. Vitamin C comes in various forms and different names in the market and you can read the label for it. The one you want is L-Ascorbic acid. It is the most effective one. Once you are satisfied with the name, check for the packaging as it is very important. Vitamin C is sensitive to light. If you are buying a vitamin C serum, make sure that it is colorless and stored in a dark place in a dark bottle. If the product is stored in a clear bottle there is a good chance that vitamin C present in it has become unstable. Unstable vitamin C does more damage to your skin rather than just being less effective. A sign of unstable vitamin C is the slight yellow color of the serum.
Concentration
The optimal level of vitamin C concentration in a product should be between 10 and 20 percent. But this is only for getting the best results if you have normal skin. In case you have sensitive skin, you may find that products with higher concentrations might be irritating for your skin. The best thing for you is to stick to the lower spectrum of concentration. In case you are looking for a heavier dose, the maximum concentration that you should buy should not be more than 20 percent. Beyond 20 percent the product doesn’t make any difference in the effectiveness.
Other Ingredients
When purchasing a vitamin C-specific product, make sure you also check for certain other ingredients that make vitamin C more effective. Check for vitamin E or Tocopherol in the product as it stabilizes vitamin C for maximum skin protection. Also, look for Ferulic acid which lowers the pH of vitamin C below 3.5. It helps your skin to further absorb other products that you apply.
Vitamin C in Skincare – Biochemist Perspective
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