Ingredient Spotlight: VITAMIN C

Vitamin C is commonly found in the ingredient deck of many products. It is known for stimulating collagen, reducing fine lines, brightening hyperpigmentation, and reducing redness in the skin. Our body does not produce Vitamin C on its own, so to reap the benefits of this powerhouse ingredient it is crucial to both apply it topically and consume it in a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

Want to learn how Vitamin C can be a great addition to your skincare routine? I'm going to cover all the Vitamin C basics - from why its helpful and common forms of Vitamin C found in your skincare formulations to how to incorporate Vitamin C in your daily routine!

The why

Vitamin C is just one of many beneficial antioxidants that protect our skin. Free radicals - like UV exposure, gas and particle pollution - assault our skin daily and accelerate aging. Vitamin C protects the skin from oxidative damage caused by them. Vitamin C also stimulates collagen, reduces fine lines, brightens hyperpigmentation and  reduces redness in the skin! 

The when

Vitamin C is found in many types of product formulations, including cleansers and  creams - but for the maximum benefit a Vitamin C serum is where it's at!

You should use your Vitamin C during the ☀️ day time. This is because it provides great protection from UV and oxidative damage. It maybe used at night as well.

💫 I typically recommend a Vitamin C Serum for in the day and a Vitamin A for at night.

Here's the morning plan! 
After Cleansing in the morning: 

• Apply Eye Cream
• Apply your Vitamin C Serum to clean, dry skin 
• Apply Moisturizer 
• SPF 

• Then make up if you choose

what to look for

When choosing a Vitamin C Serum, ingredients matter. While Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant with many benefits, it cannot provide superior protection on its own. Vitamins A, B, C, D and E are the five essential antioxidants used by the skin for proper skin function.

➡️ The goal is to have a product that delivers all five vitamins the way healthy skin already does. Synergy with vitamins provides the most protection.⬅️

Many marketed anti-aging serums only offer a single, or limited combination of the five vitamins. The goal of a serum is to signal the skin cells receptor to utilize the nutrients. An effective serum must contain the nutrients that those cell receptors can use. Too much and it can create an opposite effect, creating damage and inflammation. 

Too much of a good thing
A note on concentration: More is not better. Many skincare companies play marketing games by listing concentrations, so people will think that more of a specific vitamin is better. This is not the case. Your skin cells can only utilize a certain amount of each vitamin. Too much of any vitamin can cause the opposite effect. The cells try to get rid of the excess and start creating inflammation.

putting it all together

Vitamin C is an excellent addition to your routine - but remember - it needs the support of other vitamins to do its job effectively. For this reason, Intense Defense Serum is my top pick for a Vitamin C Serum. It goes beyond serums that only provide some of the ingredients the skin needs. It's an anti-aging serum that comprehensively provides all vitamins needed for skin health and function to stimulate skin rejuvenation and enhance anti-aging results. Plus, safe for all skin types - even the most sensitive!

When the skin cells have everything they need, the skin's defense against environmental aggressors is drastically improved. ​

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