Clean beauty has been trending lately, and it’s clear from the video tutorials flooding the web that you'll have a head start on achieving this look if you already have a bright, radiant complexion. Complexion woes are common, however—and so are photo filters—so don’t feel discouraged if you aren’t naturally blessed with skin that’s clear as crystal. Achieving that clean beauty gleam becomes a little easier when you add a little sunshine to your skin care routine with Vitamin C.
What Is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C and its derivatives (ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate being among the most common) is a buzzy beauty ingredient that you’ll find in serums, moisturizers, and other skin care products. Unlike some others that haven’t been clinically proven to improve the skin, Vitamin C is one ingredient that has the full backing of dermatologists who tout its ability to brighten skin tone, fade sun spots, reduce hyperpigmentation, smooth out texture, lift wrinkles and fine lines, and increase collagen production. The key to unlocking all that Vitamin C has to offer is in using it properly—and it may not be for everybody.
The Pros and Cons of Using Vitamin C
Pros
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning that besides all the awesome beauty-boosting benefits listed above, it also protects skin from sun, pollution, and harmful free radicals. Regular use can prevent and even reverse the premature signs of aging brought on by exposure to these and other toxins.
It’s mild enough to use every day, and daily use is the best way to see the benefits. Some people like to apply it in the morning before the rest of their skin care routine or layer it on at night so it can do its work while the sun is down.
It’s excellent at lightening dark spots, so if you have sun damage, melasma, dull skin, or hyperpigmentation, Vitamin C is a must-have in your skin care routine.
It’s easy to incorporate into your daily skin care routine. Because you can find it in so many forms, you’ll have no trouble finding a Vitamin c formula that works for you. As long as you apply it directly to your skin, you should see the benefits—Vitamin C doesn’t penetrate other products very well.
Cons
Ascorbic acid and other Vitamin C derivatives have to be kept stable in order to work their magic. The problem with this is that oxygen, sunlight, and certain other ingredients cause it to oxidize, which renders it inactive. To prevent it from oxidizing and deactivating, use Vitamin C products that come in air-tight, opaque packages and store them in a cool, dark environment.
It’s expensive. Due to its unstable nature, Vitamin C formulas require a lot of research and development by skin care companies who want to offer it in a product. Therefore, it tends to be in the high-end in terms of cost.
It doesn’t play well with other actives. Avoid using with benzoyl peroxide, which can oxidize the Vitamin C and make it useless very quickly. Also avoid using Vitamin C with other acids, which may cause excessive skin irritation, especially if used daily. Lastly, don't use with retinol, which can make the Vitamin C more unstable and less likely to penetrate the skin.
It’s not everyone’s holy grail. For people with sensitive skin, Vitamin C can cause a burning sensation and irritate the skin. Additionally, it might cause breakouts, even in people who are not prone to acne.
Aesthetic Treatments to Boost Your Vitamin C Glow
Venus Glow™ Facial Renewal Treatments
Our popular Venus Glow™ facial renewal treatment provides a deep cleansing treatment to the skin and its subcutaneous layers. The device uses two ultra-fine jet streams to open up and deep-clean pores by removing impurities clouding the skin. The oscillating jet streams are finer than a strand of hair, allowing our innovative line of Venus Glow™ Serums to effectively reach into the depth of the pore, maximizing absorption of the natural ingredients. Skin feels noticeably healthier, cleaner, and more hydrated after each treatment. To add a Vitamin C boost, Venus Glow™ treatments can be enhanced with GlowAstra, a skin brightening antioxidant serum that contains a biologically active form of Vitamin C that inhibits the breakdown of collagen and promotes skin’s natural collagen production. The result is a clearer, brighter, rejuvenated complexion.
Photofacials
To get the brightening effect of Vitamin C, photofacials offer a shortcut. Venus Versa™ photofacial treatments use IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) technology to rejuvenate skin from underneath the surface. By reinvigorating the skin’s natural production of collagen and elastin, photofacials clear up sun damage, slow down the appearance of aging, and restore skin to a brighter, more healthy state.
Skin Tightening
Skin tightening treatments restore firmness and elasticity to sagging skin. Using radio frequency technology to boost the skin’s natural production of collagen and elastin, the result is visibly tighter, smoother, and younger-looking skin.
Wrinkle Reduction
Non-surgical wrinkle reduction treatments use advanced radio frequency technology to erase wrinkles and fine lines. The treatments enhance the natural production of collagen and elastin fibers in your skin for a more youthful appearance quickly, with no downtime.
Skin Resurfacing
There’s a faster way to reduce hyperpigmentation. Award-winning Venus Viva™ skin resurfacing treatments gently correct skin tone and texture and work to repair signs of skin damage. The treatments can also improve the appearance of acne scars, stretch marks, rosacea, enlarged pores, and deep wrinkles, resulting in smoother, firmer skin that looks noticeably more youthful.
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