The Beauty Diary by Rebekah Scanlan: 4 best vitamin C products for great skin
Expensive beauty items are often not worth the money – but this costly item is dubbed the “holy grail” in skincare for a very good reason.
If you’re looking for a single ingredient that can do it all, look no further than vitamin C.
The natural antioxidant has been dubbed the “holy grail” of skincare by experts and it’s for good reason.
Vitamin C is scientifically proven to repair UV damage and interrupt the process that leads to pigmentation as well as replenishing your skin’s dermal collagen to enable it to heal. It also prevents further damage from occurring.
In other words, it’s bloody good stuff and much like any addict – my face can’t go a day without it. If I do find myself stranded without my lifesaving vitamin C, I find my skin looks duller than London on a truly miserable day and has more lines than an Aldi Special Buys sale.
It seems I'm not alone in my love of a vit-C based beauty buy, with heaps of new additions hitting shelves all the time.
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What you need to know about the beauty staple
Vitamin C is most effective in products that contain at least a 10 per cent concentration. Most products on the market offer between 5-20 per cent according to multiple dermatology studies.
For most people, the ingredient – which is naturally present in skin – is gentle enough for everyday use when applied once a day in the morning.
However, those with super sensitive or irritable skin can find it causes more irritation than benefits.
Be aware that it also doesn’t have the longest shelf life, with most water-based vitamin C serums needing to be used within three months of opening, a much shorter amount of time than your average skin care product.
An easy way to tell if your vitamin C is on the way out is to check its colour.
Desiree Stordahl, Paula’s Choice Senior Research & Education Manager, previously told The Beauty Diary there was an easy trick to tell if your product had expired.
“Pay attention to whether the colour of your serum is changing,” she said. A light, straw-coloured tinge is normal but a deeper orange or rust-like brown colour is a sign that the vitamin C has oxidised and is no longer as effective.”
Now you’re up to scratch on this liquid Godsend, here are some amazing vitamin products to consider for your stash.
SKINCEUTICALS C E FERULIC SERUM
Available at skinceuticals.com.au and adorebeauty.com.au
Price: $228
You’re probably thinking I’m bonkers for suggesting you part ways with almost $230 for a teeny bottle of serum, but there is a reason celebs and experts love it. It features a hefty 15 per cent vitamin C content, plus ferulic acid, which is a killer combo that brightens skin, lifts pigmentation, softens fine lines and also protects against free radicals – so there’s a lot to love inside this dinky bottle. I use this in the morning after cleansing and applying a moisturising mist. I use five droplets, warm it up in my hand and gently pat onto my face. My skin drinks it up, leaving no icky residue you can find with other serums – and within 24 hours I noticed a difference. Within a week my face looked glowier and much smoother, but the real change was noticeable about three months in when everything on my face just looked … better. My lines were softer, my complexion brighter – overall my skin just felt healthy and happy. The serum does have an unusual smell to it, but you quickly get used to it. I’ve still got about half of my bottle left too, so the cost is definitely justifiable. One thing I need to flag is this may be too strong for people with sensitive skin due to its high vitamin C content.
MECCA COSMETICA SKIN BRIGHTENING VITAMIN C SERUM
Available at Mecca
Price: $55
Okay, so you didn’t think I could serve you a $229 serum without offering up a more affordable alternative did you? Well this is it. Mecca Cosmetica recently launched this 15 per cent vitamin C serum that features ferulic acid – and in my humble opinion, it is VERY similar. It even has the strange funky scent synonymous with Skinceuticals. I’m no scientist, so I can’t tell you the exact differences in the formulations, but the obvious difference is this doesn’t have C E ferulic, the “gold standard” of ferulic acids, but it still serves the same anti-ageing benefits. After using my skin is brighter, firmer and glowier. I love this serum and it’s friendly on the purse too.
LANEIGE RADIAN C CREAM
Available at Sephora and adorebeauty.com.au
Price: $48
I’m a long-time fan of Laneige ever since I discovered the brand’s now infamous lip mask, so whenever the K-beauty brand drops a new product I practically run to Sephora knocking out anyone who dares to get in my way in the process. Just as I expected, this vitamin C cream is honestly a pure delight. It smells like fizzy lollies, leaves skin super hydrated and gives my face a new zest on life. Defo worth adding into your collection for a brighter morning complexion.
MURAD VITA-C TRIPLE EXFOLIATING FACIAL
Available at Sephora, adorebeauty.com.au
Price: $99
This is a total newbie but already I’m obsessed with it. As the name suggests, it has three different exfoliants to buff away dead skin and added vitamin C to brighten, giving the freshest face ever. The three active exfoliators are a micro-mineral exfoliant that removes dead surface cells, an enzymatic exfoliator to dissolve excess oil, and a chemical exfoliant (glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acid) to brighten and purify. It comes out of the tube a happy orange colour and as you massage it onto the face it turns to a creamy white. It has a grainy texture thanks to the micro-minerals but it’s not too harsh and afterwards skin feels velvety smooth. The bottle says only use two to three times a week – so I’ve been using twice a week and it really makes a noticeable difference after use. Really love this, thank you Murad.
This column is not advertorial content. Every review is independent, honest and ad free.
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