Ever wonder how to get the ultimate bridal glow? Having one of the best makeup artists in the wedding industry will certainly help. It's also time to meet your new best friend for glowing and radiant skin - vitamin C.
What does vitamin C do
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It is well-known for its ability to improve uneven skin tone by breaking down existing pigmentation and preventing new ones from forming. Vitamin C is also known to boost collagen production, which means increased firmness and elasticity, and reduced wrinkles and roughness.
What do I look for in an ingredient list
There are many forms (derivatives) of vitamin C used in skincare products.
Ascorbic acid (also known as L-ascorbic acid, or LAA) is the most powerful one. It is in a form that is "ready to work" - it has a high affinity for "taking up" free radicals that can damage skin. However, this also means that it is unstable and readily degrades (i.e. oxidised). Light, heat and air (oxygen) exposure can speed up the oxidation process. Because of this, the packaging and storage of a vitamin C product is vital to its effectiveness. On top of that, it has a narrow optimal pH - it works best at a pH below 3.5. At the same time, a pH that is too low can irritate skin.
Because of this, other derivatives such as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (SAP), Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP), Ascorbyl Palmitate and Sodium Ascorbate (etc.) are commonly used. The giveaway word is "ascorb-". These derivatives are more stable and they work in a wider range of pH. They are also less readily oxidised, meaning that they are less fiddly and can last longer. On the other hand, the effectiveness of these derivatives varies, and they are generally thought to be less powerful than Ascorbic Acid.
Pictured above: Drunk Elephant C-Firma Day Serum, a product containing Ascorbic Acid
How do I use vitamin C products
An active ingredient works best when it is closed to the skin. Vitamin C contained in a serum, which is applied directly to freshly cleansed skin, will be most effective. It is also recommended that you leave an active ingredient on skin for a sufficient working time (e.g. 20-30 minutes) before layering other skincare products, such as facial oil and moisturiser.
If you are using ascorbic acid, it is best to keep the product away from heat and light to slow down the oxidation process. Always use vitamin C before its use-by date.
For people with sensitive skin, start with a low concentration of vitamin C to test out skin tolerance before increasing the concentration or the amount of product used.
Other tips
Human body cannot produce vitamin C, so we rely on vitamin C intake from external sources. In addition, Vitamin C is water soluble, which means that any excess nutrient will be excreted out and cannot be stored. Apart from topical products, make sure your balanced diet contains a sufficient amount of vitamin C.
This article is part of our popular pre-wedding skincare crash course.
Other topics in this pre-wedding skincare crash course
Some of the topics are explained in further detail:
About our team - Faces Makeup and Hair
Faces Makeup and Hair is one of the most celebrated and reputable makeup and hair teams in the Sydney bridal industry. We are a top rated supplier at Easy Weddings (easyweddings.com.au), as well as a finalist in both makeup artist and hair stylist categories of the Australian Bridal Industry Academy every year since inception. More recently, we have been awarded with finalist nominations by the Australian Small Business Champion Awards, the Local Business Awards (Northern Districts) and the national Designer of Dreams Awards.
Our team is specialised in enhancing the natural beauty of brides. We bring out your individuality and the best of you.
What makes us stand out from the rest of this competitive industry does not limit to the high quality of work we deliver, but also the unique customer service experience you get from us. You have the advantage of working with a no-nonsense team that is experienced, organised and professional; at the same time you don't lose your personalised service and connection with your makeup artist and hair stylist as we are a small, close-knit team.
We have multiple language capabilities including Mandarin, Korean and Cantonese.
We bring our bridal makeup and hair styling services to you not only in Sydney, but also in other regions, including the Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Newcastle, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and Wollongong.
We are now taking 2018 and 2019 bookings.
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