Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is considered to be one of the best skincare ingredients in the anti-aging arena. It is an antioxidant-rich power player that works well with all skin types - brightening and tightening and improving skin texture.
One of the most impressive benefits of vitamin C is its ability to prevent and treat UV-induced photodamage. To avoid any confusion, vitamin C is NOT a sunscreen as it isn't able to absorb light in the UVA or UVB spectrum, so please don't use it as one! However due to its powerful antioxidant activity, vitamin C is able to protect against UV-induced damage caused by free radicals.
Its ability to agelessly combat photo damage make vitamin C an amazing ingredient for those looking to correct pigmentation. If you have acne scarring or age spots, vitamin C is the skincare ingredient you need to be looking out for. Vitamin C has also been found to increase collagen production, helping not only repair damaged skin but also reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkle formation.
When it comes to choosing the right vitamin C product, you need to consider percentages. The more vitamin C a skincare product contains, the stronger its ability to make good on the above promises. For those looking to really brighten the skin, you need to reach for a product with around 10-15% vitamin C. However if you really want to treat hyper-pigmentation (age spots in particular), you need a product with 20% vitamin C or higher.
It's also important to point out that products containing low levels of vitamin C (below 10%) are great for daily use and are best applied during the day. However, if you're using a product containing over 10% vitamin C, you're best using it at night and applying a good SPF the following day.
If you're on the hunt for products containing a lower level of vitamin C, I recommend the Bliss Cleansing Foam, Image Vital C or Sensai Day Cream. The Bliss Triple Oxygen Energizing Cleansing Foam is a gentle liquid-to-foam cleanser that removes all makeup without leaving the skin tight or uncomfortable. Formulated with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, this cleansing foam is also able to leave skin bright and hydrated.
The Image Vital C Hydrating ACE Serum is a hydrating serum that contains a 20% blend of vitamin A, C and E. It feels lightweight on the skin and absorbs in a matter of seconds leaving a tacky residue for all of 20 seconds. It has a refreshing citrus scent that disappears once the product is fully absorbed. It leaves skin feeling refreshed and instantly hydrated and, after weeks of use, brighter and tighter!
As for the Sensai Day Cream, this lightweight day cream contains green tea extract, which is high in vitamin C, to protect skin from external aggressors by reducing oxidation in cells by 60% (tested on human skin cells). It treats dryness, loss of firmness, a dull complexion and fine lines and wrinkles. It has the most beautiful creamy texture and features a SPF25, making it a go-to day cream for those concerned with aging skin.
For those skincare products containing higher levels of vitamin C, I would recommend the Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster, La Roche-Posay Redermic C10 or Ren Flash Rinse Facial. The Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster is just what you would imagine it to be, a vitamin C booster that you add to any face cream to give it the midas touch. The daily booster comes in packaging that isolates the vitamin C until activation, ensuring it remains as fresh and powerful as possible when it reaches the skin.
If you want something a little more traditional, the La Roche-Posay Redermic C10 is an anti-ageing vitamin C treatment that is great for those with sensitive skin. It's formulated with 10% pure and soluble vitamin C, helping diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots over time. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, this lightweight moisturiser also offers great hydration, keeping skin plump and youthful.
Finally the Ren Flash Rinse Facial is a potent cleanser-mask hybrid that is designed to sit on the skin (after cleansing) for just one minute before being removed. It has an oily and gritty texture that feels surprisingly gentle when massaged into the skin. That, coupled with its beautiful citrus scent, makes using this product a real dream. I experience no redness or stinging pre or post use, only healthy and radiant looking skin after it's removed!
If you have some serious pigmentation issues and want to invest in a real vitamin C powerhouse, I recommend the Zelens Power C Treatment Drops or the Dr Sebagh Pure Vitamin C Powder. The Zelens Power C Treatment Drops is a hydrating serum that contains an impressive 20% vitamin C. This premium serum only requires the tiniest amount of product per use and it absorbs quickly, instantly softening the skin...I'm talking baby soft. After a few weeks of using the Power C Treatment Drops, my pigmentation has improved, fine lines have been reduced and my skin is brighter!
Like the Zelens serum, the Dr Sebagh Pure Vitamin C Powder is one of the most potent vitamin C skincare products on the market. It comes divided up into five tiny test tubes and is applied either directly to the skin or mixed in with your favourite face cream. When I first received this product I was beyond dubious about applying the powder directly to my skin, however it does work...and very easily. The powder instantly absorbs into the skin without making any mess. This first-of-its-kind powder cream features a high concentration of a stabilised form of vitamin C - 20% to be exact - making it a go-to for gals who really want to tackle pigmentation. Again, like the Zelens serum, it is on the pricey side but it is well worth the investment.
If you're on the hunt for products containing a lower level of vitamin C, I recommend the Bliss Cleansing Foam, Image Vital C or Sensai Day Cream. The Bliss Triple Oxygen Energizing Cleansing Foam is a gentle liquid-to-foam cleanser that removes all makeup without leaving the skin tight or uncomfortable. Formulated with vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, this cleansing foam is also able to leave skin bright and hydrated.
The Image Vital C Hydrating ACE Serum is a hydrating serum that contains a 20% blend of vitamin A, C and E. It feels lightweight on the skin and absorbs in a matter of seconds leaving a tacky residue for all of 20 seconds. It has a refreshing citrus scent that disappears once the product is fully absorbed. It leaves skin feeling refreshed and instantly hydrated and, after weeks of use, brighter and tighter!
As for the Sensai Day Cream, this lightweight day cream contains green tea extract, which is high in vitamin C, to protect skin from external aggressors by reducing oxidation in cells by 60% (tested on human skin cells). It treats dryness, loss of firmness, a dull complexion and fine lines and wrinkles. It has the most beautiful creamy texture and features a SPF25, making it a go-to day cream for those concerned with aging skin.
For those skincare products containing higher levels of vitamin C, I would recommend the Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster, La Roche-Posay Redermic C10 or Ren Flash Rinse Facial. The Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster is just what you would imagine it to be, a vitamin C booster that you add to any face cream to give it the midas touch. The daily booster comes in packaging that isolates the vitamin C until activation, ensuring it remains as fresh and powerful as possible when it reaches the skin.
If you want something a little more traditional, the La Roche-Posay Redermic C10 is an anti-ageing vitamin C treatment that is great for those with sensitive skin. It's formulated with 10% pure and soluble vitamin C, helping diminish the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots over time. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, this lightweight moisturiser also offers great hydration, keeping skin plump and youthful.
Finally the Ren Flash Rinse Facial is a potent cleanser-mask hybrid that is designed to sit on the skin (after cleansing) for just one minute before being removed. It has an oily and gritty texture that feels surprisingly gentle when massaged into the skin. That, coupled with its beautiful citrus scent, makes using this product a real dream. I experience no redness or stinging pre or post use, only healthy and radiant looking skin after it's removed!
If you have some serious pigmentation issues and want to invest in a real vitamin C powerhouse, I recommend the Zelens Power C Treatment Drops or the Dr Sebagh Pure Vitamin C Powder. The Zelens Power C Treatment Drops is a hydrating serum that contains an impressive 20% vitamin C. This premium serum only requires the tiniest amount of product per use and it absorbs quickly, instantly softening the skin...I'm talking baby soft. After a few weeks of using the Power C Treatment Drops, my pigmentation has improved, fine lines have been reduced and my skin is brighter!
Like the Zelens serum, the Dr Sebagh Pure Vitamin C Powder is one of the most potent vitamin C skincare products on the market. It comes divided up into five tiny test tubes and is applied either directly to the skin or mixed in with your favourite face cream. When I first received this product I was beyond dubious about applying the powder directly to my skin, however it does work...and very easily. The powder instantly absorbs into the skin without making any mess. This first-of-its-kind powder cream features a high concentration of a stabilised form of vitamin C - 20% to be exact - making it a go-to for gals who really want to tackle pigmentation. Again, like the Zelens serum, it is on the pricey side but it is well worth the investment.