We’ve all heard that vitamin c is good for your skin, and a lot of us have it in our routine, but may not know everything about it, so today we’re answering some of the most common vitamin c questions that we get.
Vitamin c is an amazing natural antioxidant, and in skincare, it has proven to boost collagen product and cell turnover, which helps keep your skin plump, youthful and bright. It is a great addition to your morning routine as it can help fight of free radicals and can help treat and recover your skin after experiencing sun damage.
Vitamin C is one ingredient where you do want to be careful with what other products you use. Vitamin C is often referred to as ‘unstable’ this means it can be easily impacted by mixing it with other ingredients or exposure to external factors. When using vitamin c you want to make sure you aren’t mixing it with exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs (think salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids) and of course retinol. Mixing these ingredients may negative impact the effectiveness of your vitamin C. You also want to make sure your vitamin c has the right packaging, since it can become unstable when it comes into contact with the sun and external factors - the bottle for your vitamin c should be made from a dark glass, and have a pump top to minimise exposure to the air.
Yes and No. Vitamin C is naturally occurring, in your body and in many fruits. However there are natural and not natural forms of vitamin c found in skincare. At Sabbia Co, we use a natural vitamin c derived from Kakadu plum and finger lime. However some brands will use a synthetic form of vitamin c labelled as ascorbic acid. These synthetic vitamin c’s do not reap the antioxidant benefits that natural vitamin c does, and is often used as it is cheaper to formulate with, and that it can be stabilised easier. In order for natural vitamin c to be stabilised, it has to be partnered with ingredients and packaging that won’t negative affect it. By looking into what form of vitamin c you are using, this can be a great indicator of brands that focus on thoughtful formulation and brands that focus on cheaper mass production formulation.
I definitely recommend using vitamin c as a staple in your morning routine. Vitamin C is such a versatile ingredient in skincare and since it has great benefits when it comes to cell turnover, it’s great in your night routine too.
Good news soon-to-be mummas! Vitamin c is safe to use while pregnant. However, if you are using a synthetic vitamin c, it maybe be a good idea to consult your doctor, since you skin can become more sensitive during pregnancy. To avoid any sensitivity, consider swapping to a naturally derived vitamin c like in our collagen c serum and multi vitamin moisturiser.
Since one of the specialities of Vitamin C is cell turn over, you may experience purging when incorporating it into your routine for the first time; or for the first time in a while; or when changing to a new vitamin c derivative. Check out our blog here to learn more about purging.
Yes! Vitamin C is a great way of treating dark under eyes. Vitamin C serums or moisturisers under the eyes will help smooth fine lines, plump and hydrate your under eye area, leaving you with brighter and more youthful looking skin.
No! When using vitamin c, it is crucial to pair it with a 50+ SPF. Vitamin c can become unstable or ineffective when it comes into contact with the sun - so to ensure you’re getting the most out of your vitamin c. Definitely wear a sunscreen after applying vitamin c in your morning routine.
This is one of the great skincare mystery phenomenons. If you didn't know there's are a large group of people that have found that some vitamin c serums smell like hot dog water or deli meat. No one has been able to give a straight answer, the most likely one we have found is that some vitamin c serums use a synthetic vitamin c (often listed as ascorbic acid or sodium ascorbate), and most hot dogs use this very same synthetic vitamin c ingredient. Coincidence?
What I can confirm is that we only use natural derivatives of vitamin c, such as, Kakadu plum, Finger Lime and Davidson Plum, so you can rest easy knowing our Collagen C Serum does NOT smell like a trip to Woolworth's deli.
The average skin cell turn over cycle in 28 days, so like most products it may take up to 4 weeks to see the true results of using the product. You may see some small surface level changes before then, since you are still nourishing and hydrating your skin, but you will be able to get a good idea of how a product changes your skin (both positively and negatively) after 4-6 weeks.
Sometimes! Some vitamin c’s that are formulated with l-ascorbic or ascorbic acid can be irritating on the skin, however natural derivatives of vitamin c which are carefully formulated and packaged to be stabilised, these products can be perfectly safe on sensitive skin. If you do have sensitive skin and have been holding off on trying a vitamin c in your routine, I’d recommend picking up one of our collagen c serum samples to try it out and see how your skin goes with it!
Our Collagen C Serum has roughly 16% of Vitamin C derived from plant based Vitamin C (Davidson Plum, Finger Lime, and Kakadu Plum). The sweet spot for the concentration level is between 10 and 20 percent. You definitely want a concentration that's higher than 8 percent for maximum effectiveness. However going over 20 percent could lead to irritation and doesn't increase its benefit.
We have incorporated Kakadu Plum and other natural Vitamin C derivatives into most of our skincare products. So if you’re looking for ways to incorporate vitamin c, these products are the ones for you:
- Collagen C Serum (Vitamin C in Kakadu Plum, Davidson Plum & Finger Lime)
- Multi Vitamin Moisturiser (Vitamin C found in Kakadu Plum)
- Mineral BB Cream (Vitamin C found in Kakadu Plum)
- Botanical Glow Cleanser (Vitamin C found in Kakadu Plum)
- Revive Face Mist (Vitamin C found in Kakadu Plum and Raspberry)
- Antioxidant Repair Oil (found in Avocado Oil, Wheatgrass Oil & Papaya Seed Oil)
- Matcha Clay Mask (Vitamin C found in Organic Tasmanian Kelp Extract)
Have any more questions? Pop them in the comments or head over to our Instagram and slide into our DMS!
Big Love Always,
Kiah - Digital Marketing Co-ordinator here at Sabbia Co