When you feel you might be coming down with a cold, you’ve probably heard someone say drink lots of orange juice, eat more citrus fruits, or use a vitamin C supplement to help ward off or lessen the effects of the common cold. The reason behind these recommendations is that vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an important antioxidant and plays a role in maintaining the body’s immune system. Citrus fruits are not the only food sources high in vitamin C. Other food sources include other fruits such as berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries), kiwi, papaya, and vegetables (bell peppers, broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, spinach). While consuming vitamin C can support the body’s immune function through antioxidant activity, only a small fraction of it is available and active in the skin. This is why topical application of vitamin C is critical to maintain healthy skin. When used topically, vitamin C helps protect the skin from free radical damage generated by sun exposure and other environmental factors that lead to visible signs of skin aging. It can also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by restoring loss of elasticity and firmness lost with aging as well as brighten and help even skin tone.
Which forms of Vitamin C to look for
Ascorbic acid and L-ascorbic acid are proven forms of vitamin C that help provide antioxidant protection to skin. However, they are highly sensitive to pH, temperature, light and air which affects their antioxidant capacity. To be stable and effective in skin, they must be at a low pH (acidic) which can cause skin irritation and must be packaged and stored with attention to detail on exposure to light, air and extreme temperatures to maintain antioxidant capabilities. Other forms of topical vitamin C, such as sodium ascorbyl phosphate, THD ascorbate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, are inherently more stable as they are less sensitive to light, air and pH. These gentle yet efficacious forms are good choices for antioxidant protection, especially for someone with sensitive skin.
Enhancing the Power of Vitamin C
Vitamin C alone can provide remarkable antioxidant protection; however, incorporating additional antioxidants that work together with vitamin C can enhance its power and provide further free radical defense. Vitamin E and ferulic acid work synergistically with vitamin C to protect and enhance its performance along with adding further antioxidant protection. Many botanical extracts which are rich in polyphenols (beneficial compounds) also exhibit protection from free radicals generated by UV exposure and environmental toxins, such as pollution. In particular, pine bark extract has a strong free radical scavenging activity as it is rich in polyphenols, one of which being ferulic acid well known for its ability to protect vitamin C. Using well formulated, comprehensive products that blend additional supporting antioxidant ingredients alongside vitamin C can up your game in helping to prevent and reduce the visible signs of aging.
Products with Vitamin C
Brighten Antioxidant CE Plus Serum