How & Why You Should Be Using Vitamin C
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Invest In A Stable Form
The best way to incorporate vitamin C into your skincare routine is in a serum form, and to use it every morning after you have cleansed your skin. Because vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your skin from environmental aggressors such as pollution, sun damage and cigarette smoke, a daily serum should be where you invest most of your money. They’re also designed to deliver high concentrations of active ingredients to the skin, so you get maximum benefits.
But not all Vitamin C serums are equal. First, look out for the ingredient L-ascorbic acid, which is the most effective form of vitamin C. The concentration of the L-ascorbic acid should be between 10%-20% for it to be effective and choose formulas with added antioxidants such as ferulic acid and vitamin E for a more stable formula. L-ascorbic acid can be quite unstable in high percentages. Also, look for serums in a dark glass bottle and keep them away from direct sunlight – that way the formula will remain more effective for longer.
Always Exfoliate First
When was the last time that you properly exfoliated your skin? Dead skin cells that sit on top of your skin won’t allow your vitamin C product to fully absorb. Vitamin C serums can be expensive, so to get the most out of them you need to include regular – albeit gentle – exfoliation into your skincare routine. Just be aware vitamin C can sometimes cause a little sensitivity, so be sure to exfoliate in the evenings before bed (do this one or two times a week) and use your vitamin C products the following morning.
Follow Up With An SPF
We all know the damaging effects the sun can have on our skin and while using vitamin C is a great way to protect the skin against daily sun damage, it works even better when you use it in conjunction with sun protection. Did you know sunlight is made up of four different types of rays: UVB, UVA, visible light and infrared? Even when we think our skin is protected from the sun, we still need to think about protection from all four types of sunlight, and it’s worth remembering that using a vitamin C will increase the effectiveness of your sunscreen.
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