Majority of the skincare industry preaches about the importance of having a vitamin C serum in your skincare routine, and the market is saturated with single ingredient Vitamin C serums. However, it's essential to first understand the claims of Vitamin C and then make an informed decision on what kind of Vitamin C formula is right for you.
Vitamin C is majorly known for
- Being a powerful antioxidant
- Boosting collagen production
- Brightening the skin
How effective is vitamin C for each of these claims?
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Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant
While this is true, it’s essential to note that free radicals can damage the skin through multiple pathways. A cocktail of antioxidants helps target these various pathways simultaneously, providing a more comprehensive protection. Moreover, each antioxidant offers unique benefits, which could be beyond just neutralising free radicals, for example, brightening or soothing inflamed skin.
Antioxidants work better in groups rather than in isolation. This means that the combined effect of antioxidants is greater than their individual effects.
So while Vitamin C is in fact a great antioxidant, it will not give best results when used alone. It works better when combined with other antioxidants. Think of it like a fantastic band member, and not a lead singer! So when choosing a Vitamin C serum for antioxidant protection look for serums that combine at least 3-4 antioxidants together in the formula to give you the most well rounded protection from free radicals.
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It boosts collagen production
This as a benefit cannot be generalised for all over-the-counter Vitamin C serums. Collagen production occurs at the middle layer of the skin, also known as the dermis. Most topical products can only penetrate the epidermis (the topmost layer of the skin), and only some highly concentrated L-ascorbic acid serums, that are formulated with very good delivery mechanisms can reach the dermis to boost collagen production. These serums need to be formulated with special technology mechanisms like liposomal technology to ensure collagen stimulation.
If you truly want to increase collagen production, oral intake would be the fastest and most effective approach.
But if looking for a Vitamin C serum specifically to target collagen production then pay special attention to the technology used in formulating the product, and the delivery mechanisms employed in the formula for enhanced penetration into the skin.
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It brightens the skin
Skin pigmentation occurs in various stages, and targeting each phase is crucial for effectively brightening the skin. While Vitamin C serum is beneficial for skin brightening by inhibiting the enzyme tyrosine and reducing melanin formation, it may not be sufficient on its own. A blend of active ingredients can deliver better results. For example, Niacinamide prevents the transfer of melanin to skin cells (keratinocytes), and Hexapeptide-2 not only reduces melanin production but also its transfer to keratinocytes.
Using a cocktail of brightening ingredients yields superior results compared to single concentrated serums.
So if you’re looking to pick a Vitamin C serum for brightening results make sure the formula has at least 3-4 brightening ingredients combined that will work in a multi-pathway to reduce skin pigmentation and give you better brightening results.
The takeaway
While Vitamin C is an excellent ingredient for the above benefits, unless formulated with advanced technology a lot of these great benefits will not yield the same results. So instead of looking for single ingredient Vitamin C serums, look for multi-active serums that contain Vitamin C, but also other actives that work together to give you all the amazing benefits of Vitamin C.
What can I use?
hustle, a lightweight multi-active serum is formulated with over 11+ actives that combines all your essentials into one compact bottle. It contains 3 derivatives of Vitamin C along with a bunch of other superheroes. This ensures you don’t have to play chemist at home as all the research has been done for you, providing your skin with a comprehensive 360° treatment.