The Gym for Skin - Vitamin C: The Mighty Supplement Is Now A Skincare Superstar!!
We've all heard of the benefits of supplementation with Vitamin C to help fight off colds, boost the immune system, and promote longevity. Many of us have been told by doctors and other medical professionals to be sure to get enough of this important nutrient in our daily diet. Now, skincare experts have jumped on the bandwagon and are singing the praises of Vitamin C as a nutrient to be put on, not in.
For well over a year now, Vitamin C creams and lotions have been the talk of the skincare industry. Trade shows, symposiums, and seminars have all featured new products, which have Vitamin C as a key ingredient. In fact, I'd estimate that a good 20-30% of space at the top skincare trade shows during the past year was given over to the introduction and promotion of topical Vitamin C formulations.
Here's why Vitamin C has become the newest "Skincare Superstar":
Topical Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin found in plants and animals. It is the only form of Vitamin C which the body can recognize and utilize to produce new collagen fibers. Unfortunately, until fairly recently, no one had found a way to stabilize Vitamin C for skincare use. "Regular" Vitamin C, long a favorite of nutritionists and fitness fans, needed to be put into a stabilized form before it could be utilized in beauty products. A team of doctors at Duke University did just that and finally announced the results of a ten-year effort to produce topical Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid). This discovery led to the current crop of exciting new skincare products which can help create new collagen fibers and create a firmer, tighter skin. With regular use of topical Vitamin C products, skin appears smoother and wrinkles are minimized.
Topical Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant and protects skin from free radicals by neutralizing the UV radiation from the sun. (This is why Vitamin C skincare products are labeled "photo-protective.") Free radical damage is what causes breakdowns of our systems, both internal (body) and external (skin). Stress, smoking, pollution, poor diet, and sun all cause free radical damage which promotes wrinkles, skin discolorations, and loose and sagging skin.
If you want to see the negative effects of free radicals and other types of skin damage, try this little test: place a mirror on a table and lean over it, allow the skin to fall away from the face. If your skin is very loose and sagging, then it's time to start damage control and prevention!
If you'd like to try one of skincare's Vitamin C superstars, keep in mind that the products come in a variety of types. Those in serum form are the most active and potent, but topical Vitamin C can also be found in creams, patches, and capsules. Once applied, a 10-15 % Vitamin C solution at a pH of 3.5 or below takes 48 hours to penetrate the skin - during this penetration period, washing or rubbing won't remove it from the skin. (Note: Women with tougher, thicker, less sensitive skin will tolerate a different formula than those with normal or sensitive skin.) Once topical Vitamin C has penetrated the skin, it has a reservoir effect, enabling the skin to retain even more of the precious nutrient after subsequent applications. The photo-protective qualities remain in place at full potential for three days once applied, however, sunscreen must still be used to protect the skin from sun damage.
It takes 3-5 months to see a visible difference from use of Vitamin C products on the skin, but it's worth the wait. If you'd like to add Vitamin C to your skincare regimen, consult your aesthetician.
Back to Deborah says
We've all heard of the benefits of supplementation with Vitamin C to help fight off colds, boost the immune system, and promote longevity. Many of us have been told by doctors and other medical professionals to be sure to get enough of this important nutrient in our daily diet. Now, skincare experts have jumped on the bandwagon and are singing the praises of Vitamin C as a nutrient to be put on, not in.
For well over a year now, Vitamin C creams and lotions have been the talk of the skincare industry. Trade shows, symposiums, and seminars have all featured new products, which have Vitamin C as a key ingredient. In fact, I'd estimate that a good 20-30% of space at the top skincare trade shows during the past year was given over to the introduction and promotion of topical Vitamin C formulations.
Here's why Vitamin C has become the newest "Skincare Superstar":
Topical Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin found in plants and animals. It is the only form of Vitamin C which the body can recognize and utilize to produce new collagen fibers. Unfortunately, until fairly recently, no one had found a way to stabilize Vitamin C for skincare use. "Regular" Vitamin C, long a favorite of nutritionists and fitness fans, needed to be put into a stabilized form before it could be utilized in beauty products. A team of doctors at Duke University did just that and finally announced the results of a ten-year effort to produce topical Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic acid). This discovery led to the current crop of exciting new skincare products which can help create new collagen fibers and create a firmer, tighter skin. With regular use of topical Vitamin C products, skin appears smoother and wrinkles are minimized.
Topical Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant and protects skin from free radicals by neutralizing the UV radiation from the sun. (This is why Vitamin C skincare products are labeled "photo-protective.") Free radical damage is what causes breakdowns of our systems, both internal (body) and external (skin). Stress, smoking, pollution, poor diet, and sun all cause free radical damage which promotes wrinkles, skin discolorations, and loose and sagging skin.
If you want to see the negative effects of free radicals and other types of skin damage, try this little test: place a mirror on a table and lean over it, allow the skin to fall away from the face. If your skin is very loose and sagging, then it's time to start damage control and prevention!
If you'd like to try one of skincare's Vitamin C superstars, keep in mind that the products come in a variety of types. Those in serum form are the most active and potent, but topical Vitamin C can also be found in creams, patches, and capsules. Once applied, a 10-15 % Vitamin C solution at a pH of 3.5 or below takes 48 hours to penetrate the skin - during this penetration period, washing or rubbing won't remove it from the skin. (Note: Women with tougher, thicker, less sensitive skin will tolerate a different formula than those with normal or sensitive skin.) Once topical Vitamin C has penetrated the skin, it has a reservoir effect, enabling the skin to retain even more of the precious nutrient after subsequent applications. The photo-protective qualities remain in place at full potential for three days once applied, however, sunscreen must still be used to protect the skin from sun damage.
It takes 3-5 months to see a visible difference from use of Vitamin C products on the skin, but it's worth the wait. If you'd like to add Vitamin C to your skincare regimen, consult your aesthetician.
Back to Deborah says
