Why You Need Vitamin C in Your Routine

Prickly pear, Argan oil, snake venom - beauty industry goes crazy for one It ingredient each season. It might be fun to try out these new trends. But at the end of the day we want ingredients that are proven to work. Vitamin C is one such ingredient. There are many amazing benefits that come with the regular use of vitamin C in your skincare routine. It will help fade sun damage, even out skin tone, improve collagen production, protect your skin from free radicals and limit the damage created by sun exposure. That is the beauty of this antioxidant - it tackles both existing damage and prevents new one. How can you not love such a powerful ingredient? L-ascorbic acid is a water-soluble form of vitamin C and its benefits are backed with tons of research. A well formulated L-ascorbic acid product can do wonders for your skin. The key word here is well formulated. L-ascorbic acid is notoriously unstable. When exposed to light and air it will break down. If you ever used a poorly formulated vitamin C serum, you will know what we are talking about. For the benefit of our readers who don't have such experience - most notably the serum will change colour and turn from a pale-ish yellow to dark brown (due to oxidisation).

What to look for when you shop for a vitamin C serum?

Pay attention to the packaging. Airless pump containers are the best. If the product is stored in a glass dropper bottle, the glass should be opaque or dark. Avoid jars if at all possible. Why, you might ask? Each time you open the jar you keep exposing the contents to both light and air which makes the product lose its efficacy. As for the ingredients - if you do decide on a L-ascorbic acid serum look for ingredients such as vitamin E and Ferulic Acid since they extend the life and the effectiveness of the serum. Other more stable (and equally effective) forms of vitamin C include Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and last, but not least, Sodium Ascorbyl Phostphate (a stabilised C ester). In terms of concentration a higher concentration of vitamin C in products will give you noticeable results fairly quickly. Our Clarity-C serum uses 18% of vitamin C in the form of Sodium Ascorbyl Phostphate (in a hydrating base of organic Aloe Vera and Jojoba oil). If you are new to vitamin C and are looking for something less potent yet still effective our Clarity-C lotion is formulated with 15% stabilised vitamin C, organic Aloe Vera, Jojoba oil and Shea butter. For brighter and balanced skin you might want to try Clarity-C Foaming wash (with 15% stabilised vitamin C and 72% organically sourced ingredients). All of our vitamin C products are suitable for all skin types. That said - you can still reap benefits with a lower percentage vitamin C product. Our EFA Intense Night Repair serum is an anti-aging and antioxidant powerhouse. It is formulated with 5% Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate together with Rosehip, Marula and Argan oils as well as Teprenone (also known as Renovage) which is known for its cellular boosting properties.Have you ever used a vitamin C product? How long did it take you to see the results? Any tips and tricks you learned along the way?