Why Everyone Should Be Using Vitamin C

Vitamin C: The Miracle Ingredient?

If there is one ingredient that absolutely everyone, regardless of skin type, color, gender, age, etc. should include in their skincare routine it is Vitamin C.

Vitamin C is a direct co-factor in collagen synthesis, making it one of the best age management ingredients. It helps our skin maintain its structure and elasticity as we age, and also helps brighten the skin and even out skin tone due to its tyrosinase-inhibiting abilities. *Tyrosinase is the enzyme responsible for increasing melanin/ pigment in the skin following a wound and/or sun exposure.

And best of all, a well-formulated Vitamin C product does not have the negative side effects associated with retinol products, ie. drying and sensitization.

Because Vitamin C is such a potent antioxidant, I like to think of it as an insurance policy against sunscreen. Its free-radical-scavenging capabilities make it an excellent line of defense against UV exposure & environmental pollutants.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, Vitamin C is pregnancy safe! So you can keep up with your skincare regimen while growing tiny humans. Double win!

The reason incorporating a topical Vitamin C serum into our skincare regimen is so important is because almost none of us are getting enough Vitamin C in our diets. Vitamin C has a laundry list of important tasks which our bodies consider to be more important than smooth, glowing skin, so it rarely makes it all the way to our skin’s cells. So if we want the skin benefits of this ingredient, we need to apply it directly to the intended source. It’s also a great idea to supplement with a liposomal Vitamin C for that healthy *glow* from within.

Formulation Matters!

Here's the catch. Vitamin C is a notoriously unstable ingredient, and therefore truly well-formulated products are few & far between. My favorite form of Vitamin C is tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (shortened to THD Ascorbate). This is actually a Vitamin C derivative that is oil-soluble (which penetrates much better than water-soluble products), where it is easily converted to Vitamin C (aka ascorbic acid). This form is not irritating or sensitizing, as pure ascorbic acid is for many people, and thus is appropriate for all skin types.

Vitamin C is best applied in the morning, after cleansing & toning, and before applying moisturizer/ SPF. Look for a Vitamin C serum that is 15-20% Vitamin C, preferably in the form of THD Ascorbate.

My personal favorite is the Tizo Vitamin C+E+Ferulic which contains 18% THD Ascorbate alongside Bakuchiol, a pregnancy safe plant-derived ingredient shown to improve signs of aging (including fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and photodamage), Vitamin E, and Ferulic Acid (two other important antioxidants which work synergistically with Vitamin C).