Topical Vitamin C..Good for my skin?
Happy New Year to my Readers...and especially my clients who have been in to have services and to have this same discussion about the importance of Vitamin C. I am very lucky to work with professionals who understand the whole "wound healing cascade". Sounds like a HUGE thing, right? Especially if you have never studied skin or anatomy and never understood how skin heals and more importantly how Vitamin C plays a HUGE role in the production of Collagen in the skin. One of my greatest mentors is a senior aestehtician by the name of Kris Groop. She is the owner of Esthetics Advisor Academy in Scottsdale. Her school teaches/qualifies laser technicians for State Certification as well as educates on MicroNeedling. Kris and her husband, Dr. Larry Groop, are even more responsible for my love of Vitamin C and I dedicate this blog to them!
Topical Vitamin C...the Characteristics of a Good Product
I've learned through trial and error that in order to be effective, topical Vitamin C must be to a pH of 2 to 2.5. Those with sensitive or sensitized skin may have issue with Vitamin C because of their compromised skin. At this pH level Vitamin C is acidic!
There are different forms of Vitamin C as well. Some are more effective, and A LOT more expensive than others. Lastly, the product must have a certain concentration of Vitamin C, and this, too, adds to the cost of a product. When you as a consumer are shopping for a Vitamin C product to add to your skincare regime, I ask you to take these three (3) parameters into consideration. It's no secret that the formulation of a topical vitamin C is expensive—and this is why you should be wary of cheap Vitamin C products especially when shopping online or choosing a MLM company who vends a Vitamin C line. Cheap versions of Topical Vitamin C show up in health food stores too. Ive learned that after many reports from my clients.
C as an Antioxidant
There are scores of antioxidant skincare products on the market, but none more important for the the fight against free-radicals then Vitamin C. Some of the most popular antioxidant ingredients that I tout and talk about in my treatment room include Green-tea, Vitamin E, Resveratrol & Coffeeberry.
Topical vitamin C has been proven to have far-reaching benefits for the skin. Some of those Benefits include:
Stimulating Collagen production
Improving Discoloration
Effectively neutralizing the free radicals that can cause premature aging
Effectively neutralizing the free radicals that can cause skin cancer)
I recommend topical vitamin C for all of my clients. But, it’s important to know why your skincare professional is recommending it and at what time of day (or night) to use it.
C as a repair agent for Photo-damage
Living in the heat and sun of the Southwest or countries like Australia, many people are subjected to what is known as "Photo-Damage". Photo-damage is the overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollutants that accelerate skin aging by degrading collagen and triggering oxidative stress in the skin.
More recently, the discussion of flourescent lighting has come into play where photo-damage is concerened. Recent discussion regarding lighting in the workplace and schools has questioned the validity of statistic aimed at those who sit under this type of lighting in office spaces, schools and palces such as department stores. So it is more then "possible" we could be subjected to and receiving photo-damage, photo-aging and UV exposure.
In addition to its antioxidant functions, Vitamin C regulates the production of the skin's structural protein commonly known to consumers as "collagen".
When is a Good Time to Use a Vitamin C Product?
Vitamin C products are best used in the morning after cleansing...before your moisturizer application and Zinc based sunscreen. Since the skin isn’t exposed to as many free radicals at night, there’s no need to include Vitamin C in your evening skincare regimen. And to be honest, since these products can sometimes be expensive, using only in the morning will allow your supply to last longer!
What I use in Treatment
When working with clients, I use my own Skin Coach line which is available in my studio. Moreso, the choices and somewhat more popular products from The Skin Coach line that current clients use are, Lactic and Green Cleanser, Vitamin C Serum and Toner as well as the Vitamin C Day Cream with 30SPF Zinc. Many clients have asked me if travel sizes were available, I will begin carrying those in July. The costs is $44.00 for a complete set with travel sized bag. In the End...
After 10 years in the skin industry, I have seen enough frustration from clients in their skin. I believe that when you want "great looking skin" there are Priorities that should be made to accomplish "great looking skin". The more that clients/consumers begin to take an investment in themselves and their skin, the more they will realize how affordable it actually is. If you still feel that skincare and buying better products is much more expensive I would invite you to take into account the days that you have spent saying to yourself "Id love to have better skin". Also, how much have you spent in Over the Counter solutions that offer a temporary fix? There is also the vicious cycle of spending time at doctors offices, having to take days off of work for those appointments, not be able to wear makeup over medications, spending more money for prescriptions that amount to nothing more then bandaids to issues that return over and over again...Sound Familiar? Invest in yourself 2016! You will surprised how much LESS your investment really is!
Visit my Specials page for the ongoing 2016 Bootcamp Special on Investing in Yourself! Again Happy New Year to you all!
^j^
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