Very briefly, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant used in cosmetics to prevent premature aging, fight spots and depigmentation, protect cells from free radical damage and promote the production of collagen and elastin.
But it doesn't stop there, there's much more. Everything you need to know about Vitamin C we tell you in this post.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is a antioxidant that helps our body regenerate itself.. By itself, our body is not able to synthesize this nutrient and therefore, it is necessary to consume it both orally through food and topically through cosmetics.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid participates in the formation of collagen.necessary for the body to build tissues, cartilage, muscles and blood vessels. It also helps healing and blocks the damaging action of free radicals (pollution, tobacco smoke and solar radiation).
The reason why vitamin C is a great ally against premature aging caused by free radicals is because it has a great capacity to bind to these molecules responsible for cell oxidation.
The daily amount to be taken is 90 milligrams in men and 75 milligrams in women.. And as it is responsible for synthesizing collagen, it is essential to be diligent in taking this amount.
As you know, in All Yours we like you to have as much information as possible, so here are the foods with more vitamin C per 100g that you can consume.
Foods containing Vitamin C
Although the first food that comes to our mind when we think of vitamin C is orangeorange, this fruit is not the food that contains more, it has 53.2 milligrams per 100 g..
Although it is a very good option, we are not going to be eating oranges every day, variety is the spice of life. We give you a few alternatives with a higher amount of vitamin responsible for making us look young and radiant.
Tip: the best way to eat these foods is raw.The best way to eat these foods is raw, so fruits will be the main source of vitamins. The reason is simple, when we boil or sauté a food, it loses most of its properties.
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Parsley
Contains 133 milligrams of Vitamin C per 100 g.and yes, we know, it is not very appetizing to eat 100 g of parsley, but adding a little bit in each of your preparations is a good option to complete a diet rich in ascorbic acid.
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Strawberries
Seasonal strawberries with natural yogurt and honey are a finger-licking dessert. They are not only healthy and delicious, they also have 58.8 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 g.
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Kiwifruit
It has 92.17 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams.. Therefore, a single kiwi contains the amount of Vitamin C needed per day. In addition, if you take it 1 hour before going to sleep, it helps you fall asleep.
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Red bell pepper
Red bell pepper is one of the foods with the most ascorbic acid per 100g, some 127 milligrams.
As it is likely that you consume this vegetable sautéed or baked, and thus it loses some of its benefits in cooking. Ideally, it should be eaten with some fruit for dessert.
To preserve its properties you can eat them as crudités with hummus or guacamole in a snack dinner (yes, we know, you put a French accent when you read it).
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Broccoli
With 89.2 milligrams per 100 g, broccoli is a perfect choice, and much better if we prepare it steamed so that it retains its properties. A squeeze of lemon and garlic cut into small pieces and that's it!
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Papaya
Exotic, sweet and summery, it has 61 milligrams of vitamin C per 100 grams. The recipe to take this fruit would be:
- 1 plane ticket to Brazil
- 1 hammock at the nearest beach
- 1 teaspoon of relaxation
Properties of vitamin C for the skin
A powerful antioxidant
The skin ages naturally, we have to accept it and it is wonderful, it means that we are still alive and growing. That's why we are faithful followers of the well-aging, aging well, radiant and healthy.
And to age in a healthy way, it is advisable to take care of yourself as effectively as possible. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that blocks the action of free radicals in our skin, which cause premature aging..
We call free radicals to a type of unstable molecule that accumulates in cells, damaging other paired molecules such as DNA, lipids and proteins.. Some of these free radicals are radiation, pollution, smoking, lack of sleep.
Vitamin C to synthesize collagen
Vitamin C is responsible for synthesizing collagen in our body.. Remember that our body is not able to store this vitamin, so it only uses what we ingest in the amount it needs and the rest is discarded, so it is important to consume the recommended daily dose.
If we consume and apply vitamin C daily, we will increase the production of collagen and keep our skin hydrated and firm for a longer period of time..
Vitamin C for sun spots
80% of skin aging is caused by sun damage.Yes, as much as it hurts because you love sunbathing in the summer, that's a fact.
Apply a vitamin C serum in the morning along with a sunscreen will be your routine ally against the sun's harmful rays and free radicals.
Thanks to its antioxidant action, Vitamin C is depigmenting, i.e. it evens skin tone, lightens spots, repairs the DNA of sun-damaged cells and provides radiance.. Yes, it restores the health of your skin after the summer and keeps it healthy throughout the day.
In summary, the benefits of vitamin C are:
- Prevents premature aging and fights the signs of aging.It promotes the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.
- Depigmenting effectreduces blemishes and provides luminosity, as it suppresses melanin synthesis.
- Helps cell regeneration and helps repairing the skin and unifying the tone.
- Its antioxidant power, reduces sun damage and blocks the effect of free radicals. free radicals that cause skin aging.
In what form is vitamin C most effective?
In your cosmetics, pure vitamin C will appear under the name L-ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is quite unstable, which means that in contact with oxygen and light it oxidizes and its properties diminish.
For cosmetic use it is stabilized and formulated at a pH less than 4, so that this does not occur. Pure Vitamin C is effective in concentrations of 10% and no more than 15%, as it could cause irritation.. If the concentration is higher, it will be formulated from ascorbic acid derivatives, such as ascorbyl glucoside.
We can also find it directly in powder form that does not oxidize and has a 100% purity as the 100% pure Vitamin C powder from Merme Berlin which combined with the 100% collagen serum from the same brand, make the perfect combo to treat wrinkles, sunspots and restore radiance to your skin.
Vitamin C is also very effective in treatments in which the cosmetic comes in two phases, a liquid and a powder with the main active ingredient, Vitamin C.In this case ascorbic acid, releasing the powder phase when you start using it so that it remains stable for a longer time.
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Supreme-C Vitamin C Treatment
A clear example is the Danish brand's flagship product Nuori Supreme-C serum treatment. We don't know anyone who has tried it and not been amazed by its remarkable benefits.
It is an ultra-concentrated 20-day treatment. Its super formula combines pure vitamin C with natural glycerin, hyaluronic acid, botanical ferulic acid, which neutralizes free radicals, and Damask rose floral water to smooth the complexion.
Improves skin tone and texture, lightens dark spots and illuminates.
Why is it necessary to stabilize vitamin C to be effective?
Ascorbic acid is sensitive to air and light, By stabilizing the formulation, we ensure that it is better absorbed into the skin and that it does not cause stains or hyperpigmentation problems when oxidized..
For it to remain stable it must be formulated with a pH less than 4 or in water-free formulations. In addition, if it is combined with vitamin E and ferulic acid its benefits are enhanced.
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Glow Drops Serum by Meisani
One of the best options we have tested is the Glow Drops serum from MeisaniGlow Drops serum, which has 10% pure encapsulated vitamin C, a format that gives it a unique texture and makes it last longer. It is also made with 56% yuzu water that restores light to your face and 2% hyaluronic acid that retains water in the epidermis.
As for the packaging, as it is an active ingredient sensitive to light and air, it is best if it is contained in dark or opaque and airtight containers, and better if it is in serums or ampoules.
Some recommendations
Contrary to what is often said, Vitamin C when stabilized is not photosensitive, which does not mean that you should not apply sunscreen. Remember to apply sunscreen every day for the rest of your life.word of All Yours.
Our skin has a pH of between 4.7 and 5.7, so we need to apply sunscreen every day for the rest of our days. it is recommended that when using a product with a lower pH, such as Vitamin C, you wait between 10-15 minutes to apply your moisturizer or the following cosmetic product. This is the time the product needs to lower the pH of our skin, and do its job at the pH it needs to be effective.