As the seasons change, now is the time to start thinking about repairing the skin damage you did whilst frolicking in the surf and sun or carving up the powder on the Alps (my little snow bunnies)! But where do you start? There are lots of options out there for you to get your skin back on track, but a great place to start is to include vitamin C into your daily skin care routine.
I am a huge fan of vitamin C, and whilst eating an orange each day (or even better, spinach, capsicum, tomatoes or blueberries) is going to be beneficial, vitamin C is extremely effective when applied topically. It’s one of relatively few skin care ingredients whose effectiveness in treating ageing skin is backed by lots of scientific research. It has been proven to encourage collagen production, improve uneven discoloration (pigmentation, sun spots) and help reduce UV damage.
But the benefit from vitamin C that I love the most is that it gives me back that (early) thirties glow that I miss so much!
Unfortunately, the practical use of vitamin C in skin care presents some difficulties due to its instability as an active ingredient. When exposed to air, L-ascorbic acid, the most common type of vitamin C used, undergoes oxidation and becomes ineffective. This isn’t a problem these days; just look for skin care products that clearly state that they contain a “stable” form (or derivative) of vitamin C like we use in Biodroga.
I personally think vitamin C is a great ingredient to be used in a very light serum at a concentration of 10-15% during the day under your moisturizer or sunscreen. That way it also acts as a powerful antioxidant against free radicals when you’re out and about. Can it be used every day? Absolutely yes!! Vitamin C is water-soluble, so we don’t store it and we need it daily.
However, like starting the gym, you might need to go gently at first. Skin can sometimes take some time to build up a tolerance to using vitamin C every day. So, at first try using it every second or third day.
I also try to support my skin’s repair functions by drinking this yummy super shake I make each morning. This delicious, wholefood shake has all the nutrients skin needs to keep healthy and happy.
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