You should Cleanse, Feed and Protect your skin everyday. One of the most basic and important food for your skin is Vitamin C which has been proven in many studies as a fantastic anti-oxidant and is an important ingredient for the synthesis of collagen to decrease wrinkles and improve skin elasticity. Some studies have shown that Vitamin C may also help prevent and treat ultraviolet (UV)-induced photo-damage. Also this Vitamin will help reduces melanin production and it also reduces oxidation of the melanin leading to reduce skin pigmentation.

Does consuming Vitamin C help the skin?

The body needs Vitamin C every day for the growth and repairs the tissues for your whole body. It is important in the production of skin, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. It is needed for healing wounds, repairing and maintaining bones and teeth. The problem is that the small amount digested everyday even with supplements the skin is one of the last organs to be given the vitamin thus not enough to really fight the signs of aging or keep the skin and collagen healthy. The best solution is to feed the skin by using a topical serum applied to the skin every morning.

Which source of Vitamin C is best for the skin?

There are so many Vit C and it’s derivatives on the market it is important to know which Vit C is best in your skin care products. The top type of vit C is Ascorbic Acid, this ingredient is the gold standard of all Vit C types but it is also the most unstable of all them.  Light, heat, cold and other ingredients can destroy its effectiveness very quickly. Unless it is Ascorbic Acid in a oil base serum or encapsulated or left in powder form it has a very limited shelf life less than a few months of being manufactured. There are several skincare companies that sell Ascorbic Acid in powder form (very stable) and all you have to do is mix it with your moisturizer when you want to use it. The problem with this method is that you could be not using the correct amount or it be at the correct pH to give you the benefits that you are wanting. In a water base serum (which most moisturizers are) you need a level of 10 to 20% at a very low 3.5pH, which can lead to skin irritation.

Where as encapsulated Ascorbic Acid or an oil base serum enable the Vit C to be at a high pH thus reducing skin irritation potential and extends effectiveness and the shelf life of the product by years. When either encapsulation or oil base serum is used Vitamin C can be delivered deeper into the skin and directly to the cells for faster improvement to the skin.

Derivatives of Ascorbic Acid – include Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Ascorbates, Ascorbyl Glucoside and Ethyl Ascorbic Acid. All much more stable and offering a longer shelf life and extend and less irritating to the skin in water base serums but they need to go through a conversion to  become Ascorbic Acid to enable the benefits of Vitamin C to be delivered to the skin. They provide a good alternative but they do not deliver the results that Ascorbic Acid does. The best Derivative is Ascorbyl Glucoside as it has been proven to be absorbed and perfect to sensitive skin.

Extracts and Oils high in Vitamin C – There are many extracts and oils high in vitamins like Sea Buckthorn, Australia’s Kakadu Plum, Acerola, Mango and Guava and Rose Hip Oil.

Read: Sea Buckthorn Oil – natural answer to Bio Oil.

Purchase Your Vitamin C in the proper packaging

Due that light, heat, cold and other ingredients can destroy its effectiveness of the vit C it must be properly packaged to protect it. Opaque Airless containers will protect it from light and air. The second best packaging is Opaque pump containers or dark glass containers.

Read: The benefits of using airless containers

Read:  Zen de Jour packaging

How and When to use your Vitamin C serum to get the best results.

The best time to use Vit C is in the morning straight after cleansing & toning the skin. Don’t be in a rush to apply your moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup. It is important to allow your Vit C to have time to be absorbed into the skin so other ingredients can trigger oxidation and renders the Vitamin C inactive. I like to clean my teeth to give the Vit C ample time to work its miracles. After you have allowed time for absorption then apply your moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup (if required).

Read: How to cleanse your skin correctly

Read: Cleanser are for Cleaning and not for Feeding

Read: How to wear sunscreen under your Makeup

debra spence

Debra Spence is a Qualified Medical Aesthetician, Cosmetic Scientist, Lecture and Author. Owned of an Australian National Award Winning Medi Spa. Now is concerntrating on Education of Skin and Skincare plus provideing advance treatments to her private patients. Plus developing Zen Dejour a Result Based Cosmeceutical Skincare Range and Dermal Solution Private Lable Professional Skincare.

QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SKIN? Make an Appointment Today or send me an email to debra@debraspence.com

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All products, material and information provided within this Website are for educational and informational purposes only. No medical claims are implied in the information given and it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any illness or disease. Any reference to health benefits cannot be taken as a replacement for medical advice or prescription medication or seen as a diagnosis for a specific condition. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice or treatment of your medical professional. The information provided by in this website is believed to be accurate based on the best judgment of the author but the reader is responsible for consulting with your own medical professional / skin therapist. In no way is any of the content on this website to be construed as medical advice or instruction.