Why every skin can benefit from multitasking vitamin C

When it comes to preventing premature ageing, active ingredients like retinol and glycolic acid get a lot of airtime. But let’s not forget about vitamin C. It’s one of the best antioxidants on the block but that’s hardly all it can do. It’s also a fantastic collagen booster!

Collagen is the “stretchy” protein that gives our skin its youthful-looking firmness. When we’re young, our bodies produce it in abundance. However, as we get older, our collagen factories, known as fibroblasts, start to slow production. This is where vitamin C gets to shine. Not only will it stimulate your fibroblasts to create fresh, new collagen but its antioxidant properties will fend off the cell-damaging free radicals that can degrade your existing stash. 

Skin firming abilities aside, there’s another reason why you really want to include vitamin C in your skincare routine. It’s a brilliant brightener! Tyrosinase is a chemical needed to produce melanin. If you produce too much of it, this can result in hyperpigmentation. Fortunately, vitamin C can help regulate your skin’s tyrosinase production resulting in more evenly-toned, radiant-looking skin. 

Know what you’re looking for 

Similarly to retinol, not all forms of vitamin C are created equally. Ascorbic acid (sometimes listed as L-Ascorbic acid) is still the most proven and potent form and has the amazing ability to benefit skin of any age, even very mature skin. In fact, studies have shown that using ascorbic acid at concentrations above 15% can increase fibroblast proliferation in an elderly person to the point where they can develop just as many as those of a newborn child!

While it sounds miraculous, it’s really just science. Many active ingredients, things like retinol and hyaluronic acid, require cells to have a specific receptor attached to their walls if they’re to penetrate them. These receptors act a bit like door handles that have to be turned, allowing the actives to get inside the cell and make changes. Alas, the receptors of aged and sun-damaged skin are often too damaged to function properly. But this is where ascorbic acid gets to shine. It’s the one molecule that doesn’t need a receptor for it to slip into your cells and do its good work.

Interestingly, vitamin C, despite being so essential to our health, isn’t created by our bodies, so we need to consume it. Also, you can’t create “adult” collagen if you don’t have ascorbic acid available. While many might think taking an oral supplement might do the trick, very little of that supplement will end up reaching your skin. A well-formulated topical ascorbic acid product, however, can increase the load of ascorbic acid in your skin by 27 times as much as an oral supplement could.

Reap the benefits

To ensure you get real and rapid results, we created Lamelle Correctives Recharge CE using real-deal ascorbic acid at a concentration of 20%. Better yet, we’ve included another antioxidant – good ole’ vitamin E. Studies show that, when used together, these two antioxidants can enhance each other’s effects as well as offer broader protection from the damage caused by unprotected sun exposure. 

Speaking of which – if you’re exposed to more free-radical and sunshine these than usual (yep, we’re talking to all you golfers, runners and smokers) or have a more mature, sun-damaged skin, consider Lamelle Correctives Vita C 30. It’s our strongest vitamin C product to date, containing a very impressive 30% pure ascorbic acid formulated in a way that keeps this high concentration stable and delivers it safely to your skin. 

If you’re the sensitive sort 

If you’ve got sensitive skin, using high concentrations of ascorbic acid might result in redness and irritation. In the past, this meant you’d have to miss out on reaping the benefits, but not anymore. After much research, we’re very proud to have created Lamelle Correctives Vita C 30. It contains a cutting-edge lipid-soluble form of vitamin C. This means it can penetrate deeper into your dermis and deliver results that are comparable to ascorbic acid but is well tolerated by those with dry or sensitive skin. 

The last word

At the end of the day, everyone – regardless of their age and the condition of their skin – can benefit from the incredible rejuvenating benefits of vitamin C. You just have to ensure you’re using the most effective types and in the right concentrations. So, if your skincare routine doesn’t include a vitamin C product, let’s change that today and help you get your glow on!