Vitamin C

Vitamin C is becoming more important and more relevant in our anti-aging arsenal. Vitamin C is a co-factor with several amino acids for the synthesis of collagen. Indeed, a deficiency in vitamin C will result in destroyed collagen. Plus, vitamin C battles against hyperpigmentation and boosts our antioxidant quota. And these days, vitamin C formulas are increasingly stable, gentle and effective. Here’s my Five Best with vitamin C for 2015. 

  • Medik8 CE-Thione Rechargeable Vitamin C Serum

    Medik8 CE-Thione Rechargeable Vitamin C Serum ($150 in the shop). A well-deserved Five Best in 2014 that is nothing if not very clever. CE-Thione boasts being the first ever form of "rechargeable" vitamin C. Consisting of 15% L-ascorbic Acid, vitamin E, and L-glutathione, it apparently mimics the same process our own bodies use to keep vitamin C stable. According to Medik8, "the Vitamin C is 'recharged' by having two antioxidant 'allies' in solution with it: Vitamin E and L-Glutathione, which then regenerate the Vitamin C molecule when it is used up, delivering an incredible potency." This is definitely not a natural formula, but I only echo community reviewer, Tina: “This is definitely my go-to favorite vitamin C serum of all time!”

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  • Sciote Vitamin C Eye Treatment

    Sciote Vitamin C Eye Treatment ($65 in the shop). It isn’t every day that you come across an eye cream based on vitamin C. This formula contains 5% vitamin C, a hydrating peptide complex of amino acids and soothing cucumber. I also like that it has my current “IT” ingredient, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM). It works very well on puffy eyes and reduces crepeyness. It is an eye cream that brings about changes, with a quality formula and at a decent price. 

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  • Skinfinite Advanced C20+ Serum

    Skinfinite Advanced C20+ Serum ($65 in the shop). This is a potent formula designed to turbo charge your regimen a couple of times a week. With a 20% concentration of ascorbic acid, Skinfinite is going straight for those stubborn dark spots and uneven skin tone. Although I have sensitive skin, I was easily able to tolerate this at least twice a week and, over time, see results. An excellent addition to the formula is ferulic acid, which acts synergistically with other antioxidants and, specifically, renders vitamins C and E more powerful.

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  • Stemulation Hi-Impact Serum

    Stemulation Hi-Impact Serum ($185 in the shop). This has become one of my new hero products. There’s a tranche of well-chosen ingredients, including a relatively dominant vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbyl phosphate. It has a good partner in the epidermal growth factor (sH-Oligopeptide-1) that is focused on increasing elasticity and collagen production. This serum is wonderfully hydrating and leaves the skin feeling velvety, while going way beyond a feel-good factor to repair wrinkles and even out skin tone. A triumph. 

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  • Your Best Face Advanced CE Concentrate

    Your Best Face Advanced CE Concentrate ($50 in the shop) is a Five Best pick for the third year running. With no less than three forms of vitamin C, amounting to a concentration of 8.7%, they were chosen for their stability and performance: tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate/ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate/MAP and aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate/AAP. The formula is rounded out with vitamin E. Note there’s nothing nasty, and the preservative is natural radish root ferment. 

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