Let's start with the bad news: our body is not able to produce vitamin C on its own. This means we need to supply it with food, supplements and cosmetics. Why is this so important? Just take a closer look at the track record of this antioxidant vitamin! It protects the skin from the harmful effects of the sun, alcohol, toxins, stimulates collagen synthesis (slows down aging), evens out tone, reduces pigmentation and inflammation, increases elasticity and gives radiance... Wow, and that's just the basics!
The good news is that vitamin C is suitable for all skin types. But there are some nuances: “pure” forms of the vitamin can cause irritation. For daily care, it is better to choose a product with a moderate concentration. Also, vitamin C should not be combined with other active ingredients: acids, retinol.
And now the most interesting thing: a list of treasured jars that will create a small miracle for your skin.
DIOR, Glow Booster Anti-Aging Serum
Cost - 7,248 rubles
A bestseller from Dior, which gained great fame due to just one fact: the kakadu plum contains 100 times more vitamin C than an orange! During periods of stress and fatigue, the serum acts as a real energy cocktail for the skin: it fights dullness, evens out tone and restores elasticity. You can use it as usual or add a couple of drops to your favorite cream or foundation.
Contraindications for use
Before you find out where to buy vitamin C serum, you need to find out if it's right for you.
If your skin is sensitive or prone to allergic reactions, then it makes sense to discuss the use of such drugs with your doctor, or even stop using them altogether.
ELIZAVECCA, Vitamin C Serum Concentrate
Cost - 1,434 rubles
Here is a budget Korean alternative. You can definitely trust Koreans when it comes to the beauty industry. It contains 30% of the treasured vitamin (and this, I must say, is a lot), extracted from natural fruits. The effect will not take long to appear and is noticeable after the first applications: the skin looks fresh, toned, smooth. It is important to understand that a high concentration of vitamin C (in any product, not just serum) gives a slight lightening effect.
Koreans are real wizards when it comes to the composition of cosmetics. Take snail mucin, for example - after all, they were the first to use it! We talk about other popular components here: Question and answer: which ingredients in Korean cosmetics are especially effective?
Vitamin C in cosmetics
Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid is an antioxidant, it is often used in anti-aging cosmetics and in products that fight dullness and paleness of the skin, helps produce collagen and fights photoaging.
It is precisely because vitamin C is endowed with antioxidant properties and helps fight the negative effects of free radicals on the skin (i.e., it slows down the aging process of the skin and the body as a whole), it is so often added to anti-aging cosmetics. Vitamin C is simply irreplaceable and extremely important if the environmental situation leaves much to be desired, if you are a smoker or have a weak immune system.
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is most often found in tomatoes, citrus fruits, potatoes and greens.
Main beneficial properties of vitamin C.
- First of all, vitamin C is the strongest antioxidant that protects the skin from solar radiation and environmental influences.
- Produces collagen, promotes its synthesis and restoration.
- Renews the epidermis layer and slows down the aging process.
- Increases skin elasticity.
- Fights pigmentation and age spots.
- Anti-inflammatory effect.
- Accelerates the healing process of wounds and skin cracks.
- Smoothes out wrinkles.
- It has a beneficial effect on skin color, making it healthy and fresh.
Especially in the winter and spring seasons, our skin requires replenishment of vitamin C, so it is recommended to take complexes based on ascorbic acid.
Our body does not produce vitamin C, so we need to absorb it with food and orally. If there is not enough vitamin in the body, then your skin will suffer first, especially if this is all consolidated by a state of stress, be it physical or emotional stress. But taking vitamins internally, the body absorbs only 1000 mg (more amounts harm the kidneys), and this is not enough for the skin to get its share. Therefore, using cosmetics containing vitamin C will be the best solution to solve this dilemma.
Ascorbic acid is a water-soluble and quickly oxidized vitamin, which means that it easily dissolves in water, but does not dissolve in fat, which makes it difficult to introduce the vitamin into the cream. More recently this problem has been resolved. Therefore, the professional cosmetics market now offers a lot of products containing vitamin C - creams, mousses, gels, serums, masks, etc.
It is important to remember that if you use a product containing Vitamin C, use a cream with spf of at least 20 (cream with a sun filter), since vitamin C and ascorbic acid have depigmenting properties. Also pay attention that vitamin C in cosmetics is in fat-soluble form, because if it is in water-soluble form, it will not be able to be absorbed into the skin.
But do not let your guard down and when buying a cream labeled “with vitamin C”, be sure to check the quantity and form it is in the cosmetic product.
- Having found one of these names on the package, be sure that vitamin C is in a stable form: ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, retinyl ascorbate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.
- For the drug to be effective, the dose of vitamin C must be clearly indicated on the package; it should range from 0.3% to 10%.
- The packaging of any product containing vitamins should be opaque and sealed, since vitamin C decomposes under the influence of light and air.
For the skin, constant use of products containing vitamin C will be much more effective than taking it as dietary supplements. Experiments have confirmed that vitamin C absorbed into the skin for three days is not removed by washing, rubbing or sweating.
Academy offers an excellent Antioxidant Cream with vitamins C and E, which received the international Pierantoni Prize for cosmetic innovation. It will help saturate the skin with vitamins, including C, which will help stop the process of skin aging and protect it from the effects of stress.
Skin problems that vitamin C will eliminate:
- Collagen deficiency
- Sensitivity and thinning of the skin
- Diffuse redness
- Poor skin healing
- Aging
- Pigmentation
Be sure to monitor the level of vitamin C in your body, take it as a vitamin complex and do not forget about your skin, which also really needs it. After all, it is he who protects her from the bad influences of the environment, prevents premature aging and excessive pigmentation.
Perricone MD, Vitamin C Ester Night Repair Cream
Cost - 11,120 rubles
What could be more pleasant: going to bed and getting up in the morning with perfect skin? The main component in the cream is a special, artificially created form of vitamin C Ester. It is believed that in this form it has greater bioavailability, is more active and less irritating to the skin. Hence the hefty price, but it's worth it!
Perricone MD appeared in yet another selection. To moisturize your skin and keep it fresh, we recommend you the 5 best creams with hyaluronic acid that significantly transform your skin.
Effect of external use of vitamin C
Numerous studies demonstrate that topical application of vitamin C can improve the appearance of skin. This happens because:
1. New collagen synthesis helps maintain skin volume and density.
2. Thanks to the same collagen synthesis, the endothelial lining of the capillaries improves, which helps reduce skin redness and prevent rosacea.
3. Free radicals and oxidative stress caused by environmental stressors and UV radiation are reduced.
4. Ascorbic acid has mild whitening and exfoliating properties.
5. Ascorbic acid is an antiprostaglandin and can reduce inflammatory processes in the skin.
However, when using the vitamin externally, you have to resort to various kinds of tricks in order to make the formulas really effective.
PAYOT, Skin Radiance Gel
Cost - 2,499 rubles
The French brand promises that the gel will instantly remove signs of fatigue and lack of sleep. The consistency of it resembles orange jelly and smells just as pleasant - the aroma will stay on the skin for several hours. In addition to the persistent form of vitamin C, the gel contains numerous extracts: goji berries, acai, bifidobacteria lysate... All together gives the skin the desired and instant glow, and also eliminates oily shine.
3 more bestsellers from Payot: 100 years of fighting wrinkles: 3 products from Payot that Parisians adore.
Serum storage rules
To prevent damage to cosmetic products, storage rules must be strictly followed.
- Should be kept away from sunlight and in very dark containers;
- Airtightness of the container;
- Cool place.
When purchasing and during use, monitor the consistency of the product. Any Korean serum with vitamin C should not oxidize, change color or smell. If any of this happens, then you must stop using the emulsion.
We recommend reading:
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In order to hide oxidation processes, manufacturers can add dyes. This is a reason not to buy such products if they are any color other than light champagne.
The Body Shop, Vitamin C Moisturizing Day Cream
Cost - 1,390 rubles
Everything about this cream is perfect: a pleasant citrus aroma, a weightless sorbet texture... In addition to vitamin C, the active ingredient is camu camu berry extract - this is another powerful antioxidant that works to strengthen the immune system and rejuvenate the skin. Inspired by the success of the cream, The Body Shop created a whole line with the self-explanatory name “Vitamin C”. It has everything from two types of peeling to an eye cream.
Not only cosmetics, but a whole set of factors are responsible for our youth. Take the Test: Do you look older than your age?
Forms of the active substance: choose the right one
You should choose which vitamin C serum is best for you and which is not, based on the form of the active substance.
This is due to the many derivatives and classifications that are used in cosmetic products and the needs of each individual organism.
Any high-quality vitamin C serum simply must contain a component that allows it to stabilize and increase the shelf life of the product.
This condition is dictated by the instability of ascorbic acid by nature, especially when it comes to exposure to sunlight.
Thus, vitamin C serum without stabilizers remains effective for no more than 4 months.
Effect of vitamin C
The presented ingredient has an amazing effect.
Among the main actions, the following can be noted: 1. Helps synthesize collagen. With enough vitamin C in the body, the skin begins to produce collagen on its own, which increases its elasticity and, in general, improves health. That is why the use of such cosmetics is recommended for adult women, as they prevent aging. 2. Help protect skin from the sun. The only thing is that you should not think that using such products you can neglect sunscreen. Vitamin C only improves the effect of sun creams and sprays.
3. Together with vitamin E, it makes the skin radiant. The two elements presented are capable of improving each other’s properties, so when they are combined in one product, you can be confident in its effectiveness. Such cosmetics have a stable effect and a fairly long shelf life.
4. Skin tone is evened out and pigmentation is reduced. An excellent ability of vitamin C is its ability to whiten blemishes on the skin.
5. Acne treatment. With the help of vitamin C, you can relieve skin irritation and inflammation, which is very important in adolescence. The main thing is not to use such cosmetics in the presence of open wounds and inflammations.
6. Helps retain moisture in the skin, resulting in maximum hydration. The skin is visually healthy and smooth.
7. Tightens pores and brightens them.
What you need to know
Vitamin C emulsion may cause skin damage due to its proxidant content. This is kind of the flip side of an antioxidant.
Whitening serum with vitamin C may not have the effect that the buyer expects, so you should approach this issue with caution.
This serum may react with other compounds.
If vitamin C serum is used incorrectly, tachyphylaxis may occur.
