Are you doing it again? Are you staring into your fancy magnifying mirror hunting for new fine lines and imperfections like a kid at an Easter egg hunt? Why focus on the problem when you could be focusing on the solution? There’s no prize at the end of this hunt.
Instead of playing that same old game, let’s talk about what you can do to repair those fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots and uneven skin tones.
Let's start by asking an important question. What, if anything, are you doing to protect your skin from things like the sun, pollutants, and toxins in the air? What are you doing to hydrate your skin and reduce the visible damage that has already been done?
If you don’t have an answer then it’s a good thing you have stumbled across this article because it’s all about hydrating, repairing, protecting and boosting the production of the fundamental structural building blocks of your skin. And, the two best things you can use to accomplish these mighty tasks are Vitamin C and a little something called Hyaluronic Acid.
Vitamin C can do so much more than just fight off the common cold. It is a super player in the skin care industry and can produce major benefits for your complexion. And, when you combine those benefits with the powerful anti-aging properties that exist in a Hyaluronic acid, you truly have a game changer when it comes to the health and look of your skin.
Let's break the two down to see what they can really do for you and that face of yours.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerhouse vitamin that can nourish and protect your skin in so many more ways than we ever thought possible. It not only can lighten and brighten dark spots and uneven skin tone caused by external aggressors like the sun and environmental stressors, but it can acts as a barrier when applied to your skin in a serum or moisturizer, and protect your skin in addition to nourishing it.
It is like a skin vigilante standing guard, waiting and watching for intruders. It’s pretty exciting stuff if you can’t already tell. And, because it is very, very acidic, it actually has benefits directly related to better skin health!
Speaking of acidity, there are some things to know when it comes to picking a product that contains Vitamin C. First, Vitamin C is also known as Ascorbic Acid, and when used in skin care products it usually comes in two forms: L-Ascorbic Acid or Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate.
L-Ascorbic Acid, or “pure” vitamin C is the actual compound found in citrus fruits and other foods containing Vitamin C. It is a highly used ingredient in topical skin care products and usually has a concentration level of about 5 to 15%. It is pretty strong and can definitely irritate dry or sensitive skin, so you need to exercise caution when or before you use a product with this ingredient. It is a good choice for women (especially over 30) experiencing or trying to prevent sagging or drooping skin.
Collagen is made up of a collection of proteins and is responsible for giving your skin structure and keeping skin looking youthful and firm. As we age, we unfortunately begin to stop making as much of those collagen proteins as we did in our youth when of course we took it for granted, resulting in sagging, wrinkly skin. That’s why it's so important to use products with ingredients like Vitamin C that can help rejuvenate skin.
L-ascorbic acid also provides photoprotection, which in layman terms, just means it helps protect your skin from the sun and other stressors in your surrounding environment.
That being said, skin care products containing L-ascorbic acid are, in many cases, too strong for people with sensitive skin and can produce undesired effects like dryness, redness and peeling. It is also very high maintenance in regards to how it is packaged and how you have to care for and store the product. It almost always must come in an opaque bottle, or have an air resistant pump, to prevent it from oxidizing when exposed to air, heat and light. It is also recommended to be stored in a temperature controlled area like the refrigerator and not a sometimes steamy bathroom.
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, is simply stated, the friendlier form of Vitamin C. It is gentler and works well for people with all skin types, even dry and sensitive skin. It is a bioactive form of Vitamin C and can produce lasting results when incorporated into your daily skincare routine. Along with less chances of irritation, it also lessens the appearance of hyperpigmentation and brightens the skin.
But, the main difference between the two, is that this form is stable and resistant to oxidation caused by exposure to light, heat and air. It isn’t as strong, so it may take longer to see results. But, it’s important to know that it is still very active and can still irritate highly sensitive skin.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronan, is a sugar that is made organically in our bodies and is most prevalent in the skin. It is also stored in your connective tissues and your eyes. It’s mission is to retain water and moisturize, hydrate, and plump up the skin. As we mature, our bodies start to see a decline in the amount of HA produced naturally and that’s when the fine lines, wrinkles, and sullen, sunken skin starts to become noticeable.
Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, or a moisturizing agent, and aids in nourishing dry skin. Humectants have the ability to increase other active ingredients' ability to deeply penetrate your skin, which is super important and helps the product retain moisture.
So, with that being said, now you know what these two great skin care defense products can do for your skin, and the benefits you will get when you use them in combination with each other.
They will both work not only individually, but they will also act to enhance the benefits of one another. Your skin will look brighter, clearer, plumper and hydrated, ultimately resulting in a more youthful appearance. These are two products that when used together, are a powerful anti aging duo when it comes to revitalizing and rejuvenating your complexion.
How to Use Them Together
The easiest and best way to add these products to your skin care regime is by opting for serums. Vitamin C is in many products, so you don’t have to use just one product containing the antioxidant, but serums are great because they really absorb into your skin and produce results relatively quickly. A vitamin C serum usually is combined with other antioxidants, so you get multiple benefits by just adding one product. Vitamin C works well when combined with things like Ferulic Acid, Vitamin E and also Green Tea, which is why we include these ingredients in our own Vitamin C Serum.
You can use two separate serums, or you can use one serum that combines the ingredients in one concoction. If using two serums you want to make sure and layer the products correctly.
A typical routine would consist of cleansing your face with your favorite cleanser, applying a toner, then after skin is dry, you would apply the Vitamin C serum. After waiting for it to absorb and dry on the skin, you would then follow it up by applying your Hyaluronic Acid serum (both of which you can get here!). It is best to make this a part of your morning routine, so your skin is protected before you leave your house. The last steps are of course to moisturize and apply an SPF before your makeup.
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It is never too late to start protecting and healing your skin. It does not matter what decade of life you are in, or how late you are to the skin care game. These products are powerful and will drastically reduce the visible effects of damaged skin. It’s easy and affordable and so worth the way it will make you feel when you start to see the results!
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3673383/
https://www.wellandgood.com/hyaluronic-acid-molecular-weights/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hyaluronic-acid-benefits