Vitamin C Serum
Serums, one-word people in the skincare industry swear by in treating many skin problems at home.
The serum industry is ever-evolving. As research continues, new ingredients are introduced, old ingredients are tweaked and, formulas are constantly transforming.
One of the ingredients that have stayed true is Vitamin C. Allow us to inform you on what it is and why you should incorporate it in your daily skincare routine.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C or L-Ascorbic Acid is a water-soluble molecule that is naturally present in some foods. Humans do not naturally produce Vitamin C; it is a nutrient that needs to be ingested through diet, making it an essential nutrient, that is required for the biosynthesis of collagen – the protein that gives our skin its bounce.
Vitamin C also functions as an antioxidant, playing a significant role in minimizing free radical damage. It also helps facilitate wound healing.
Vitamin C and Skin
As mentioned above, Vitamin C is an antioxidant whose function is to protect the skin. The cellular process as well as environmental factors like UV-rays and pollution, create free radicals in the skin. Free radicals are unstable molecules that damage cells, accelerate ageing, skin dullness and even cancers.
Vitamin C protects the skin from getting damaged by them.
Collagen is a protein that supports our skin and provides its structure, and as it degrades with age, wrinkles begin to become visible. Vitamin C is a necessary co-factor in the building of collagen in the body.
Another benefit of Vitamin C is that it inhibits or stops the production of melanin in the skin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin discolouration like dark spots and hyperpigmentation, thus making Vitamin C a great brightening agent!
Topical Application of Vitamin C
The crucial factor is not the product Vitamin C comes in but the form in which it is being applied.
Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid is a highly unstable molecule and oxidizes readily. Light and oxygen can easily change their structure, making them unusable, therefore if not stored correctly it tends to change colour and become brownish.
There are ways to stabilize Vitamin C so that it can be used in serums and other skincare products.
One of them is to maintain the pH of the product, which should be low (below 3.5). Also, look for ingredients that support Vitamin C and help in its stabilization, like Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C and/or Hyaluronic Acid.
Serums have more active ingredients in them, making them an awesome way to reap the maximum benefits out of an ingredient that is good for the skin.
As a general rule, serums should be layered under moisturizer. Using Vitamin C serum in the morning is optimal as it provides an extra layer of protection against UV radiation.