Vitamin C is a crucial nutrient that you need for tissue growth and repair throughout your body, including your skin. It is a natural antioxidant that occurs naturally in your epidermis and dermis. However, vitamin C production reduces as you age or due to certain medical issues.
Therefore, you must add vitamin C into your skincare routine. You can add it as a serum that you apply before your makeup. You can also use vitamin C masks when cleansing your face and let it sit for a few minutes.
Some of the benefits of adding vitamin C to your skincare routine include; Increasing collagen production, preventing trans-epidermal water loss, reducing hyperpigmentation, reducing wrinkles, brightening your complexion, helping wound healing, protecting the skin against free radicals and pollution, and protecting against sun damage.
According to experts, you should apply vitamin C every day for the best results, in the morning and before bed. Before buying vitamin C, there are different factors that you have to consider to ensure that you get the best product.
Firstly, you need to ensure that it has a concentration of between 10-20%. Buying a product with a concentration below 8% leads to no results, while that above 20% could irritate. It would help ascertain that the pH level is close to the skin’s natural pH to prevent irritation.
You should also consider the ingredient list and ensure that there is ferulic acid which helps with lowering the pH level. There should also be Vitamin E for skin protection.
Thirdly, you need to ensure that the Vitamin C comes packed in dark glass with a medicine dropper to protect the product from light, heat, and air, which could degrade it.
Price is also an essential factor in ensuring that you get the best quality for your pay price. Finally, you need to consider the form of Vitamin C you want for your specific skin problem.
Which is the best form of vitamin C?
Vitamin C comes in different forms, with different concentrations, pH levels, and benefits. Some of the ones you can consider for your face include;
Ascorbic acid
Also known as L-ascorbic, this is the purest form of vitamin C. It is also the most effective in penetrating through your skin. It has excellent anti-aging benefits, mainly for people with normal or oily skin types. For people with sensitive and dry skin, this form of vitamin C could irritate your skin.
If you want to deal with uneven or dull skin tones, you can use a 10% concentration. However, if you’re dealing with more stubborn pigmentation, consider using a higher concentration of 15-20%.
It comes with different pH levels and concentrations for different purposes and skin types. The best one is the form with a pH level of between five and seven for people with sensitive skin. However, for people with normal skin types, the best one is the one with a pH level of four or below.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
This is a less intense and bioactive form than ascorbic acid, making it perfect for all skin types. Once you apply it to your skin, it turns into ascorbic acid, making it less irritating and helpful for sensitive skin.
Unlike ascorbic acid, this form of vitamin C does not react erratically when exposed to air, water, or light. Just like ascorbic acid, it helps with uneven skin, dull skin, skin pigmentation, and aging effects.
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate
This is the most stable and hydrating form of Vitamin C. it is rich in anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it effective in soothing skin irritations. Since it is a water-soluble form, it is best when you use it in water-based formulas.
It also prevents the oxidation that causes blackheads, making it perfect for skin types prone to acne. It also helps correct any discoloration caused by acne scarring and balance your overall skin tone.
Sodium Ascorbate
This form of vitamin C is sodium salt of ascorbic acid. Like sodium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium ascorbate also turns into ascorbic acid when applied to the skin. That makes it less irritating and more stable when exposed to air and light.
It has many benefits, with the top ones being lightening skin discoloration and protecting your skin from free radicals.
If you are ready to get started on your skincare journey, call us today at 205-352-9141. At Vital Force, we give you holistic solutions to all your medical conditions.