Everything you need to know about Vitamin C.

Also known asascorbic acid, vitamin C is essential for proper metabolic function but is not produced by the body. It is crucial to supply the body with it through diet (citrus fruits, chestnuts, spinach, peppers, strawberries...) and/or dietary supplements. According to health authorities, to maintain good health, it is important to consume about 200 mg per day. Vitamin C is vital as it stimulates the immune system as well as tissue repair and contributes to bone development. Moreover, a prolonged deficiency in ascorbic acid (about 3 months) can lead to a deadly disease called "scurvy", characterized by a significant hemorrhagic syndrome.

Several studies agree that the epidermis is often deficient in vitamin C ; the reason being that only 1/3 of this molecule absorbed by the body ends up in the skin. Moreover, when applied topically, vitamin C is much more effective for the skin than when it is ingested orally. Hence the success of cosmetic treatments formulated with this active ingredient.

In skincare, vitamin C is brimming with benefits; notably, it contributes to collagen production, brightens the complexion, and protects the skin from damage caused by sun exposure and harmful free radicals. Thus, this powerful antioxidant is found in many serums, facial cleansers, oils, and moisturizers. It also has excellent virtues for hair.

Pure vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid, is the one that provides the best results in terms of overall skin and complexion improvement. However, its acidic pH around 3.5 must be maintained in a cosmetic formula to avoid oxidation problems.

This parameter can be restrictive, so some derivatives of vitamin C are used such as the "Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate", the "Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate", "Ascorbyl Palmitate", the "Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate", "Ascorbyl Glucoside" or even the "3-O Ethyl Ascorbate".