Topical Vitamin C - Does it work to improve your skin?

Cosmeceuticals containing antioxidants are among the most popular anti-aging remedies and Vitamin C is at the top of the list. The primary purpose of Vitamin C serums or creams is to work as a topical antioxidant, fighting the barrage of free radicals our skin receives every day. Applying Vitamin C to the skin helps to prevent inflammation and prevent cellular damage. Many experts recommend using Vitamin C serum on a daily basis since it helps prevent the damaged caused by the sun’s rays. A few drops of concentrated Vitamin C serum or cream should be applied to your skin daily BEFORE your moisturizer and sunscreen.

Topical Vitamin C also promotes an increase in collagen production and is believed to have the ability for reversing the aging process, by breaking through the skin’s surface to provide skin cells the essential energy for repair. Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is one of the few topical anti-oxidants whose efficiency against wrinkles and fine lines is support by a good amount of reliable scientific evidence.

The benefits of including a Vitamin C Serum in your daily skin system include:

· Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles
· Helps reverse the signs of aging
· Repairs and Protects your skin from Free Radicals
· Increases Skin Elasticity
· Helps Skin Clarity [acne and age spots]

An ideal vitamin C serum should be able to easily penetrate into skin and release L-ascorbic acid in amounts sufficient to boost collagen synthesis. In order for anti- aging benefits to be realized, it is vital that your Vitamin C serum contain at least a 10% L-ascorbic concentration with a pH level of less than 3. Doses lower than 10% will lose their effectiveness. Since Vitamin C is unstable, only buy Vitamin C packaged in opaque bottles. Exposure to sunlight will cause the product to oxidize and break down becoming ineffective. When Vitamin C serums are fresh, they are mostly clear in color. They turn yellowish when spoiled, so avoid buying serums that are tinted yellow or orange. You will not be able to tell if the product has oxidized. Spoiled serums also begin to smell odd.


To make topical Vitamin C products more stable, skin care companies have been working to find alternatives to straight L-ascorbic acid since it has a problem with being stable. The best Vitamin C variations found so far are ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.

Ascorbyl Palmitate

Being fat-soluble and much more stable, ascorbyl palmitate is the most widely used derivative of vitamin C in skin care. It is less irritating to the skin making it a better choice for sensitive skin. Ascorbyl palmitate fights free radicals and inflammation. The one drawback though appears to be that the strength of ascorbyl palmitate achievable in skin care products does not boost collagen production to the degree that plain L-ascorbic vitamin C. However, ascorbyl palmitate is at least as effective as vitamin E in protecting the skin from lipid peroxidation - a key type of free radical damage.


Magnesuim Ascorbyl Phosphate

Gaining popularity in skin care products, magnesuim ascorbyl phosphate is a water-soluble derivative of vitamin C. It is more stable than L-ascorbic vitamin C and less irritating because it is less acidic. Most importantly, magnesuim ascorbyl phosphate seems to have the same potential as L-ascorbic vitamin C in boosting skin collagen production and works at lower concentrations. Even though magnesuim ascorbyl phosphate is several times more stable than vitamin C, it still slowly breaks down when exposed to light and air. For this reason freshness and proper storage are still important.


Just like antioxidants taken orally, topical antioxidants work to repair damage as well as protect against future damage. Topical Vitamin C helps prevent the premature signs of aging and can give your skin the nourishment it needs to stay healthy and youthful. Vitamin C serums or creams have the power to renew the skin and many women include a Vitamin C product in their daily skin care system.

The best news is that skin care companies have come up with several Vitamin C products that work. They combine the best ingredients to give you a fighting chance in the war on aging.

Here are some of our picks for Topical Vitamin C skin care products.

GreatSkin Vitamin C Infusion Cream 30% (simple, stabilzed cream formula with high % of L-ascorbic)

GreatSkin Vitamin C + 25% Serum (a L- Ascorbic acid polypeptide complex - stable and penetrating)

Anthony Logistics for Men Vitamin C Facial Serum, Dry & Damaged Skin (Stabillized Vitamin C)

Dr. Varon's Vitamin C Concentrated Serum (10% Vitamin C with Hyaluronic Acid & Retinyl Palmitate. Not recommended for sensitive skin - very reasonably priced)

Murad Essential - C Daily Renewal Complex (pure vitamin c in a cream formula)

Cellex-C High Potency Serum, 30 mL(a light-weight, oil free vitamin C serum)

Janson Beckett Vitamin C&C Facial Serum .5 oz (combines magnesium ascorbyl phosphate and sodium ascorbate for a double dose of C)

Better-Skin-Care.com

What is Natural Skin Care?

Natural skin care is taking care of your skin from the outside by using homemade lotions, masks, and soaps or manufactured products with only natural ingredients - not products containing man-made chemicals. Natural skin care is also taking care of your skin by taking care of your whole body with a good diet, exercise and avoiding excess of things like alcohol and processed foods.

Natural skin care uses naturally-derived ingredients such as roots, herbs, essential oils and flowers combined with naturally occurring carrier agents, preservatives, humectants, surfactants and emulsifiers. The typical definition of natural skin care is based on using botanically sourced ingredients now existing in or formed by nature, without the use of synthetic chemicals. Natural skin care products are produced in such a way to preserve the integrity of the ingredients. People who use natural skin care products are less concerned with artificial beauty enhancements, as they feel that natural beauty is healthy beauty.

Natural skin care products include a wide array natural skin care ingredients that are normally extracted not only from florals but also from the other sources of nature such as the sea. Some examples of natural skin care ingredients include jojoba, vitamin e, safflower oil, sea salts, olive oil, grape seed extract, shea butter, beeswax, witch hazel, aloe vera, tea tree oil, and chamomile. Natural skin care ingredients contain the necessary nutrients, vitamins and fatty acids that will keep your skin looking soft.

Aloe vera is one of the most popular and effective natural skin care remedies nature has to offer, and is found in everything from skin care products to cosmetics. Aloe Vera is renowned for its healing and hydrating properties.

To view the rest of this article on natural skin care, go to Better-Skin-Care.com

Keratosis pilaris – What can you do to treat it?

Keratosis pilaris may be a harmless skin problem but it affects an estimated 40% or more of the adult population. Keratosis pilaris is a genetic follicular disorder characterized by small rough bumps on the skin. It usually occurs on the back and outer sides of the upper arms; although, Keratosis pilaris can also appear on the thighs, buttocks or flanks.

Also called “chicken skin”, Keratosis pilaris occurs when a hair follicle becomes plugged with excess keratin, which is a natural protein in the skin. These plugged follicles result in small red bumps and/or rough patches sometimes becoming inflamed and irritated in the more severe cases. KP is not acne even though it looks very similar. Acne is a result of sebum (oil) blocking the pores not keratin. Keratosis pilaris is also different from acne in that is can be worse in people with drier skin or in a colder, drier environment. Kp bumps can prevent the hair from growing out of the affected follicle resulting in an ingrown hair.

Usually more common in woman than men, keratosis pilaris comes in three different varieties:

1) Keratosis pilaris rubra – a more red and inflamed type
2) Keratosis pilaris rubra faceii – a reddish rash on the cheeks
3) Keratosis pilaris alba – bumps without the inflammation or irritation (most common)

The bad news is that keratosis pilaris is not curable – only treatable. Being a hereditary disorder, the best a sufferer can hope for is to alleviate the symptoms. The good news is that this is very possible.

The key to treating keratosis pilaris is to soften the keratin deposits in the skin. Keeping the keratin soft and exfoliating the affected areas will help keep hair follicles from becoming plugged with keratin. Self care measures will work for most people in at least improving skin’s appearance and the amount of bumps seen.

Self care measures that are helpful are:

Don’t over scrub the problem areas. This can aggravate the condition and make the bumps worse.

Don’t over dry your skin after bathing. Pat dry and allow moisture to remain.

Apply an over-the-counter lotion with lactic acid (AmLactin 12%). For areas other than the face, at least a 12% concentration is recommended. A lactic acid lotion will soften keratin, exfoliate dead skin cells and provide moisturization. Lactic acid is a naturally occurring humectant for the skin.

Use a humidifier if the air inside your home is dry.

Apply lotions to your skin while the skin is still moist from bathing.

Try not to scratch or pick at the bumps.

If your keratosis pilaris is more severe, there are prescription medications that can help.

The prescription medications used to soften keratin include:

Lac-Hydrin (ammonium lactate) – a 12% lactic acid lotion to soften keratin and promote cell turnover

Topical retinoids – (Tretinoin, Avita, Tazorac) – promotes cell turnover preventing the follicle from becoming plugged – retinoids may cause skin irritation

Carmol or Keralac ( urea moisturizers) – loosens dead skin cells and softens dry skin

Topical corticosteroids – usually prescribed as a short term treatment because of the potential side effects, corticosteroid ointments are anti-inflammatory

See your doctor for further information on prescription medications.

Even though this skin condition does not have any long term health repercussions, it can be a real bother to the people who have it. The real key to dealing with keratosis pilaris is consistency. You must constantly treat the affected area to keep the bumps away. If you stop treating - the bumps will return. It is as simple as that.


For more skin care advice, visit http://www.better-skin-care.com