subject: Vitamin C and Its Anti-ageing Benefits on the Skin [print this page]
Vitamin C acts as a two fold anti-ageing skin care ingredient.
Vitamin C acts as a two fold anti-ageing skin care ingredient.
It acts as an antioxidant:
Fighting free radicals that damage skin and cause photo ageing (skin ageing from the sun's rays).
Free radicals are the unstable molecules in the environment that cause ageing of the skin.
Free radicals can be found in excessive sun exposure, cigarette smoke, and environmental pollutants.
It is required for the production of collagen:
Collagen is an essential protein that keeps your skin firm and toned.
Without collagen your skin will sag and lose its vitality.
Simply by growing older there is a natural reduction of collagen production in the body, this appears on the skin in the form of wrinkles.
So introducing Vitamin C into your skin care helps keep skin supple, firm and wrinkle free.
Dietary Sources ofVitamin C are required as your body does not create its own supplies of this essential vitamin.
Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin that is depleted rapidly by the kidneys and urinary system of the body. During times of stress studies have found that the urinary system excretes very high volumes of Vitamin C.
A diet rich in Vitamin C is therefore required for best anti-ageing results.
Best dietary sources of Vitamin C can be found in fruits- best source, followed by vegetables as well as herbs and spices.
Vitamin C Rich Fruit
Vitamin C Rich Vegetables
Vitamin C Rich Herbs & Spices
Acerola Berries
Red Bell Peppers
Oregano
Blackcurrant
Green Bell Peppers
Chilli Pepper
Guava
Spinach
Basil
Strawberry
Brussel Sprouts
Cayenne Pepper
Lemon
Brocolli
Cloves
Orange
Kale Leaves
Fennel
Kiwi
Cauliflour
Parsley
Raspberries
Tomatoes
Rockmelon (Canteloupe)
Mustard greens
Lychees
Asparagus
Nectarine
Cucumber
Peaches
Green cabbage
Mangoes.
Watercress
Vitamin C in skin care
Even the most nutrient rich diet wont be able to ensure that your skin is receiving the desired level of Vitamin C into the skin that will create the necessary results for collagen production.
The body is a complex organ and will send the essential nutrients to the areas it believes requires the most attention and the remainder will be excreted by the urinary system.
But what about your wrinkles?
That's where targetted skin care with scientifically designed carrier systems that ensure the delivery of the ingredient to the area it is required comes in.
Vitamin C however, as a vitamin is extremely unstable and when mixed with water oxidizes. This reaction would create the exact opposite response to the one you are after.
Realizing this scientists have adapted and modified vitamin C so that it is now more stable and is easier to store.
Forms of Vitamin C to look out for in skin care ingredients.
Ascorbyl palmitate- a fat soluble derivative of Vitamin C in skin care. Formulations vary however, if it started off white and is now off colour-it's off and don't use it. Look for the highest level of this ingredient to ensure that it works.
Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate-Water soluble derivative of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) however, much more stable. Much more potent than ascorbyl palmitate at creating collagen synthesis.
Tetrasubsituted lipophilic ascorbates- New to the market these Vitamin C derivatives are considered more stable than older derivatives of Vitamin C and are ones to look out for as they appear to be more powerful in collagen synthesis.
4.L-Ascorbic Acid (Ascorbic Acid)- definately the most powerful ingredient in stimulating collagen production however, it is very unstable and prone to oxidizing which creates the opposite effect on the skin to what was desired. There are different skin care companies out there that have managed to stabilize the Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) product however, it is not recommended you use these formulations if your skin is prone to sensitivity. Also the cost will be higher for these formulations due to the high cost of creating these solutions. If you do chose an L-Ascorbic (Ascorbic or Vitamin C product) look for serums that have a dropper and is in a dark bottle as Vitamin C is extremely unstable and needs to be stored in a cool, dark and dry place. Ensure that the serum does not change colour (this helps ensure its stability) . Normally you will be looking for a strength of 10-20% and a pH level of lower than 3.5
Added benefits of Vitamin C to your overall health:
increases immune health
reduces cancer rates
protects against free radical damage- such as pollutants
speeds up wound repair
helps against infections
increases life expectancy rates
Vitamin C and Its Anti-ageing Benefits on the Skin
