How do I know if my Vitamin C serum is oxidized?
The benefits of using a Vitamin C serum are endless, as many of us incorporate it into our daily routines. While Vitamin C works wonders for the skin, it also has a downside: it can oxidize, breaking down its ingredients and becoming less potent and effective in treating the skin.
There are many factors to consider when trying to determine if your Vitamin C serum is oxidized. What does it look like? What should you do if you discover your product has been compromised? How does it affect your skin? These are some of the questions we’ll take a look at today.
How do I know if my Vitamin C serum is oxidized? Vitamin C is an antioxidant, which means it’s a powerhouse in keeping your skin healthy and glowing, and protects it from free radicals and other skin-damaging aggressors. Any skincare product that contains Vitamin C has the shortest shelf life, as once the product comes in contact with oxygen, its effectiveness decreases.
The easiest way to tell if your Vitamin C serum is oxidized is to look at the color. Serums that contain a lot of Vitamin C are clear, and will turn yellow or brown around 3 months after opening.
When this happens, it’s a clear sign that the L-ascorbic acid is losing its effectiveness, breaking down to become erythrulose, an ingredient found in self-tanning products that can last up to 7 days. The problem is that
Another feature of erythrulose is that it can also cause unnecessary skin damage by increasing free radical exposure, which can cause the skin to repair itself.
What should a vitamin C serum look like?
It’s always recommended to choose a vitamin C serum because, as mentioned earlier, it has a clear look that shows how much vitamin C is in the formula and allows you to see if it’s oxidized.
Although it may be difficult to rethink your initial idea that vitamin C should be orange, some brands have been known to add dyes to their formulas to recreate this effect. Ideally, choose a dye-free product
An opaque, sealed bottle ensures that the vitamin C stays as fresh as possible and is not exposed to too much UV light and oxygen, which can cause faster degradation.
Can oxygenated vitamin C serums be used?
Once the product is opened and used, the shelf life of vitamin C is about 3 months. After this, you should expect the formula to start to fade and turn brown.
There is nothing wrong with using the rest of the product, especially if it contains more than 10% active vitamin C and it still works. There are concerns about serums reacting with the skin and irritation, and some people have developed blemishes, breakouts, etc.
Is oxidized vitamin C bad for the skin?
There is no scientific evidence that oxidized vitamin C affects the skin. However, in many cases, skin irritation and discoloration can occur because oxidized L-ascorbic acid becomes a component of erythrulose, which is made into homemade vitamins and tanning products. Oxidized vitamin C is no longer a powerful antioxidant and can easily damage the skin by contributing to the production of free radicals, environmental aggressors, and daily aggressors, making premature signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles very visible. Since the amount of L-ascorbic acid in the product formula is very low, or even non-existent, you may find that the vitamin C serum is less effective and has no effect on your complexion. Can vitamin C serums be used daily? Compared to other alpha hydroxy acids (also known as AHAs), vitamin C is safe to take daily. With its ability to fight skin damage and other stressors, it can create a protective film on the skin throughout the day. Vitamin C serums are very effective in the mornings due to its antioxidant properties. However, many people find that applying them in the evening allows the AHAs to work without exposing them to the daily damage they are exposed to during the day.
If you want to learn more about AHAs and their effects on the skin, you can read our blog on the benefits of AHAs and BHAs for skin care. When should you throw away your vitamin C serum? Once your serum starts to turn yellow, this is a clear sign that there is too much air in the formula, making the vitamin C less effective.
Once the formula shows discoloration, it is best to discard the product entirely. Vitamin C is a notoriously difficult ingredient to handle and is unstable in aqueous solutions, which makes it more difficult to
determine if the vitamin C portion is active and actually beneficial to the skin.
To ensure that the skin is receiving the best possible treatment, the L-position must be taken into account. If ascorbic acid is listed in the ink on the packaging, it is not effective enough for optimal results. If it goes past the sixth, her skin will suffer.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about Vitamin C and how to tell if it is oxidized. There is a detailed blog post on the benefits of Vitamin C for skin care. Read it to get a better idea of what it means when you apply it to your skin and the results you will see.
DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek.
“Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more.
Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals.
Sunscreen
“We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.”
Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen
An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup.
Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30
Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand.
Vitamin C Serum
“A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging.
Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum
The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation.
Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum
This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants.
Peptides
Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.”
Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses.
Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream
This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively.
This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek.
At-Home Peel Pads
Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate.
“The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.”
According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says.
Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad
A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection.
KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads
These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids.
Emollient Night Cream
“In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.”
“Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products.
Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream
One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme
“The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.
