Whether youβve just started with skincare or youβre that one friend everyone texts for advice, weβre willing to bet youβre familiar with this gold standard antioxidant which is so ubiquitous in skin-brightening products that even a child these days would know about it, and itβs none other than Vitamin C!
Instrumental in skin firming and collagen production, itβs one of the most powerful topical ingredients that protect the skin against free radical damage, UV light, and other environmental aggressors β making it look brighter, smoother, and plumper over time. If you havenβt yet incorporated Vitamin C into your routine, keep reading to know more about it and the most effective ways to use it.
The Right Color
When choosing your Vitamin C product, especially a serum, itβs important to make sure itβs colorless. Although some highly concentrated serums do have a natural yellow tint, but the problem is when a product starts oxidizing and changes its original color β turns to brown or orange usually.
You can still use it, but it wonβt have the same benefits. Thatβs the reason why itβs suggested to choose airtight packaging and a dark-colored bottle, rather than something that comes in clear packaging and is exposed to the light regularly. This can affect the effectiveness of the product and make it less usable.
The Concentration
The concentration or the percentage amount of Vitamin C in a product can be anywhere between 1 to 20 percent, but itβs always suggested to start with a mild dose, around 5 percent.
As per the dermatologists, you can gradually build up this concentration, but after 20 percent, the situation is like a plateau, which means raising the concentration might not give you any greater benefits.
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Moreover, after a certain point, if you go above the bar, your skin can develop sensitivity to the same ingredient that was once working great for you, so itβs always better to keep things balanced and stay consistent with what suits you the best.
The Derivatives
One of the most debatable topic amongst the skincare enthusiasts is β which form of Vitamin C works the best. Well, thereβs no definite answer to it because it is actually subjective, totally depends on your skin type and tolerance.
But of course, some derivatives are more stable than others, which means they are more efficacious, like the magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl 6-palmitate, and ascorbic acid sulfate.Β
The form of derivative which is more common and somewhat similar to the ascorbic acid sulfate is L-ascorbic acid β the safest to start with. Usually, dermatologists recommend L-ascorbic acid for oily or normal skin and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate for dry and sensitive skin.
Most Importantly
Start slow. Donβt try to jump straight on to the highest concentrations thinking it would give better and quicker results, slowly incorporate it into your routine and give it the time it needs to settle in completely.
It may take several weeks to see the slightest improvement, donβt expect instant gratification. The most potent forms of Vitamin C are vulnerable to sun exposure, and therefore itβs important to layer it underneath a broad spectrum sunscreen, minimum SPF 30.
If you are still a little unsure about how and where to start from, consider trying something with natural ingredients first.
A product with an organic blend of oils and extracts scientifically stabilized in a well-crafted formulation. Also, itβs better to begin with a product that isnβt as powerful as a serum but is equally effective and important β a Moisturizer.
If youβre looking for an effective Vitamin C moisturizer, then you must try theΒ Neroli and Grapefruit facial moisturizerΒ fromΒ Refresh Botanicals.Β Refresh Botanicalsβ products are made with advanced technologies like micro-emulsion and nano-encapsulation, that help to deliver the concentrated ingredient to the targeted area. If youβre thinking to switch toΒ organic skincare, then you must try them once.
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