Much
has been written about vitamin C and all its health benefits, but I would like
to concentrate a bit more on what it can do for your skin.
The application of topical vitamin
C has been proven to increase collagen production (collagen is what give your
skin it elasticity and suppleness), reduce the appearance of pigmentation (skin
discolouration), helps the body’s repair processes, reduce inflammation and
help the skin to heal quicker. It has also been shown to assist the skin in
withstanding the onslaught of UVA and UVB rays.
Vitamin C is a powerful
anti-oxidant that slows down the effects of free radicals in our skin and
body. Free radicals are unstable molecules
that “bump” into healthy cells and cause skin damage like dryness, fine lines
and wrinkles.
Vitamin C also reverse age-related damage to skin and a
recent study has shown that ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, a derivative of vitamin
C also reverses DNA damage (University of Leicester)
Research done
at the University of Maryland’s Medical Centre, (University of Maryland Medical Center, Bouchez), has shown that vitamin C may also contribute by reducing skin cell deterioration (sunburn damage) due to overexposure to UVB rays.
The study also suggests that it may prevent the effects of long-term sun
damage. Vitamin C assists with combating the production of melanin, the process
in which your body manufactures darker skin colour due to UVB exposure.
Please do
not take this as a go-ahead to not use proper SPF protection when outside, but
if you use vitamin C both orally and topically, it will help to heal and repair
the skin much more effectively.
The problem
with vitamin C in beauty formulations is the fact that it is very unstable and
can lose its efficacy if it is exposed to heat, oxidation or come in contact
with metal ions that are in many cosmetic products, therefor making it very
difficult to use.
Breakthrough ingredient
However, a
Japanese company have overcome this problem by manufacturing a stabilised
vitamin C derivative called L-ascorbic Acid 2-Glucocide, and is sold under the
trade name AA2G. This breakthrough ingredient is very new on the market and
does not degrade.
The company
produces AA2G by combining a vitamin C molecule with 2 starch molecules
(glucoside). The glucoside part act as a carrier and a stabiliser for the
vitamin C. When AA2G comes into contact with the skin cell membranes, an enzyme
on the surface of the cell membrane (glucosidase) dissolves the bond between
the vitamin C and the starch, allowing the pure vitamin C to enter the cell
therefor retaining all the biologic activity that helps the skin to become
brighter, lighter and reduce early signs of ageing.
Now, for the
first time, pure vitamin C can be delivered directly to the deeper layers of
the skin for maximum benefit.
Vitaderm Radian-C Serum contains this breakthrough ingredient and is one of my new best
friends as far as beauty formulations go. In addition to AA2G, it also contains
botanical extracts of passion flower, bear berry, liquorice root and orange
blossom, thereby enhancing the effects of the ascorbic acid.
The Radian-C
Serum is suitable for all skin types.
Please have
a look at my website www.agbeautysalon.co.za for info about the Vitaderm Radian-C
Serum
