To
beat free radicals with vitamin C serum, you need to find the serum most
suitable to your skin type.
We all know that there are countless benefits to using vitamin C. And chief among these are managing hyperpigmentation issues (including acne scars) and evening out skin tone.
But importantly, as an antioxidant, vitamin C helps to neutralise free radicals in the atmosphere. These unstable atoms form as a result of exposure to environmental stressors such as UV rays and pollution. As time marches on, free radicals can cause oxidative stress, thus harming the skin and causing premature skin ageing.
Concentration
Firstly, the concentration is important. Because vitamin C products may be a skin irritant at higher concentrations, first-time users should ease into the programme by starting with a 5% concentration.
Gradually step up the concentration to 10% and then 15%. However, those with non-sensitive skins may even go all the way up to a 20% concentration. But after 20%, the effects you’ll get from vitamin C products pretty much plateau.
Dry
or sensitive skin types should stick to lower concentrations. But oily skin
types, or those who deal with extensive pigmentation issues, may be able to handle
higher serum intensities to improve tone and texture.
Check the ingredients
People with oily skin should choose a serum containing sodium ascorbyl phosphate – a light, water-based product. But if you have a mature and dry skin, the lipid-soluble ascorbyl palmitate, is by far the better ingredient option.
Also, being sensitive to both oxygen and light, Vitamin C is very unstable. So do check the packaging. Products in light-blocking opaque or dark packaging are best. But an airless pump is even better, because it’ll prevent exposing the serum to oxygen.
Application
The golden rule is to apply vitamin C in the morning directly after cleansing your skin but before moisturising it. Also please note, if you use retinol or benzoyl peroxide regularly, steer clear of using a vitamin C serum at the same time. Rather use benzoyl peroxide and retinol at night, or on different days of the week for the best results.
The take-out is: you too can beat free radicals with vitamin C serum.
