Here is Part II of our article on Vitamin C Serum and what you need to know about them:
Potency
So far, it sounds like vitamin C is a wonder drug, right? While it is definitely a substance that all humans need, potency is something to consider. In the skincare industry, a lot of products have ineffective levels of vitamin C in them. As a substance, vitamin C is notoriously unstable. It is affected by packaging, lighting, and can be destroyed when it hits air. Any store-bought skincare product can put a small amount of vitamin C and then advertise it having enough vitamin C to help correct skin ailments. Sound crazy? It’s true. The FDA requires companies to label what is in them, not how strong it is. An easy fix for this is to only purchase and use medical grade products with vitamin C. Medical grade isn’t just a marketing term, these products have been clinically tested and have been shown to produce tangible effects. If you’d like to do some research, here is a link for a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2010. According to Dr. Paul ,“look for a serum or light oil packaged in a dark colored or opaque container to keep it protected from light which will help maintain its stability.” As a good starting point, vitamin C serums with 10% or more are usually important as efficacy below that point hasn’t been proven. Quick tip: Try using Citrix CRS L-Ascorbic (vitamin C) Serum 15%, or our own CEF Serum.
How to use it
Like most other things, the amount of vitamin C you use is relevant. Take care not to overdo it, kind of like your first trip back to the gym in a year. “Vitamin C is usually well tolerated and non-irritating but start slowly as you introduce it to your skincare regimen,” says Dr. Paul. While using a medical grade line make sure to follow the instructions (on the back of the bottle) and ask your provider with questions. Most companies suggest no more than a “pea-sized” amount for your whole face (it’s easier than it sounds to cover your face). As Dr. Paul mentioned, it’s important to use this as part of a regimen. Simply using vitamin C serum alone isn’t going to cut it. It does a lot but vitamin C doesn’t do everything. Make sure to use the appropriate cleanser prior to usage followed by a moisturizing sunscreen during the day. After all, if you only use vitamin C and no sunscreen you are defeating the purpose. Sunscreen will help block out more sunrays; vitamin C is only effective at repairing sun damage. Should you need help building your own regimen please let us know because that’s what we are here for!
Moving forward
Vitamin C serums can do a lot. It can help with brown spots, be used for anti-aging, and as a powerful antioxidant. There is a lot of information covered here and I’m sure you will have some questions. We would love to be a resource for you so please feel free to reach out (support@reflectskin.com). We are here to help and educate. Thanks for reading!
To helping your skin,
Team Reflect
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