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Australian skincare experts on the best vitamin C products on the market right now

IMAGE VIA @SUNDAYRILEY/INSTAGRAM

WORDS BY IZZY WIGHT

Breaking down the skincare ingredient of the moment.

The skincare world can be a little intimidating sometimes. With the incredible range of highly-rated products available on the Australian market, it’s hard to know where to begin. It’s all about finding the balance between too much at once and not enough – somewhere between a 10-step skincare routine and a three-in-one gel, perhaps.


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So when it comes to introducing a new ingredient into your already-established routine, it’s important to do your research before settling on that wonder-working gel, cream, serum or oil. Since vitamin C is the glow-inducing antioxidant of the moment, I consulted three skincare experts to give me a product crash course.

Giorgi Strachan, Mecca Skincare Education Manager

 

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Vitamin C provides the skin with three main benefits. [It has] potent antioxidant benefits that protect the skin from free radical damage, [it] encourages the regulation of pigmentation to support the skin’s natural processes and has known benefits in stimulating key proteins in the skin (like collagen), resulting in increased skin resilience and firmness.

Introducing vitamin C into your routine in the form of a serum or cream is an easy addition to any skincare lineup. You can use vitamin C both morning and night, but we advise focusing on your morning routine to leverage the antioxidant benefits that protect the skin from the impacts of pollution and other environmental aggressors. Using Vitamin C in the morning also leaves room in your evening routine for other actives like chemical exfoliants and retinol.

The Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Brightening Serum is a perfect beginner option with a lightweight texture that all skin types will appreciate. The addition of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, ferulic acid and beta-glucan means it provides deep hydration and calms inflammation for all-round glowing, healthy-looking skin.

For those who prefer a lightweight gel texture, the Glow Recipe Guava Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum has five forms of vitamin C along with ferulic and tranexamic acids to reduce redness and brighten pigmentation for radiant, even skin.

For drier skin types and anyone who loves to immediately glow, Sunday Riley’s C.E.O 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum features THD Ascorbate, a gentle, stable form of vitamin C, as well as squalane, jojoba esters, vitamin E and glycolic acid to smooth and nourish the skin with fatty acids.

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Prudvi Mohan Kaka, Chief Scientific Officer, Deciem

 

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Our Ascorbyl Glucoside 12% Solution is our best-selling vitamin C product in Australia! The water-based formula helps visibly reduce signs of aging by brightening and balancing uneven skin tone.

But unlike direct forms of vitamin C, this easy-to-use serum contains a water-soluble vitamin C derivative that converts into vitamin C once applied, giving it less irritation potential. And because it has advanced antioxidant properties, it also protects your skin from the visual effects of damage caused by environmental stressors, helping to maintain a more radiant complexion.

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Sunday Riley, founder of Sunday Riley skincare

 

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I always describe vitamin C as a great all-rounder. One of the major benefits is that it helps to brighten the look of skin and reduce the appearance of discolourations. It can help support healthy collagen production to reveal plumper and firmer-looking skin and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also helps reduce damage from environmental stresses like pollution, leading to overall healthier, younger-looking skin.

However, not all vitamin C [products] are created equally. The most commonly researched form of vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid, which I love but it can be a little unstable. [This is] why some people find that they have sensitivity after applying and L-ascorbic acid tends to start degrading and oxidising.

This is why I formulate with a different form of vitamin C called THD Ascorbate. It’s super stable and performs a lot better than L-ascorbic acid. A lot of formulators won’t use this in their products as it’s incredibly expensive… but for me, THD ascorbate is the only option when looking for truly transformative results.

It’s quite hard to get it wrong with vitamin C and it’s easy to incorporate into your existing regime. My one call out would be to make sure that you’re using a stable form of vitamin C like THD ascorbate – its highly potent and less irritating form. The way I like to incorporate it into my regime is by applying it both in the morning and at night.

After cleansing, I’ll take two pumps of our C.E.O. 15% Brightening Serum with a few drops of our C.E.O. Glow Oil and mix them in my fingers before massaging them into the skin. Both used together gives an incredibly natural-looking radiance and brightness to my skin. It also helps calm the look of skin sensitivity and reduces the look of pores, leaving skin looking smooth with an even tone.

If you’re new to vitamin C and want to test the waters, I’d also recommend our new C.E.O. Afterglow Brightening Vitamin C Gel Cream. It delivers a non-greasy, satin-skin finish but still includes the high-strength, advanced vitamin C (THD Ascorbate) infused with a concentrated burst of antioxidants for a healthy glow.

@sundayriley

For more on the benefits of vitamin C, head here.

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