La vitamine C, un super antioxydant 

Vitamin C is not naturally present in your body!

Did you know? Humans are unable to synthesize vitamin C, having lost the ability to produce the enzyme required for its production. It is therefore obtained from dietary sources such as citrus fruits and green leafy vegetables.

However, the absorption of vitamin C taken orally is fairly limited. Topical application of vitamin C is therefore essential to benefit from its cutaneous properties.

Better understand the effect of vitamin C on your skin!

Skin aging is mainly due to free radicals that accumulate in the skin.

When skin is exposed to ultraviolet light, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released. To protect itself from these ROS, the skin is equipped with a complex enzymatic and antioxidant system. Among these antioxidants is the famous Vitamin C.

How does vitamin C combat these free radicals?

It is a water-soluble vitamin capable of neutralizing free radicals present in the cell's aqueous compartments by releasing electrons.

Anti-aging!

Collagen production gradually declines as we age, but factors such as sun exposure and smoking can lead to a premature reduction in collagen production. This leads to the development of wrinkles.

Vitamin C plays an essential role in collagen biosynthesis. In fact, it acts as a cofactor for enzymes capable of stabilizing collagen cross-linking. Vitamin C can also directly stimulate collagen synthesis and even preserve existing collagen.

Anti-inflammatory properties!

In addition to its anti-aging properties, vitamin C is known to be a powerful anti-inflammatory. In fact, it acts by suppressing the activation of factors responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This is why topical application of vitamin C can be useful in the treatment of various inflammatory dermatoses, including post-laser application.

Effective against hyperpigmentation!

Ascorbic acid can also act on the production of melanin, which is, in simplified terms, the element responsible for our skin color.

This will enable vitamin C to combat sun spots, acne marks and even melasma (a skin condition characterized by the appearance of brown spots on the skin).

What about sun protection?

Yes, vitamin C can also protect the skin from the sun. Mind you, it's not a sun filter and won't protect your skin like a sunscreen, but thanks to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C absorbs skin damage caused by UV rays. UV rays are responsible for the production of free radicals.

Forms of vitamin C in cosmetics!

Does it matter what form of vitamin C we apply to our skin? Yes, it's a complex issue.

Indeed, early products contained vitamin C in the form of L-ascorbic acid, and these formulations were unstable given the susceptibility of this form to oxidation in solution. When formulations are exposed to air for long periods, a yellowish discoloration occurs, resulting from the formation of a by-product.

So the vitamin C in your products is generally in inactive form, which will be converted to active form once applied to the skin.

These include ascorbic acid, the most common form, and fat-soluble vitamin C esters such as ascorbyl-6-palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate.

What's the difference between natural and synthetic vitamin C?

Synthetic vitamin C, found in most skin care products, is generally in the form of L-ascorbic acid. It can also be found in the form of calcium ascorbate, magnesium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, etc.

In contrast, naturally-occurring vitamin C is generally found in citrus fruits, berries and vegetables. It also contains powerful phytonutrients, giving it incomparable potency.

In terms of chemical structure, vitamin C of natural origin is similar to that of synthetic origin,

Clinical studies show that natural vitamins can be even more powerful*.

Vitamin C for every season!

Whatever the season, your skin and body always need vitamin C. It's THE booster we all always need.

Winter is the time when we're most susceptible to infection. Eating fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C is essential to boost our immune system. Choose vegetable soups containing potatoes, as well as kiwi and passion fruit!

As soon as the sun's rays appear, vitamin C is there to protect your skin from UV rays.

Spring and summer are the fruit and vegetable seasons!

In summer especially, it's red fruit season, including cherries! And for vegetables, it's cucumbers, artichokes and avocados.

Fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C :

Although oral vitamin C will have little effect on your skin, it's still essential for your health.

Did you know? Oranges are not the richest fruit in vitamin C!

Yodi takes care of you, so here are the fruits and vegetables richest in Vitamin C :

Yodi tips!

• You can apply vitamin C in the morning and/or evening. In the morning, however, you will benefit more from its sun protection properties.
• Vitamin C is not photosensitizing. On the contrary, it reduces sensitivity to UV rays.
• Try incorporating a naturally-sourced vitamin C into your skincare routine.
• Choose foods rich in Vitamin C, even if it has little effect on the skin. Your health is also important to us.

The Yodi routine!

We recommend our 100% vitamin-rich, antioxidant, preservative-free routine. It's a combination of vitamin C and hibiscus flower facial cleanser with Muesli & Pure Vanilla precious oil.

Our facial cleanser enriched with Ascorbyl glucoside, a natural stabilized vitamin C derivative that brightens skin tone and reduces the appearance of spots.

This vitamin C derivative has a stability that resists discoloration and degradation while retaining the full biological activity that provides brightening, anti-UV and anti-aging properties. Our cleanser contains 2% vitamin C and will therefore be able to lighten the skin and reduce hyperpigmentation.

In fact, a clinical study carried out on 60 female volunteers showed that a product formulated with 2% Ascorbyl glucoside significantly increased the luminosity of their skin after 2 months of use.

And that's not all! You can also use our precious oil, made from a blend of nourishing oils and pure Vanilla, enriched with Vitamin E, which itself combats the free radicals responsible for skin aging.

Sources

Farris, P. K. (2005). Topical vitamin C: a useful agent for treating photoaging and other dermatologic conditions. Dermatologic surgery, 31, 814-818.

*Burton, G. W., Traber, M. G., Acuff, R. V., Walters, D. N., Kayden, H., Hughes, L., & Ingold, K. U. (1998). Human plasma and tissue alpha-tocopherol concentrations in response to supplementation with deuterated natural and synthetic vitamin E. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 67(4), 669-684.