What should you know about vitamin C?

Vitamin C, known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble antioxidant. As such it plays a vital role in neutralizing free radicals in the water part of body tissue. The free radicals damage the skin, cause a loss of its flexibility, make it tough and rough and cause rapid aging and even the formation of carcinogenic changes. Because it is water soluble, vitamin C is not stored in our body in significant quantities and therefore we must make sure to obtain it from food every day.Most animals produce ascorbic acid in their bodies. Exceptions to this are the large mammals, among them man. Only for these mammals, ascorbic acid is a vitamin. According to its definition, a vitamin is a vital substance for the body, but that which the body is unable to produce itself in sufficient quantities, and therefore must be obtained from food.

Ascorbic acid plays an important role in the biochemical process of synthesis of collagen, the most common protein in the human body. This fibrous protein constitutes the most important component of the skin and plays a key role in the building and maintenance of the skin. Ascorbic acid is also responsible for assimilating the collagen in the dermis – the layer of skin found below the epidermis. When there is a lack of vitamin C, the collagen cannot form its typical fibrous structure, and as a result the skin loses its elasticity and vitality. Vitamin C is also involved in the synthesis of other important connective components in connective tissues, among them elastin, fibronectin, and proteoglycans.In addition, it appears that vitamin C plays an important role in slowing the uncontrolled production of melanin (the pigment that causes sun tanning), and as such it is necessary to reduce pigmentation spots that appear after excessive exposure to the sun. The exact mechanism of this positive activity has yet to be analyzed, but researchers assume that as an antioxidant, it delays the oxidation stage in the production of melanin.In cases of severe wounds, surgery, burns and in extreme temperatures, as well as in states of stress and depression, our bodies tend to use vitamin C more intensively, and therefore it is important to top up its level. Also people who live close to industrial zones, where large amounts of CO2 are emitted into the air, require large quantities of vitamin C, as inhaling CO2 destroys the Vitamin C. Smoking, birth control, alcohol, excessive consumption of processed foods and over-exposure to the sun, all contribute to the depletion of vitamin reserves in our bodies, thereby increasing the risk of carcinogenic changes in the skin.
Clinical studies have proven that the topical application of the vitamin can result in “renewed intertwining” of the collagen fibers in adult skin. Additional studies show that vitamin C is absorbed better when applied topically rather than taken orally. Moreover, these studies demonstrated that when applied topically, the vitamin is absorbed 20-40 times deeper than when it is absorbed via the digestive system.The main problem posed by vitamin C to the cosmetic industry is that it is an unstable substance, sensitive to water, air, heat and even light. As a result, it is very difficult to store without some of its effectiveness being lost, and only few cosmetic companies have managed to achieve this. To ensure that Vitamin C penetrates the cells and is effective for the skin, the cosmetic preparation should contain it in concentrations of more than 10%.

One of HL’ leading formulations is the C THE SUCCESS CONCENTRATED VITAMIN C SERUM, which contains an especially high concentration of pure vitamin C stored in millicapsules, making it possible to maintain its stability right until the moment of application. In addition, vitamin C can be found in the RENEW FORMULA and WHITENING product lines.