| Vitamin C occurs naturally in the body and | | | | texture of the skin. Vitamin C can also help |
| nature and is known as L-ascorbic acid. It | | | | to lighten skin discolorations caused by sun |
| is used in skin care because it is an | | | | damage. This is why some people use lemon |
| antioxidant. Antioxidants help to protect | | | | juice or rub lemons on dark areas on the |
| the skin from the damaging effects of sun, | | | | skin. |
| smoking, pollution and other things in our | | | | |
| environment that cause the skin to age. | | | | Not all Vitamin C products are created equal. |
| | | | Vitamin C is not very stable and is easily |
| Have you ever applied lemon juice to a cut | | | | broken down by exposure to air and sunlight. |
| apple to prevent it from turning brown? The | | | | Any container that exposes the product to air |
| brown color in cut apples is from oxidation | | | | - like jars or clear containers - will |
| (much like aging skin) and the vitamin C in | | | | quickly render your vitamin C worthless. To |
| the lemon juice is what prevents it from | | | | be effective, vitamin C should be packaged in |
| oxidizing, or turning brown. | | | | tubes, capsules, pumps or powders that do not |
| | | | repeatedly expose the product to air and |
| Vitamin C actually protects the skin from | | | | light. My favorite vitamin C product is a |
| damage that is caused by exposure to the sun. | | | | powder (in a dark bottle) that you mix in |
| It also helps to promote the formation of | | | | with other skin care items. Some products |
| collagen, which provides support and strength | | | | have "stabilized" vitamin C but these |
| to the skin. This causes a decrease in fine | | | | products tend to be much more expensive. |
| lines and wrinkles and can also improve the | | | | |