KEY INGREDIENTS | Vitamin C

Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid) is one of the most researched ingredients in the skincare world. Also, one of the most searched ingredients on Beyonce’s’ internet, especially during lockdown when everyone was doing the most with their skin.

So, what is it?

It’s a valuable antioxidant that is able to neutralise free radicals (e.g. environmental pollutants, UV damage) that damage our skin cells and lead to premature ageing. It helps the skin to regenerate and stay healthy.

Other reasons you should include a Vitamin C in your skincare:

• speeds up the production of collagen, which is the internal scaffolding in our skin that keeps it plump and firm.

• helps to fade excess pigmentation by inhibiting the over production of melanin pigments.

• brightens the overall skin tone and boosts the all important radiance and glow.

How to use it?

Always in the form of a serum, so that it is able to penetrate the skin more effectively. Typically, I prefer my Vitamin C included within an overall pigmentation serum, but I always break this rule in the winter months and include a separate stand alone Vitamin C to keep my skin popping. Vitamin C is applied before moisturiser and sunscreen in your routine.

Do you need to use pure Vitamin C?

In some circles, the preference is for pure Vitamin C (L-Ascorbic Acid), at concentrations of maximum 20%. I disagree, I think this can often be too harsh for most people, especially those with sensitive skin. For me a derivative Vitamin C will always be more pleasant -you’re looking for tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and methylsilanol ascorbate in the ingredients list.