Vitamin C: 101
It’s no secret that Vitamin C is the super-star skin care ingredient of 2021. With the power to brighten your complexion, even out skin tone, and minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, what can’t Vitamin C do? Let’s take a deeper dive into the effects of this powerhouse ingredient and exactly how you should include some Vitamin C in your skin care routine.
What is Vitamin C?
Let’s go back to basics – what exactly is Vitamin C? In short, Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that assists growth, development, and repair of all body tissues – including the skin.
Rae Williams, National Trainer for Australia elaborates: “Vitamin C truly is the stand-out vitamin for our skin! It offers such great protection against free radical damage and assists most skin conditions such as inflammation, pigmentation and UV damage, plus it boosts collagen in the skin! It should be a part of everyone’s skin care routine and applied every single day.”
Our bodies do not produce Vitamin C and cannot store it, so the only way to receive its benefits is by ingesting it or by topically applying it. Popular sources of Vitamin C include:
· Citrus fruits such as lemon, grapefruit, and orange
· Leafy greens such as broccoli, spinach, and kale
· Tomatoes
· Strawberries
· Rosehip oil
· Seabuckthorn oil
Benefits of Vitamin C
Where to begin with the benefits of Vitamin C?! One of its greatest features is its ability to both prevent and repair damage caused by our environment. By day, Vitamin C provides additional protection against the ageing effects of environmental stressors including pollution, blue light and UV rays. By night, Vitamin C rejuvenates your skin and minimises the look of damage caused by free radical exposure.
How to Include Vitamin C in Your Skin Care Routine
Including a Vitamin C serum into your routine is simple. Vitamin C is typically formulated in a fast-absorbing formula, suitable for all skin types and can be used both morning and night. After cleansing and toning, apply 1-2 drops of serum to your skin and use your fingers to spread a thin layer evenly over your face and neck. Wait for it to completely absorb before applying your favourite Eminence moisturiser.
What to Look For In A Vitamin C Serum
· L-ascorbic acid (the most potent and effective variety of Vitamin C in skin care).
· A concentration of 10-20%. Below 10% may not be sufficiently potent and above 20% can be too powerful for most skin types.
· Complementary ingredients like Vitamin E and ferulic acid enhance Vitamin C’s antioxidant properties and keep the formula stabilised.
One of our favourites, the Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum is a weightless formula that is easily added into any skin care routine. This serum contains Vitamin E and ferulic acid, which enhances the antioxidant properties of the formular and helps to retain its potency. The Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Serum also contains three varieties of Vitamin C. The first variety, L-ascorbic acid, is a powerful form of the antioxidant. Second is the Vitamin C derived from natural sources including citrus fruits and leafy greens. The final variety is sodium ascorbyl phosphate (also known as Vitamin C salt) which is illustrated below.
Discover our Naturally Potent Vitamin C Collection
To enhance the results of your Vitamin C Serum, include more of our Naturally Potent Vitamin C Collection in your routine.
The Lime Refresh Tonique is the perfect mattifying spritz loaded with Vitamin C from citrus fruits. This is a great way to boost your Vitamin levels and keep fresh during the day! Apply the Citrus & Kale Potent C+E Masque as needed for an antioxidant power boost and to reduce any inflammation and add essential hydration, encouraging the skin to absorb more Vitamin C.
Interested in adding a Vitamin C to your skin care routine? Visit our Potent C+E collection to learn more or click here to find the closest Eminence spa to you.