If you’ve had a skincare regimen for a while, you probably have a vitamin C serum in your arsenal. As far as antioxidants are concerned, vitamin C is a powerhouse. Unfortunately, it’s also notoriously unstable, and when exposed to air and light, it loses its superpowers quickly. These factors play into pricing and need to be taken seriously before you spend your hard-earned money on a 1-ounce bottle.
Vitamin C has made a few equally potent friends recently—namely vitamin E and ferulic acid. These serum trios are hot commodities, but finding one for less than $150 is a real challenge. Now, here’s the good news! Reflect Skin now offers its very own CEF Serum, and it costs less than you’re probably paying for a single antioxidant serum.
Read on to meet these skincare superheroes.
#1 Vitamin C
While everyone ages differently, it’s widely accepted that once you enter your 20s, your body’s natural collagen production process begins to slow down—to the tune of 1 percent every year. That may not sound like a lot initially, but the cumulative total grows 10 percent per decade. So, math aside, by the time you hit 40, your collagen production will have dropped by 20 percent (and it will keep declining). Enter vitamin C. As an antioxidant, it fights off sun damage and prevents your skin from producing excess melanin (aka pigment in the form of freckles and sun spots). It also acts as fuel for the collagen machine and helps your skin remain plump, elastic, and firm.
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder that cleansers and moisturizers tout claims on their packaging regarding the inclusion of vitamin C. But before you grab that bargain priced cream, consider that vitamin C can’t work if the pH level isn’t just right (3.5 to be exact). To complicate the process even further, your skin’s pH has to be optimal for the serum to work as well. That super foamy cleanser may remove makeup like a dream, but if it skews your skin’s pH too far outside the normal range, there won’t be any collagen-related magic happening.
#2 Vitamin E
Vitamin E has been used in skincare for decades and is often a staple in many households. Advocates claim it can minimize the appearance of scars and potentially prevent stretch marks and even cancer. Unfortunately, research findings don’t support these claims, but vitamin E is still a wonderful ingredient when included in skincare. Tocopherol, vitamin E’s scientific name, has antioxidant properties, moisturizes skin, and softens the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When combined with vitamin C, it also staves off sun damage. On the downside, it tends to be finicky about being in the company of air or light, so creating a stable formulation can be a challenge. Sound familiar?
#3 Ferulic Acid
Ferulic acid occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables, such as oranges, carrots, tomatoes, and sweet corn. When incorporated into skincare products, ferulic acid looks for free radicals and donates an electron to each one it finds, which essentially stops them from attacking your skin. In addition to preventing oxidative stress, it also calms inflammation, which is often caused by pollution, UV light, and stress. In short, ferulic acid spends most of its time fighting the elements that cause skin aging. One study revealed that ferulic acid protected the skin cells themselves from “air and the impinging UV radiation.” Since air pollution is an omnipresent threat, even in small rural towns, adding ferulic acid to your skincare routine acts as insurance against premature aging.
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Used individually, each antioxidant has its merits, but when combined they’re a skincare triple threat to be reckoned with. Stay tuned for part two. We’ll explain how these ingredients work together and what you can expect to achieve by adding this all-in-one to your routine. In the meantime, let us know if you need help selecting a protective serum for your skin. We’re always happy to answer questions, especially when we can help you pursue your skincare goals.
To great skin,
Team Reflect
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