Flawless Skin

Why do we need Vitamin C serum?

Vitamin C is one of our body’s primary protections from free radical damage. Our bodies struggle to deliver enough L-ascorbic acid, the natural form of vitamin C, to the skin through diet alone. To reap the anti-aging benefits of Vitamin C, we need to use topical treatments.

What are the benefits of using Vitamin C on your skin?

Vitamin C repairs and protects your skin by promoting wound healing, fights aging process, promotes collagen production, keeps skin healthy and firm, and helps prevent skin cancer. Vitamin C brightens the skin’s appearance and fades dark spots and wrinkles. The result would be a younger looking, more radiant and flawless skin.

How do we find the right Vitamin C serum?

Several vitamin C derivatives, like magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and ascorbyl-6-palmitate, hydrate the skin well but do not significantly raise L-Ascorbic Acid levels in the skin. Therefore, you might not get the best results which you were looking for in your vitamin C product. The L-Ascorbic Acid (LAA) derivative, however, is the one that is the most effective because LAA is the only vitamin C molecule that the body can recognize and use. A stable and high enough concentration of LAA has to penetrate into the skin in order to achieve the biological effect we are seeking (1). Therefore, make sure that you look for this ingredient in your vitamin C product if you want the most results.

Look for LAA at a concentration of 20% and a pH level of about 2.6 to 3.0 for maximum results. Studies actually show that vitamin C serum with 20% LAA at 3.0 pH, and packaged in a light-protected bottle (for stability), will maximize the penetration into the skin and biologic activity (2). If this feels too irritating for your skin then you will want to start with the 10% and gradually increase as needed. You can also use it less often such as every other day or twice a week.

I enjoy using L-Ascorbic Acid crystals like Cosmedix Pure C Mixing Crystals, which can be combined with distilled water or a hydrating serum. You can control the strength of your L-ascorbic mixture by adding more or less of the crystals into the hydrating serum or liquid, or even your moisturizer (weaker effect compared to when mixed into a liquid form). I found that the stronger mixture works really great when you are trying to fade hyperpigmentation faster. However, keep in mind that having a stronger concentration might irritate your skin or cause breakouts. I suggest starting out with a weaker solution and gradually increasing it as needed. Pay attention to make sure that you are not irritating your skin. Give your skin a break and extra hydration when it is feeling tight or dry and irritated. I like using this product about once a week in the winter time, and more often in the summer.

Click here to view a very affordable vitamin C serum with 20% L-Ascorbic Acid which I also love, and it does not require mixing! This serum feels hydrating on the skin and keeps my skin clear and brighter. Keep in mind to keep the bottle sealed tightly and stored in a cabinet to keep it from exposure to air and light; therefore maintaining its effectiveness.

I hope that this bit of information about vitamin C has helped some of you understand more about the importance and benefits of vitamin C or which vitamin C product to choose. I know I have thoroughly  enjoyed writing about it, because I feel so passionate about vitamin C now that I've seen the wonders that it's done for my skin. I hope that you too will soon discover what it can do for your skin!

REFERENCES

1. Sheldon R. Pinnel, MDa and Doren L. Madey, PhDb, The Benefits of Topical Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) for Skin Care and UV Protection, Appl Cosmetol 18 126-134 (October/December 1999)
2. SR Pinnell, Topical L-Ascorbic Acid: Pecutaneous Absorption Studies, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery 21 137-142 (Feb2001)

The fall season is here again! The leaves are changing color and falling. It is the time for renewal! It is also the season between summer and winter. For our skin, this means that we have to renew our skin and prepare it for winter.

All summer long we probably spent a lot of time outdoors enjoying the warm weather. Our skin might be a little dull now and in need of a good exfoliation. Remember that we still need to be gentle when exfoliating our skin. Use exfoliating products that are safe such as products containing Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs).  I love products containing glycolic acid, which is a type of AHAs, as it gives my skin great exfoliation and keeps it clean and clear without being abrasive. It is good to focus on healthy exfoliating during this season because your skin will absorb hydration better.

As winter approaches, the cold weather will be drying on our skin and we need to make sure that we hydrate our skin well. So, if you have been enjoying the warmer weather a little too much and slacking in the skin care department, then right now is the perfect time for you to pick yourself back up. Maybe start with a nice, yummy smelling pumpkin exfoliant! Check out the Eminence Yam & Pumpin Enzyme Peel. It’s a natural exfoliant that also hydrates and contains vitamins.

Are you tired of dark spots that seem to want to take over your face? Imagine if those spots would just fade away, making your whole face look cleaner, brighter, more flawless and youthful again!

What Causes Hyperpigmentation?

Hyperpigmentation could be caused by both external and internal factors. For example: hormones, nutrition, and stress are internal factors while the environment, sun exposure or even chemical treatments are some of the external factors causing hyperpigmentation on the skin. Therefore you might want to pay more attention to your lifestyle in order to prevent more hyperpigmentation. Keep in mind that dark spots caused by hormones (such as birth control pills) might be more difficult to lighten than those from sun exposure or acne scars. You can read more about hyperpigmentation here

In this article I want to focus more on the treatment of hyperpigmentation. How can we fade dark spots so that we can have that more flawless complexion again like perhaps we used to when we were younger? Tackling hyperpigmentation or dark spots is not as simple as just picking a skin-lightening product. Lightening treatments work better with a good exfoliation process, which allows for better absorption and increases the effectiveness of skin-lightening products. So keep in mind that a regular and thorough cleansing and exfoliation will benefit your skin more than you might think.

Step 1: Exfoliate

For exfoliation, think more than just a facial scrub. In fact, think of ingredients such as Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), fruit enzymes, retinol, or vitamin C in your skin care products to slough off and lift the mottled cells, increasing the epidermal cell turnover. Not only this will help to remove melanin from the skin, it would also prepare your skin to allow the lightening ingredients such as hydroquinone, niacinamide, kojic acid, vitamin C, licorice extracts, among others, to penetrate and thus increase the effectiveness of your skin lightening products.

To sum it up, combining exfoliating ingredients such as AHAs with your skin brightening serum is the effective way to fade dark spots and brighten your skin. Even if you don’t completely get rid of all your dark spots, your skin should have a clearer, brighter and more youthful appearance.

Step 2: Moisturize

After applying your skin lightening serum at night, don’t forget to follow it with a moisturizer. A skin that is well hydrated helps to protect itself from damage. Keeping your skin hydrated also allows your active skin lightening ingredients to work more effectively. Now I hope you can see why treating hyperpigmentation is not as simple as just picking the right skin-brightening serum.

Step 3: Protect

Lastly, never leave home without applying your SPF 30 or above. I also try to wear a hat as additional protection whenever I can. I recommend an SPF product containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide such as Elta MD UV Clear SPF 46.

There are many skin brightening products out there. The first product you try might not turn out to be the best one for your skin. But here are some from good brands loved by aestheticians which you might want to check out:

PCA Skin intensive brightening treatment serum contains retinol and niacinamide to lift and improve discolorations. Your daily regimen while using this product should include a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, and SPF 30+ during the day.

GM Collin Phytowhite dark spot serum

GM Collin facial treatment Phytowhite brightening system

Eminence Yam & Pumpkin enzyme peel. Great to use about once a week to exfoliate and brighten skin.

Vitamin C is really great for skin brightening and repair. We will have to talk about the benefits of Vitamin C in a separate article because it really deserves the attention. In the meantime, click here for some good vitamin C serums.