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We’ve always been reminded to take our vitamins, especially Vitamin C. A couple of years later, you found out that Vitamin C is not just for fighting the flu or common cold but it is now an essential ingredient being hyped as a wonder ingredient in skincare.
The hype around Vitamin C is because it's a great ingredient that gives multiple benefits to skin and most people can use a Vitamin C serum without any issue! While its great to eat foods containing vitamin c, to get the most skin benefits of Vitamin C, it has to be applied topically.
This has caused a growth of skincare products with Vitamin C in them, most commonly vitamin c serums. With all the vitamin c serums around, here is a guide based on science to help you choose the best vitamin c serum.
Through constant research, Vitamin C, also known as the powerhouse ingredient, is not only beneficial inside of our bodies, but is also helpful on the outside when applied topically. Talk about the total package.
Our skin protects us from the harsh environment, however it will get damaged from the environment, and skin loses it's ability to heal as fast as we age. Signs of skin damage may show up as dark spots like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and acne scars.
Vitamin C is one of the ingredients applied topically that will help prevent and even reverse some of the damage that occurs on skin. When the skin ages or gets photodamaged from UV rays, Vitamin C levels on the skin actually lower, that’s why we need to put it back as much as we can and applying it topically is the best way.
A Vitamin C serum can’t do it alone though, it is of course recommended to keep a healthy lifestyle as well. It's also important to use UV protection each day to reap the benefits a Vitamin C serum.
Vitamin C is no doubt an antioxidant which protects skin from oxidative damage. Vitamin C also helps stimulate collagen production which improves the skin’s quality and texture to help with acne scars.
It fights free radical damage, repairs skin from the harmful effects of the UV rays and sun exposure, and adds an extra layer of protection from these elements. Just to clarify, it doesn’t mean that Vitamin C serums are replacements for sunscreen. Vitamin Chelps boost the deeper layers of your skin, while sunscreen would be the shield acting as the protection from UV damage.
Vitamin C prevents and gets rid of hyperpigmentation because it prevents an enzyme called tyrosinase. This enzyme is responsible for converting tyrosine into melanin, which blocks hyperpigmentation.
When you see ascorbic acid on your skin product ingredients list, that's a great sign since ascorbic acid is the pure form of vitamin c and the one most studied for the proven benefits.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST VITAMIN C SERUM
Look For Ascorbic Acid or L-Ascorbic Acid
There are actually different types of Vitamin C and the most common ones are L-Ascorbic acid,Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Ascorbic Glucosamine, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate.
The reason why there are a lot of Vitamin C derivatives is because they have been processed to make them more stable in skincare formulations and some forms are less likely to irritate the skin.
When you see ascorbic acid or l-ascorbic acid on your Vitamin C serum ingredient list, it's a good sign since it's the pure form of Vitamin C. This ingredient is also the one most studied with the most benefits.
Vitamin C has high instability in its purest form and should be combined with other ingredients to make it stable, like Vitamin E and Ferulic acid or in a low water formula.
It is best to choose one which is formulated without silicones, artificial fragrance, or dyes. No animal derived ingredients and is vegan friendly.
Vitamin C serums are used to promote collagen synthesis. They are usually in an acidic concentration to penetrate the skin and target skin issues like hyperpigmentation and acne scars. Concentration simply means the strength of the acid.
The best Vitamin C serums have proven to be beneficial and effective at concentrations ranging from 3-20%. But if you’re just starting out, it would be best to start with a lower concentration since higher concentrations can cause more skin irritation.
Formulation
Concentration is important, but the best Vitamin C serums out there would usually combine it with Vitamin E and Ferulic acid, which improves the ability of Vitamin C to repair skin damage. This mixture also helps stabilize the Vitamin C so it doesn't degrade after being mixed into a liquid.
It is also important to look for Vitamin C serums which has a lower pH level, around 3-5, so that you’ll be sure that it will be absorbed by the deeper layers of the skin. However, a lower pH level means that it is more acidic, which may causing some stinging and irritation for those with sensitive skin.
The color of the best Vitamin C serum should be very light and clear.
Whenever you see that the color changes to something yellowish to orange then to brown, it means that it is oxidizing thus losing the effectiveness of the Vitamin C. When this happens, that will be your clue to replace it as the benefits of this Vitamin C serum won't really be there anymore. It won't harm your skin to use it, but it certainly won't be as beneficial either.
Vitamin C in its purest form is highly effective yet a tricky ingredient to formulate with as it is unstable due to its properties andexposure to oxygen, light, water and high pH. That's why Vitamin C serums should be stored in a cool and dry place.
You’ll often see thebest Vitamin C serum which contains L-Ascorbic acid stored in dark, brown or amber-colored containers which are airtight. Put the cap back on as soon as you can and make sure that it’s screwed on tight to avoid air from seeping in.
To prevent vitamin c from going bad, you can store it inside the fridge which will keep the Vitamin C Serum fresh longer.There are arguments as to when would be the best time to apply Vitamin C to be most effective. Some experts said that it should be applied at night to help the skin to repair itself. Some said it should be during the day to help fight free radical damage which we accumulate throughout the day.
Well, the answer is… (drum roll)it doesn’t matter! ( that much ) However if you want to get the photodamage prevention benefits, apply it during the day before your sunscreen. The most important thing is that you remember to use it. Using it on a daily basis can benefit your skin. If you’re just starting out, use it every other day with 2-4 drops to cover your entire face and move to daily use as you get used to it.
Another tip is to apply it on your neck to benefit from the same skincare you give your face.
Remember that it could take some time before you see its effectiveness, so patience and consistency plays a big role here. On average, it could take about 2-3 months to really see a brightening effect with consistent use of a vitamin c serum, depending on the extent of the skin damage. But still, results do vary from person to person.
There are no known harmful side effects of Vitamin C except the occasional breakouts, redness or irritation which could be a result of a formulation that isn't suited for your skin type. In this case, you can always try another brand or formulation. Some may be allergic to vitamin c itself, it is rare but possible - if you are allergic to Vitamin C avoid using it.
Again, doing a patch test is important to see how your skin will react to it and it is also advisable to check on the list of ingredients first.
Watch out for other vitamin c serums that could contain an ingredient called propylene glycol. This ingredient has been shown to cause allergic reactions to people with skin conditions like eczema as well as causing contact dermatitis. Some studies show that there was a toxic effect when propylene glycol is applied in large amounts.
This is because in the U.S., propylene glycol is approved for use at 99% concentration and can be found in food or medications which may lead to increased sensitivity with all the multiple exposures.
To avoid sensitivity, avoid layering directing before or after a retinol or retinoid. Wait 30 minutes or more before applying each product to lessen irritation.
If you're looking for a good Vitamin C serum, Banish has the Banish Oil which is created in a glycerin base. Glycerin is a great ingredient in skincare since it is a humectant meaning it will attract water to help keep skin hydrated. It's free of colorants so you'll be able to tell if it has gone bad or if the vitamin c serum isn't fresh anymore. It's also combined together with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid to stabilize it.
There are many Vitamin C serums out there which promises a lot of things. We hope that this article will help you in finding the right formulation that suits your skin type and is worth your money. Listen to what your skin tells you, you will never go wrong.
Maintain a positive outlook in life and if one product doesn’t suit you, move on and find another. It’s more of a trial and error thing until you get to see your match. Most importantly, as much as you would like to see results, be patient! Patience is really a virtue and good things come to those who wait.
Now you know what to look for in a Vitamin C serum which will give you the best results, have you already picked the best Vitamin C serum for your skin?
What Vitamin C serum are you using with your skin care regimen? Feel free to share them below!
Meanwhile, stay awesome, beauties!
Sources
Role of Vitamin C in Skin Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
Double-blind, half-face study comparing topical vitamin C and vehicle for rejuvenation of photodamage https:://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11896774/
Vitamin C and Skin Health | https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/skin-health/vitamin-C
