I Cut Vitamin C From My 40+ Skin Routine…But Then This New Serum Changed My Mind
A while back, I stopped using vitamin C in my skincare routine. It wasn’t because I thought it was ineffective; quite the opposite, really. I was getting tired of having to throw away my vitamin C before I finished it. Vitamin C, as we know, is famous for being unstable. Still, it has a lot of really great benefits: it helps brighten the skin, reduces the appearance of dark spots, and has antioxidant properties. I like to think of it as the chaotic good in any skincare routine.
Compared to other beauty editors and skincare devotees, my routine might be considered pretty simple. I rarely use acids, and retinol isn’t a regular thing for me despite knowing my over-40 skin could benefit from both of said products. Truthfully, I tend to focus on hydration. However, I know being regular with something like vitamin C could help get rid of some of my concerns, like those damn dark spots! So, when I learned that the skincare brand Medik8 came out with its new Super C Ferulic Serum ($74), I couldn’t help but wonder (Carrie Bradshaw voice), was it time to go back?
What makes Super C Ferulic different is that instead of L-ascorbic acid, which is the purest and most unstable form of vitamin C, it uses ethylated ascorbic acid—30 percent, in fact. This makes the formula very stable due to the modification of the L-ascorbic acid molecule, so you don’t have to worry about it losing its effectiveness after being exposed to air, light, or heat. You get all the benefits of vitamin C: brightening, wrinkle reduction, and all that antioxidant goodness without having to worry about throwing it away too fast. Super C Ferulic has other beneficial ingredients, including more antioxidants like ferulic acid, vitamin E, and turmeric root. These contribute to fighting skin-aging signs and discoloration, as well as supporting healthy skin, overall.
I knew I couldn’t jump back into a rigorous vitamin C routine with my simple skincare lifestyle, so I started out slow. I applied Super C in the mornings every other day, after washing my face and before using moisturizer and SPF. At first, I felt a little bit of spiciness (mild tingling), but after the second time, I didn’t notice it anymore. In a little over a week, I noticed that the bumps were gone. As far as my dark spots, I hadn’t noticed a difference, but I know that it can take much longer for those to lighten. A consumer study showed that it took four weeks for more benefits to kick in, like wrinkle reduction and an improvement in skin firmness. So, I have hope that using this for a few more weeks will bring even more great results.
Vitamin C, I thought we were over, but maybe our romance is rekindling! If you too are tired of (vitamin C) instability in your life, give this Super C Ferulic a go.
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