History Revisited, With a Spin

For hundreds of years, people have been trying to get healthier, younger looking skin and with each age, a new formula is presented. It seems that every time you turn around, a new amazing breakthrough in skincare comes out, and it’s newer and better than the older, crazier ways. And yet, no matter how much the scientists try, there will never be a completely full proof solution to the problem, but scientists trudge forward, trying to find the solution to a growing problem.

The problem rarely lies within the skin itself. Skin, the biggest living tissue on the human body, has the ability to regenerate itself. You break it, cut it, skin it, it will grow back. But, there are many other factors to consider when considering your skin. Every day, when you step out of bed, it is bombarded with free radicals.  Free radicals occur naturally as we age but become exacerbated by exposure to pollutants, smoke and UV radiation from the sun. The more that the skin has to filter out, the harder it becomes to have nice looking skin. Scientists have worked hard to make our skin look better and healthier than ever, and they discovered the beneficial treatment of putting Vitamin C onto the skin. Few antioxidants have as much scientific evidence to support their efficacy as vitamin C, which not only heals sun damage and discoloration from past exposure, but also inhibits the damaging effects of UV rays when applied topically. According to a study done by Duke University, Vitamin E and Ferulic acid, when combined with Vitamin C, compound the positive effects of vitamin C, boosting the UV protectant effects of Vitamin C by 8 fold. Vitamin C, an essential nutrient for the formation of collagen, cannot be affected through oral intake. It has to be applied topically.

Other skin problems, such as acne, hyperpigmentation and general irritation, have reduced when people started using Vitamin C. By normalizing the amount of sebum produced by the skin, it reduces blackheads, pimples and other skin problems generally associated with oily skin.  Vitamin C also lightens the skin, reducing discoloration caused by sun exposure and hyperpigmentation.

However wonderful Vitamin C, it must be handled carefully. If it becomes oxidized, then it will have the opposite effect and contribute to free radical damage. For this reason, Vitamin C serum must be stored in an airtight, dark or opaque container. Check the expiration date, because some forms of Vitamin C are more stable than others and have a longer shelf life. Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a stable, bioavailable form of Vitamin C which are generally be used by people with sensitive skin that may be irritated by the more popular (and less stable) L-ascorbic acid.

Vitamin C offers your skin a fresh new outlook on life. The acids that are contained within Vitamin C are some of the most beneficial to turning back the clock when it comes to having healthier skin. The acids within the Vitamin C help your skin cells rejuvenate themselves, causing old problems to vanish.

Doom and Hope

The Earth’s depleting ozone layer has far reaching and varying effects. This causes the UV radiation to increase, causing an elevated free radical effect. Although not catastrophic yet, the damage is done, and we the people have to live with the circumstances. What circumstances? People struggling with elevated UV radiation exposure, which leads to sun damage, premature aging and skin cancer.

The free radicals attack the skin on an atomic level, attaching free electrons to whatever they can get to in order to survive. The free radicals travel around on Oxygen, primarily, and on carbon monoxide, exhaust fumes, inorganic particles such as asbestos, quartz and silica. In short, they are everywhere, getting into everything, and nothing will stop them.

There are also elevated UV levels due to the lack of ozone above us. UV rays, from the sun, are no laughing matter, either. It causes sunburn, Photo aging, and several types of skin cancer, such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma. It also causes hyperpigmentation, which causes your skin to look splotchy.

But, with all the doom and gloom, nature gives us the solution, at least when it comes to skin care. A natural alternative to skin care is Vitamin C. Vitamin C contains a protein that connects to the collagen cells and nourishes the strands, making fine lines and wrinkles disappear. It helps control the amount of sebum produced, reducing blackheads, pimples, and other problems associated with oily skin. Vitamin C also contains a natural enzyme which minimizes discoloration caused by sun exposure and hyperpigmentation.

Vitamin C comes in many forms, even when you apply it topically. There are several different types depending on how sensitive your skin is, if it is naturally oily or dry. The secret is in the l-ascorbic acid. It is a very natural acid that is used from flavoring natural candy to being put into skin care agents, to breaking down compounds in a laboratory. The l-ascorbic acid is more stable, more affordable, and less irritating. It is also as effective in boosting your natural skin collagen synthesis.

The process that they use to make it is uncomplicated. They take the l-ascorbic acid, which comes in either powder or crystal form, and combine it with distilled water. Then, depending on the brand of cream, they will either use propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin as a thickening agent. There are other ways to mix it, but this is the most common way. Make sure that after the compounds are mixed together that you put them in an opaque container, because if any sun rays get into it, then the l-ascorbic acid will dwindle to nothing.

          With our surroundings constantly fluxuating and changing around us, it is nice to know that there are factors out there that were put here to help us retain our health, happiness and humanity. All we have to do is find the resources that were given to us and adapt to the changes that we are bringing upon ourselves.