Vitamin C to the Rescue!
So many skin care products are available on the market at every price, and everyone wants to know what really works. No one wants to waste hard-earned dollars on products that just don't deliver.
SO, this month I want to return to a basic that has been around for quite a while: Vitamin C. Vitamin C does some amazing things for your skin. Taken internally, this powerhouse anti-oxidant helps in cellular repair throughout your body, and it helps to build collagen.
What is Collagen? Collagen is a substance in your skin that is abundant in youth and helps to give that plush, youthful appearance. Babies have tons of it. As we age and various toxins go into our bodies — smoke, sugar, chemicals, medications, etc. — we have less anti-oxidant power to build collagen in our skin. It is a known fact that a smoker's skin ages more rapidly than a non-smoker. I can almost always spot a smoker from looking at the skin. Other factors, such as sun tanning, also use up our anti-oxidants and cause the breakdown of collagen and elastin.
What is Elastin? Elastin is the substance that gives our skin the ability to snap back after making a facial expression. When a child laughs, cries, or smiles his or her skin immediately returns to being smooth as soon as he or she stops. There are no crow's feet or marionette lines. Over time elastin also becomes depleted in adults.
What is the best Vitamin C? Taking a good Vitamin C supplement in the form of Ester C is very helpful in maintaining healthy and resilient skin. Ester C is less irritating to the stomach for us sensitive types and is more bio-available. Vitamin C is water soluble, so you can't take too much. If you do take more than you need, your body will develop a loose stool. At that point, just cut down on the dose a bit. Also, Vitamin C has a fairly short time that it can work after it is taken, so taking smaller amounts several times a day might be more beneficial than a single larger dose.
Can Vitamin C help topically? First there are a couple of things to know. Vitamin C is water soluble and the skin is water resistant. Vitamin C in its natural form of ascorbic acid won't penetrate the skin well at all. However, Vitamin C Ester (not to be confused with Ester C) is fat soluble and does penetrate the skin. So using a cream that contains Vitamin C Ester helps to combat the damage imposed by those free radicals in our skin. Using a good topical Vitamin C Ester can even help to heal sunburn more quickly. Vitamin C Ester cream is not only anti-oxidant but also anti-inflammatory and can be beneficial when used post-treatment.
Where can I find a Vitamin C Ester cream? Arkansas Anti-Aging carries Face Firming Complex from our Skincare Intensives line which contains Vitamin C Ester in addition to other important, skin-helpful anti-oxidants like alpha lipoic acid and co-enzyme Q-10 along with DMAE. This combination helps to retain moisture in the skin, brighten and firm the face and neck area. It is paraben-free, great for sensitive skin and will not clog pores. Stop by Arkansas Anti-Aging and pick up your bottle of Face Firming Complex today.