Body Shop Vitamin C Mist

Body Shop Vitamin C Mist

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These Are The 6 Best Vitamin C Serums For Brighter, Clearer Skin

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There's never a bad time to amp up your skin care regimen's sun protection defenses. Whether you're looking to keep your skin safe from future signs of sun damage or help reduce the appearance of damage that's already been done (aka sun spots), incorporating one of the best vitamin C serums into your beauty routine can help.

In an ingredients list, you'll most likely find vitamin C listed as l-ascorbic acid, which experts agree is the most effective form of vitamin C, along with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate. You'll also want to pay attention to the concentration level of the vitamin C, as something between 10 and 20 percent is said to be the most stable, and therefore, the most effective when it comes to protecting the skin and improving its overall tone and texture.

While you can certainly apply your vitamin C serum at night, to reap its full sun-protecting benefits, apply it in the morning after cleansing, and before you moisturize and layer on your SPF (which, yes, you still need to wear). You'll also want to be careful about using your vitamin C serum after any cleansers, treatments, or moisturizers that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or retinol, as this can heighten common side effects that come with these ingredients, like burning and redness (especially if you have sensitive skin).

It's also worth noting that vitamin C is a delicate ingredient because it degrades from sun exposure. Because of this, you'll want to store your serum away from the sunlight and be on the lookout for any changes in its color, texture, or smell. A serum packaged in a darker bottle is also ideal, as it helps minimize the product's exposure to sunlight.

Ahead, you'll find six of the best vitamin C serums that are all Amazon user-approved to brighten, protect, and firm your skin.

1

The Best Serum For Vitamin C Newbies

This K-beauty favorite serum contains a mild dose of 5 percent vitamin C to allow your skin to accustom itself with the active ingredient. While that's still enough to notice the brightening and skin tone-evening benefits, the smaller percentage means its also gentler and less likely to irritate skin. Reviewers love its lightweight texture and say a little goes a long way, so you only need a couple of drops. Some have even had luck with using it on their bodies to help fade unwanted scars.

Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin C Serum is also an Amazon-user favorite with hundreds of five-star reviews. "I used this product for a few months and then switched to one with a higher percentage of Vitamin C only to find that it didn't work nearly as well," writes one reviewer. "I'm back to using Klairs and am so impressed by the positive change I see in my skin when I use it — it's brighter, smoother, and more even — even though it's a mild product."

The only downside with this serum is that, since it comes in a clear bottle, you'll want to be extra careful with storing it somewhere away from the sun.

2

The Best Vitamin C Serum For Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin, you might have luck with the low-concentration Klairs option, above. But it does contain a few ingredients that some particularly sensitive skin types negatively react to, like propylene glycol. For a super safe, all natural pick, try this all-natural pick from Mad Hippie. It uses vitamin C in the form of sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which is said to cause less irritation and reduce the risk of oxidation. Mad Hippie formulated this serum with other complementary ingredients, like vitamin E and ferulic acid, which both improve and protect the skin from damaging free radicals. And ferulic acid also helps stabilize both vitamins C and E, so that they're even more effective. To keep skin moisturized, hyaluronic acid is included in the formula, while konjac root and chamomile extract work to protect and soothe the skin. There's also a dose of clary sage, which acts as a natural toner and astringent.

"I have very sensitive skin and normally I cannot use vitamin C serums at all," writes a reviewer. "This one does not sting or burn at all." Another user notes, "Within a week or so, I saw a smoother texture to my skin. By the end of the bottle, my skin looked smoother, brighter, and three darker spots on my face [from sun damage] were at least 80 percent lighter."

3

A Vitamin C Serum That Produces An Instant Glow

Yes, all vitamin C serums brighten the skin with continued use, but The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost Instant Smoother also leaves skin glowing directly after you apply it, thanks to the tiny mineral glowing particles it contains. Long-term brightening, protecting, and collagen-boosting effects come from ascorbic acid and the vitamin C-packed camu camu berries that The Body Shop has hand harvested by local collectors on the riverbanks of the Amazon River. Vitamin E provides the skin with more protection against environmental aggressors as it softens, and Community Fair Trade Brazil nut oil further moisturizes the skin. Additionally, dimethicone and glycerin give the serum a smooth texture that helps to blur pores and even out skin tone, making this a great primer, too.

4

The Best Vitamin C Serum For Acne-Prone Skin

This serum might be a bit of a splurge, but its powerful formula means serious results. The brand works with a team of assorted experts to develop each product, including geneticists, biologists, and physicians. For their iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum Advance+, they developed a vitamin C combo that works for all skin types, including acne-prone. Time-released vitamin C means prolonged antioxidant protection, while vitamins E and A contribute even more antioxidant benefits. iS Clinical included inflammation-reducing zinc sulfate, blemish-preventing kojic acid, and nourishing olive leaf extract to combat signs of acne while helping to prevent future breakouts.

5

The Best Drugstore Vitamin C Serum

For a more affordable option, e.l.f's Beauty Shield Vitamin C Pollution Prevention Serum costs less than $20. Despite its low price, the serum still contains your vitamin C, as well as vitamin E and pomegranate extract, which provides even more vitamin C benefits. You'll also notice glycerin and hyaluronic acid on the ingredients list to leave the skin smooth and moisturized. It's even cruelty-free and vegan, and formulated without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.

6

The Best Vitamin C Booster Powder

If you're into DIY beauty (or you just want to customize your vitamin C application), a vitamin C booster powder, like the Resurrection Beauty L-Ascorbic Acid Powder, is the perfect choice. This jar solely contains vitamin C in the form of l-ascorbic acid, which is meant to be dissolved in water or witch hazel before being added into your favorite hydrating serum. It can even be added to your nightly moisturizer, sunscreen, or body lotion. Because you're mixing this yourself, you can start with a lower concentration of vitamin C, like 5 percent, and work your way up to 20 percent (the maximum amount recommended) as your skin learns to tolerate it.

Many Amazon reviewers share the different ways they use this powder to make custom treatments. "How terrific to find cosmetic grade vitamin C to make my own solution," one raves. "All skin care experts claim this is the best for anti-aging, however very unstable. This fixes the problem and at an reasonable price. I just mix small batches to last for a week. And in just a few weeks I can see the difference in my skin." Another recommends mixing it with aloe-vera for a skin-soothing and brightening mask.

Bustle may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from Bustle's editorial and sales departments.

Body Shop Vitamin C Mist

Source: https://www.bustle.com/p/the-6-best-vitamin-c-serums-16980515

Beauty Pie Vitamin C Capsules Review

Beauty Pie Vitamin C Capsules Review

BEAUTY

Beauty Pie Pure Double Vitamin C & Vitamin Capsules Review

As you know I love many items from Beauty Pie. I have had my eyes on their Superactive Capsules range for a while, in particular their Vitamin C ones. I finally decided to get them this year and I started using them last month.

What the brand says:

Our super-targeted 'one-shot' face serum capsules hold high doses of stable actives, so you can 'up your skincare-ante' as-and-when-needed, with a simple twist, squeeze and tap. Our Superactive Capsules, with a double dose of pure Vitamin C, is boosted with Vitamin E acetate for moisture and antioxidation. They also help to firm, smooth and brighten, minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and help even out skin tone. It's a daily must-have anti-aging vitamin dose for your skin.

Experience

I started using this on the 15^th of May every morning, I use 2 capsules for my face and neck. I add a few drops of the Ordinary's resveratrol & Ferulic acid serum for added antioxidant support but to also help with the texture of the serum (I will explain why later). I also layer The Inkey list's Q10 serum over this for added hydration. Each tub contains 60 capsules so using 2 a day gives you a 30 day supply. My morning routine is pictured above.

What I liked: the formula. This is essentially 10% ascorbic acid in a silicone base. It also contains Vitamin E and 0.5% vitamin C encapsulated for slow release. The silicone base allows this to feel almost like a primer on the skin. It also feels slightly gritty, I did experience some tingling in the first few days of using it but as my skin got used to it that went away. I mix it with the ordinary's serum because I want to ensure it doesn't pill when I layer other products on top but more importantly to get more antioxidant benefits. I also layer the Q10 serum on top of the capsules for added hydration and of course antioxidants. Using this every morning has really made a difference in my skin tone. My skin looks much brighter and healthier. I started to see results after 2 weeks of usage.

These capsules are the easiest capsules to twist open and use (compared to the Estee Lauder ampoules and the Elizabeth Arden ceramide capsules). BP has done a great job of packaging the Vitamin C. Vitamin C is highly unstable so by packaging them in capsules they remain fresh every time you use it. 2 is enough for face and neck and I use whatever is left on my chest or my hands, there's no left over serum to keep.

What I didn't like: nothing

Verdict: This year I decided to commit to using Vitamin C serums every morning! So I have been slowing researching Vitamin C serums and making my way through them. I think I have found the perfect Vitamin C serum for travelling and going forward I will be repurchasing this for trips.

I really really like this serum. The capsules are easy to use and it contains 10% ascorbic acid plus Vitamin E. To experience all the great benefits of Vitamin C, research shows products should have between 10-20% ascorbic acid. However, you can also experience great results from 5% too. Anything higher than 20% will work but you are more prone to irritation.

I only add the other serums to enhance the texture and for more antioxidants: I'm serious about antioxidant use in the morning. Highly recommend these capsules if you are searching for a good vitamin C serum to begin with. These are very popular and always sell out quickly so if you catch them in stock get a tub!

I've started writing down the start dates of products I use so I can tell exactly how long I was using them for and when I started to see results!

I wish they would bring more formulas in capsule form. I will be excited to see Q10 and some acids in capsule format. Treatment oils would be great too.

Beauty Pie Pure Double Vitamin C & E Capsules are £11.23 for members and £50 for non-members

Beauty Pie Vitamin C Capsules Review

Source: https://sarahfynn.com/2020/06/10/beauty-pie-pure-double-vitamin-c-vitamin-capsules-review/

Aliexpress Vitamin C

Aliexpress Vitamin C

Photo Courtesy: Flashpop/DigitalVision//Getty Images

Whether in the form of a fizzy drink or flavored lozenges, cold and flu preventative supplements almost always highlight vitamin C as one of their key ingredients. So, what's so magical about vitamin C? Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is critical to living healthily. Since the human body cannot spontaneously generate this nutrient, vitamin C must instead be absorbed from outside sources, such as vitamin supplements or foods that are naturally rich in it.

Commonly found in cold and flu preventative supplements, vitamin C strengthens and speeds up immune system functionality. Though research does not indicate that vitamin C intake alone can prevent the onset of cold or flu, adequate daily intake may shorten the duration of an infection or lessen the severity of symptoms.

Photo Courtesy: Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment/Getty Images

Vitamin C is crucial for the maintenance of well being. For example, it plays a role in wound healing and helps maintain many essential body tissues. It also acts as a potent antioxidant and can repair damage from free radicals, which are linked to aging effects, and disease vulnerability. Additionally, vitamin C can also prevent anemia, since it helps the body increase absorption of dietary iron, another vital mineral that the body cannot spontaneously create.

Foods that contain high concentrations of vitamin C have been linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart attack and stroke. Vitamin C can also increase levels of nitric oxide, a compound that widens blood vessels and, in turn, lowers blood pressure. In addition, regular intake of vitamin C, along with other vitamins, has been linked to a decreased risk for developing age-related cataracts, a leading cause of visual impairment in the United States.

Common Sources of Vitamin C

Vitamin C can be easily obtained through the many different foods, including:

Photo Courtesy: Akaradech Pramoonsin/Moment/Getty Images

• Citrus fruits and juices (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine)
• Berries
• Melons
• Mangoes
• Kiwi
• Tomato
• Broccoli
• Red peppers
• Spinach
• Squash
• Potatoes

Cooking these foods may result in the loss of some of the vitamin content, so it is ideal to ingest them raw, either whole or juiced. Nowadays, there are also numerous packaged food products, like cereals, that have been enriched and fortified with vitamin C, so that the nutrient can be easily obtained.

Vitamin C may also be labeled as "L-ascorbic acid" in supplement form, and most over-the-counter multivitamins contain the recommended daily amount of the vitamin. While it is a good source when an individual is in need of a vitamin C boost, supplements are not meant to replace a diet rich in naturally derived vitamin C.

What Happens When You Have Too Much — or Too Little — Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that can be easily flushed out of the body via urination when it is not needed. Therefore, if the main source of vitamin C is from naturally occurring foods, it is near-impossible for excess vitamin C to produce side effects. However, taking excessive concentrated vitamin C supplements may lead to diarrhea or stomach upset.

Photo Courtesy: Violeta Stoimenova/E+/Getty Images

Since vitamin C-rich foods are so readily available nowadays, symptoms of inadequate vitamin C intake are also rare in the United States. However, malnourished individuals can experience symptoms of vitamin C deficiency over time, including:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Easy bruising
• Joint pain
• Skin breakdown
• Weakened tooth enamel
• Gum inflammation

Severe vitamin C deficiency is referred to as scurvy. Scurvy can be easily treated with increased dietary or supplemental vitamin C. Since vitamin C is crucial in the detoxification of the body, a lack of vitamin C can compromise the immune system and make an individual more susceptible to diseases and infections. Individuals with insufficient vitamin C may find that it takes longer than usual to recover from a cold or a physical wound.

Daily Dosage Recommendations:

The daily dosage recommendation for vitamin C is different for everyone, depending on factors such as gender, age, lifestyle and current health condition. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin C is at least 75 mg daily for women and 90 mg for men. Since people who are pregnant, breast feeding, smoking or using oral contraceptives have a lower blood level of vitamin C than others, larger doses of vitamin C may be needed to achieve optimal results in these individuals. Those who have prior or current medical conditions may also require bigger or smaller dosage levels, as recommended by their healthcare providers.

Resource Links:

• "Vitamin C" via MedlinePlus
• "Vitamin C and Infections" via MDPI
• "Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials" via Hindawi, BioMed Research International
• "Vitamin C" via National Institutes of Health
• "Scurvy" via U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health
• "Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies" via The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• "Dietary vitamin and carotenoid intake and risk of age-related cataract" via The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• "Cardiovascular System" via Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine (via Springer)

MORE FROM SYMPTOMFIND.COM

Aliexpress Vitamin C

Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/vitamin-c-everything-you-need-to-know?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

Waitrose Effervescent Vitamin C

Waitrose Effervescent Vitamin C

Photo Courtesy: Flashpop/DigitalVision//Getty Images

Whether in the form of a fizzy drink or flavored lozenges, cold and flu preventative supplements almost always highlight vitamin C as one of their key ingredients. So, what's so magical about vitamin C? Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is critical to living healthily. Since the human body cannot spontaneously generate this nutrient, vitamin C must instead be absorbed from outside sources, such as vitamin supplements or foods that are naturally rich in it.

Commonly found in cold and flu preventative supplements, vitamin C strengthens and speeds up immune system functionality. Though research does not indicate that vitamin C intake alone can prevent the onset of cold or flu, adequate daily intake may shorten the duration of an infection or lessen the severity of symptoms.

Photo Courtesy: Catherine Falls Commercial/Moment/Getty Images

Vitamin C is crucial for the maintenance of well being. For example, it plays a role in wound healing and helps maintain many essential body tissues. It also acts as a potent antioxidant and can repair damage from free radicals, which are linked to aging effects, and disease vulnerability. Additionally, vitamin C can also prevent anemia, since it helps the body increase absorption of dietary iron, another vital mineral that the body cannot spontaneously create.

Foods that contain high concentrations of vitamin C have been linked with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, like heart attack and stroke. Vitamin C can also increase levels of nitric oxide, a compound that widens blood vessels and, in turn, lowers blood pressure. In addition, regular intake of vitamin C, along with other vitamins, has been linked to a decreased risk for developing age-related cataracts, a leading cause of visual impairment in the United States.

Common Sources of Vitamin C

Vitamin C can be easily obtained through the many different foods, including:

Photo Courtesy: Akaradech Pramoonsin/Moment/Getty Images

• Citrus fruits and juices (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime and tangerine)
• Berries
• Melons
• Mangoes
• Kiwi
• Tomato
• Broccoli
• Red peppers
• Spinach
• Squash
• Potatoes

Cooking these foods may result in the loss of some of the vitamin content, so it is ideal to ingest them raw, either whole or juiced. Nowadays, there are also numerous packaged food products, like cereals, that have been enriched and fortified with vitamin C, so that the nutrient can be easily obtained.

Vitamin C may also be labeled as "L-ascorbic acid" in supplement form, and most over-the-counter multivitamins contain the recommended daily amount of the vitamin. While it is a good source when an individual is in need of a vitamin C boost, supplements are not meant to replace a diet rich in naturally derived vitamin C.

What Happens When You Have Too Much — or Too Little — Vitamin C?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that can be easily flushed out of the body via urination when it is not needed. Therefore, if the main source of vitamin C is from naturally occurring foods, it is near-impossible for excess vitamin C to produce side effects. However, taking excessive concentrated vitamin C supplements may lead to diarrhea or stomach upset.

Photo Courtesy: Violeta Stoimenova/E+/Getty Images

Since vitamin C-rich foods are so readily available nowadays, symptoms of inadequate vitamin C intake are also rare in the United States. However, malnourished individuals can experience symptoms of vitamin C deficiency over time, including:

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Anemia
• Easy bruising
• Joint pain
• Skin breakdown
• Weakened tooth enamel
• Gum inflammation

Severe vitamin C deficiency is referred to as scurvy. Scurvy can be easily treated with increased dietary or supplemental vitamin C. Since vitamin C is crucial in the detoxification of the body, a lack of vitamin C can compromise the immune system and make an individual more susceptible to diseases and infections. Individuals with insufficient vitamin C may find that it takes longer than usual to recover from a cold or a physical wound.

Daily Dosage Recommendations:

The daily dosage recommendation for vitamin C is different for everyone, depending on factors such as gender, age, lifestyle and current health condition. The recommended daily dosage for vitamin C is at least 75 mg daily for women and 90 mg for men. Since people who are pregnant, breast feeding, smoking or using oral contraceptives have a lower blood level of vitamin C than others, larger doses of vitamin C may be needed to achieve optimal results in these individuals. Those who have prior or current medical conditions may also require bigger or smaller dosage levels, as recommended by their healthcare providers.

Resource Links:

• "Vitamin C" via MedlinePlus
• "Vitamin C and Infections" via MDPI
• "Extra Dose of Vitamin C Based on a Daily Supplementation Shortens the Common Cold: A Meta-Analysis of 9 Randomized Controlled Trials" via Hindawi, BioMed Research International
• "Vitamin C" via National Institutes of Health
• "Scurvy" via U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, National Institutes of Health
• "Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies" via The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• "Dietary vitamin and carotenoid intake and risk of age-related cataract" via The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• "Cardiovascular System" via Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine (via Springer)

MORE FROM SYMPTOMFIND.COM

Waitrose Effervescent Vitamin C

Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/vitamin-c-everything-you-need-to-know?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

Vitamin C Heat Sensitive

Vitamin C Heat Sensitive

Photo Courtesy: KARRASTOCK/Moment/Getty Images

Nearly 2 million American adults each year are diagnosed with cancer. If you receive a diagnosis, your schedule can quickly start to fill up with doctor's appointments, medical procedures and pharmacy visits. Creating a checklist of things to do can help keep you busy and feeling more in control. But acknowledging the effects a cancer diagnosis can have on your emotions — and healthily managing those emotions — is almost as important.

Doctors and psychologists now recognize that healing improves after a diagnosis when both our physical and emotional needs are met, says Niki Barr, Ph.D., a psychotherapist at the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders in Texas, who consults with medical doctors, extended families and caregivers about emotionally coping with a cancer diagnosis.

Learning you have cancer is a stressful experience, and it's important to acknowledge and cope with that stress. Fully understanding how your emotional needs can change after you receive a cancer diagnosis can go a long way in helping you and your family heal. The tips here can help you support your mental health as you navigate your diagnosis and treatment.

Photo Courtesy: burakkarademir/E+/Getty Images

Upon hearing your diagnosis, you might experience grief, fear or even a feeling of denial until some time has passed. "These are all normal and emotionally healthy responses, but it's all too easy to spiral out of control with fear in the beginning," says Barr. Fortunately, these tips can help you manage the anxiety and fear that come along with learning about a cancer diagnosis.

Lessen the Impact of Anxious Thoughts

Start by writing your thoughts down on note cards or in a journal. Identify the first one that's leading you to feel uneasy. For example, you might write down something like "I'm afraid of my hair falling out." Then, move onto the subsequent fear and write it down. That might be something like "People will treat me differently if they see I have cancer."

When you've identified most of your anxious thoughts, go back to the first one and write something new on the card that can help ease your stress. It should be a thought that's confident and empowering. For example, suppose you're worried about your hair falling out. In that case, a positive view could be: "I've been looking forward to getting a new hairstyle anyway." When you're feeling nervous, read the more positive strategies, says Barr.

Work On Your Internal Dialogue

It can also help to defuse all those "What if?" questions you might ask yourself, such as "What if my cancer has spread?" or "What if the treatment doesn't work?" One scary question tends to lead to another and often turns into full-fledged anxiety. Try to focus on those things you have the power to improve on your own. The next time you start asking yourself the what-ifs, substitute the upsetting ideas with this one: "Is this thought helping me or hurting me?" You can also ask, "Is this thought moving me forward or backward?" Your answers might surprise you, and they can help you move away from the thoughts that are holding you back.

Get Grounded

Interrupting periods of anxiety by focusing on small details around you can help you shift your perspective away from negativity and towards the present moment. "Look at the beautiful color of the walls in the room you're in; look at the person you're talking to, the clothes [they're] wearing," Barr suggests. Becoming very present and focused on physical details nearby helps soothe sudden anxious thoughts. Turn your focus towards absorbing the colors, smells, people and each new sound around you. Build those sensations up very clearly in your mind. You can use this technique as a distraction tool the next time you're waiting for a medical procedure or want a diversion from your thoughts.

Meditate to Music

Research shows that 15 to 30 minutes of both guided imagery and soothing tunes can alleviate deep feelings of stress about a cancer diagnosis. The Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) reviewed 30 clinical cancer trials that analyzed more than 1,890 cancer patients. They found that music therapy can have a beneficial effect on anxiety, pain, mood, quality of life, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure.

The CTCA also offers many classes and therapies to help people relax, reduce stress and improve their quality of life as part of an extensive mind-body medicine program. Many centers provide calming background music during healing therapies.

What Are Your Next Steps?

Photo Courtesy: Peathegee Inc/Getty Images

You have a cancer diagnosis: Now what? Learning how to clear your mind and focus on positive thoughts is a helpful step in the right direction. Here are other soul-soothing strategies you can try.

Start Journaling and Reflecting

Research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown that expressing your innermost feelings can reduce stress and have a range of other emotional and social benefits. Researchers aren't sure why putting thoughts down on paper is effective. Still, it allows you to process complex emotions and help you chart a way forward, whether you've been diagnosed with cancer or are taking care of someone who has.

Exercise When Possible

Exercising for 2.5 hours per week can help you beat symptoms of depression and fatigue. Among the nation's millions of cancer survivors, there are hints — but not proof yet — that active exercisers may lower their risk of their cancer coming back.

The American College of Sports Medicine hosted a medical panel of cancer specialists to evaluate this exercise evidence. It issued guidelines suggesting that cancer patients and survivors should exercise for about 30 minutes most days of the week. This exercise should be enjoyable to you but also build up a sweat. When patients and their family caregivers exercised together, research found, everyone was more likely to stick with the fitness regimen, boost their physical stamina and experience less emotional strain.

Strengthen Your Social Support System

Connecting with others who've been through this kind of emotional diagnosis already can be a source of comfort and support. Learn more about online communities and your local chapters and support groups that meet up. The American Cancer Society also suggests attending one-on-one professional therapy or its "I Can Cope" online support groups to learn more.

Resource Links:

Find Local Cancer Support Programs | Cancer Support Groups

Strategies Used in Coping With a Cancer Diagnosis Predict Meaning in Life for Survivors

Coping Well with Advanced Cancer: A Serial Qualitative Interview Study with Patients and Family Carers

Coping with cancer

Coping Attitudes of Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers and Quality of Life of Caregivers

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Vitamin C Heat Sensitive

Source: https://www.symptomfind.com/health/tips-coping-with-cancer-diagnosis?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740013%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

How Long To Wait Between Vitamin C And Niacinamide

How Long To Wait Between Vitamin C And Niacinamide

Niacinamide & Vitamin C: Friends Or Foes? Derms Explain How To Layer Them

Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may earn a small commission.

Ask any derm, esthetician, or beauty editor about their daily skin care routine, and chances are they'll name-drop niacinamide (aka vitamin B3) and vitamin C pretty early on in the conversation. They are the ultimate crowd-pleasers, after all: Each ingredient has an impressive résumé of benefits with—quite literally—glowing reviews.

Since they're so beloved in skin care, you may be wondering: Can you use niacinamide and vitamin C together? Or are the two formulas more like frenemies—seemingly tolerable but way too competitive to ever have a meaningful relationship? Ahead, experts weigh in.

In This Article

• 1

  Vitamin C

  2

  Niacinamide

• 3

  Can you use them together?

  4

  How to layer them both

• 5

  The takeaway

Vitamin C.

First, let's review some of the highlights of each buzzy ingredient. We'll start with vitamin C:

• Fades dark spots and helps even skin tone: This is perhaps the most famous benefit. Using vitamin C topically has been shown to help overall quality and tone by diminishing hyperpigmentation and brightening the complexion.
• Plays a vital role in collagen production: Vitamin C doesn't just stimulate collagen production; it stabilizes the collagen you already have, leading to overall wrinkle reduction. Take it from board-certified dermatologist Julia T. Hunter, M.D., founder of Wholistic Dermatology in Beverly Hills: "If you don't have vitamin C, your collagen can't cross-link to lift and tighten skin," she tells us about the ingredient.
• Helps fight oxidative stress: Because vitamin C is a potent antioxidant, it can fend off free radicals and support a balanced inflammatory response in the skin; research has even shown it can help against UV-induced photodamage.

See here for our full list of benefits.

Niacinamide

Ahead, find praise for the highly esteemed vitamin B3:

• Tackles hyperpigmentation: "When applied topically, niacinamide helps reduce the appearance of brown spots, blotchiness, and redness and brightens the overall complexion," board-certified dermatologist Caren Campbell, M.D., previously told mbg.
• Helps treat acne: One study showed that applying a topical formula of 4% niacinamide treated moderate acne just as well as 1% of the topical antibiotic clindamycin.
• Helps soften fine lines: "It helps prevent and treat signs of aging due to reactive oxygen species, which typically break up collagen and elastin and can result in sagging wrinkles in skin," says Campbell. And various studies have shown that applying vitamin B topically also helped produce new skin cells and improve elasticity in the skin.

Find our full guide to niacinamide here, as well as the best niacinamide serums (if you're in the market).

Can you use them together?

Short, basic answer? Yes! As you likely noticed above, niacinamide actually carries similar benefits to vitamin C, anyway. The two ingredients can even complement each other, which is why you may find niacinamide and stable forms of vitamin C in the same skin-brightening product (our recommendations, below).

Here's where things get hairy: Older research has shown that mixing vitamin C—specifically the unstable ascorbic acid—with niacinamide can convert it to the compound niacin, which can cause flushing (think blotchy, inflamed skin).

However, the science may be a bit overstated: It actually takes extremely high heat for the two ingredients to convert to niacin, which is unlikely to happen in skin care formulations. That older study used nonstabilized forms of both ingredients in a high-temperature environment—one that did not represent typical skin care products in development, manufacturing, or in real-world storage and usage.

If you're at all worried, though, many experts (including board-certified internist and holistic skin care expert Zion Ko Lamm, M.D., in a TikTok video) advise to proceed with caution when layering the two ingredients, especially if your skin is already sensitive to niacinamide itself.

The bottom line? It is possible that combining niacinamide and vitamin C can convert to niacin and cause flushing, but it would need to be exposed to a super-high heat to get to that point. Skin care formulations don't tend to reach those levels of heat, so you should be just fine—but if your skin falls more on the sensitive side, you might still want to proceed with caution. And if you do have sensitive skin, you might want to use low concentrations of niacinamide, typically no greater than 2%, to avoid irritation.

How to layer them both.

If you're interested in using both actives, here's how to make sure they don't cancel each other out—or cause irritation:

1. Use your vitamin C serum first, and let it dry.

Since vitamin C is notoriously unstable, you always want to apply it on clean, dry skin. Then "Let vitamin C completely dry prior to placing niacinamide," says Lamm. That way, the ascorbic acid has a chance to settle into the skin, and there's a smaller chance of combining the two actives. Board-certified dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann, M.D., seconds the advice: "It takes a bit of time for products to absorb. The skin should appear dry before applying the next product," she once told us about layering serums.

Although, you should always apply your skin care products from thinnest to thickest: So, say, if you have a niacinamide serum and a vitamin-C-infused moisturizer, apply the serum first, then follow up with the cream.

2. Find a product with both ingredients.

To make things easier, you can always find a product that incorporates both vitamin C and niacinamide, like this Daily Dose serum from epi.logic or this Triple Active Reclaiming Serum from January Labs.

3. Use niacinamide in your moisturizer.

"One of niacinamide's greatest strengths is that it can play nice with everyone. Instead of dedicating a whole product step to a niacinamide serum, consider a chemist-favorite move and leave niacinamide to your moisturizer," cosmetic chemists Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu previously shared with mbg.

Since niacinamide pairs so well with other ingredients (unlike vitamin C), you may be better off sticking to a pure vitamin C serum, then following up with a hydrating moisturizer that contains niacinamide—you won't have to worry about the niacinamide not doing its job since it's pretty stable overall.

The takeaway.

Yes, you can use both vitamin C and niacinamide, but mind the above tips so you don't end up canceling the ingredients out. Layer them correctly, though, and you may even punch up their purported benefits.

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How Long To Wait Between Vitamin C And Niacinamide

Source: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/niacinamide-and-vitamin-c

Ciracle Vitamin Source C 20

Ciracle Vitamin Source C 20

Vitamin Source C-20

n all-in-one vitamin essence that cares the skin tone, pores, blackheads, elasticity, and texture. 20% of pure vitamin C tends the dull, rough, and sagging skin brightly and smoothly. The stabilized vitamin essence vitalizes the skin without stimulating the skin excessively.

Uploaded by: pat_kiki on 05/23/2020

Ingredients overview

Water, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Glucose, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Beta-Glucan, Xanthan Gum, PEG-180, Gluconolactone, Rosa Davurica Bud Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Zinc Pca, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/​VP Copolymer, Glycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lecithin, Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Ubiquinone, Diisopropyl Adipate, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben

Highlights

Key Ingredients

Other Ingredients

Moisturizer/humectant: Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Beta-Glucan, PEG-180, Zinc Pca, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Glycerin

Skim through

Ingredient name	what-it-does	irr., com.	ID-Rating
Water	solvent
Ascorbic Acid	antioxidant, skin brightening, buffering		superstar
Alcohol	antimicrobial/​antibacterial, solvent, viscosity controlling		icky
Butylene Glycol	moisturizer/​humectant, solvent, viscosity controlling	0, 1
Sodium Lactate	buffering, moisturizer/​humectant		goodie
Glucose	moisturizer/​humectant		goodie
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil	emulsifying, surfactant/​cleansing
Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Flower Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate	skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/​humectant	0, 0	goodie
Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane	emollient, moisturizer/​humectant, surfactant/​cleansing
Diethoxyethyl Succinate	solvent
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract	antioxidant, soothing		superstar
Beta-Glucan	soothing, moisturizer/​humectant		goodie
Xanthan Gum	viscosity controlling
PEG-180	moisturizer/​humectant, solvent
Gluconolactone	exfoliant, chelating		superstar
Rosa Davurica Bud Extract	antioxidant
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil	perfuming		icky
Zinc Pca	anti-acne, moisturizer/​humectant		goodie
Panthenol	soothing, moisturizer/​humectant	0, 0	goodie
Niacinamide	cell-communicating ingredient, skin brightening, anti-acne, moisturizer/​humectant		superstar
Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer	viscosity controlling
Glycerin	skin-identical ingredient, moisturizer/​humectant	0, 0	superstar
Tocopheryl Acetate	antioxidant	0, 0
Lecithin	emollient, emulsifying		goodie
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride	emollient
Ubiquinone	antioxidant		goodie
Diisopropyl Adipate	emollient, solvent	0, 0
Phenoxyethanol	preservative
Methylparaben	preservative	0, 0
Propylparaben	preservative, perfuming	0, 0

Ciracle Vitamin Source C-20

Ingredients explained

Also-called: Aqua | What-it-does: solvent

Good old water, aka H2O. The most common skincare ingredient of all. You can usually find it right in the very first spot of the ingredient list, meaning it's the biggest thing out of all the stuff that makes up the product.

It's mainly a solvent for ingredients that do not like to dissolve in oils but rather in water.

Once inside the skin, it hydrates, but not from the outside - putting pure water on the skin (hello long baths!) is drying.

One more thing: the water used in cosmetics is purified and deionized (it means that almost all of the mineral ions inside it is removed). Like this, the products can stay more stable over time.

• Works best between a concentration of 5-20%
• Boosts the skin's own collagen production
• Fades pigmentation and brown spots
• If used under sunscreen it boosts its UV protection
• Extremely unstable and oxidizes very easily in presence of light or air
• Stable in solutions with water only if pH is less than 3.5 or in waterless formulations
• Vit E + C work in synergy and provide superb photoprotection
• Ferulic acid doubles the photoprotection effect of Vit C+E and helps to stabilize Vit C
• Potent Vit. C serums might cause a slight tingling on sensitive skin

Read all the geeky details about Ascorbic Acid here >>

Simply alcohol refers to ethanol and it's a pretty controversial ingredient. It has many instant benefits: it's a great solvent, penetration enhancer, creates cosmetically elegant, light formulas, great astringent and antimicrobial. No wonder it's popular in toners and oily skin formulas.

The downside is that it can be very drying if it's in the first few ingredients on an ingredient list.

Some experts even think that regular exposure to alcohol damages skin barrier and causes inflammation though it's a debated opinion. If you wanna know more, we wrote a more detailed explanation about what's the deal with alcohol in skincare products at alcohol denat. (it's also alcohol, but with some additives to make sure no one drinks it).

Butylene glycol, or let's just call it BG, is a multi-tasking colorless, syrupy liquid. It's a great pick for creating a nice feeling product.

BG's main job is usually to be a solvent for the other ingredients. Other tasks include helping the product to absorb faster and deeper into the skin (penetration enhancer), making the product spread nicely over the skin (slip agent), and attracting water (humectant) into the skin.

It's an ingredient whose safety hasn't been questioned so far by anyone (at least not that we know about). BG is approved by Ecocert and is also used enthusiastically in natural products. BTW, it's also a food additive.

The sodium salt of lactic acid. It's a great skin moisturizer and also used to regulate the pH value of the cosmetic formula. It's a natural ingredient approved by both ECOCERT and COSMOS.

A fancy name for sugar. Luckily when you put it on your skin it's good for you not like when you eat it. :) It has water-binding properties, which means that it helps to keep your skin nice and hydrated.

A castor oil derived, white, lard-like helper ingredient that is used as a solubilizer to put fragrances (those are oil loving things) into water-based products such as toners.

We don't have description for this ingredient yet.

It's the - sodium form - cousin of the famous NMF, hyaluronic acid (HA). If HA does not tell you anything we have a super detailed, geeky explanation about it here.  The TL; DR version of HA is that it's a huge polymer (big molecule from repeated subunits) found in the skin that acts as a sponge helping the skin to hold onto water, being plump and elastic. HA is famous for its crazy water holding capacity as it can bind up to 1000 times its own weight in water.

As far as skincare goes, sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid are pretty much the same and the two names are used interchangeably. As cosmetic chemist kindofstephen writes on reddit  "sodium hyaluronate disassociates into hyaluronic acid molecule and a sodium atom in solution".

In spite of this, if you search for "hyaluronic acid vs sodium hyaluronate" you will find on multiple places that sodium hyaluronate is smaller and can penetrate the skin better. Chemically, this is definitely not true, as the two forms are almost the same, both are polymers and the subunits can be repeated in both forms as much as you like. (We also checked Prospector for sodium hyaluronate versions actually used in cosmetic products and found that the most common molecular weight was 1.5-1.8 million Da that absolutely counts as high molecular weight).

What seems to be a true difference, though, is that the salt form is more stable, easier to formulate and cheaper so it pops up more often on the ingredient lists.

If you wanna become a real HA-and-the-skin expert you can read way more about the topic at hyaluronic acid (including penetration-questions, differences between high and low molecular weight versions and a bunch of references to scientific literature).

Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane is a silicone that is water dispersible (as opposed to most other silicones that are usually oil dispersible). It makes the skin smooth and nice (emollient), moisturizes, helps to reduce tackiness, and also has some foam boosting properties. It is often used in light, watery formulas to give them an extra silky feel.

We don't have description for this ingredient yet.

• Green tea is one of the most researched natural ingredients
• The active parts are called polyphenols, or more precisely catechins (EGCG being the most abundant and most active catechin)
• There can be huge quality differences between green tea extracts. The good ones contain 50-90% catechins (and often make the product brown and give it a distinctive smell)
• Green tea is proven to be a great antioxidant, UV protectant, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial
• Because of these awesome properties green tea is a great choice for anti-aging and also for skin diseases including rosacea, acne and atopic dermatitis

Read all the geeky details about Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract here >>

Beta-Glucan is a nice big molecule composed of many smaller sugar molecules (called polysaccharide). It's in the cell walls of yeast, some mushrooms, seaweeds, and cereals.

It's a real goodie no matter if you eat it or put it on your face. Eating it is anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, and even lowers blood cholesterol.

Putting it on your face also does a bunch of good things: it's shown to have intensive skin repairing & wound healing properties, it's a mild antioxidant, a great skin soother, and moisturizer, and it even shows promising anti-aging benefits.

The manufacturer of the ingredient did a published study with 27 people and examined the effect of 0.1% beta-glucan. They found that despite the large molecular size the smaller factions of beta-glucan penetrate into the skin, even into the dermis (the middle layer of the skin where wrinkles form). After 8 weeks there was a significant reduction of wrinkle depth and height and skin roughness has also improved greatly.

Bottom line: Beta-glucan is a great ingredient, especially for sensitive or damaged skin. It soothes, moisturizes, and has some anti-aging magic properties.

It's one of the most commonly used thickeners and emulsion stabilizers. If the product is too runny, a little xanthan gum will make it more gel-like. Used alone, it can make the formula sticky and it is a good team player so it is usually combined with other thickeners and so-called rheology modifiers (helper ingredients that adjust the flow and thus the feel of the formula). The typical use level of Xantha Gum is below 1%, it is usually in the 0.1-0.5% range.

Btw, Xanthan gum is all natural, a chain of sugar molecules (polysaccharide) produced from individual sugar molecules (glucose and sucrose) via fermentation. It's approved by Ecocert and also used in the food industry (E415).

We don't have description for this ingredient yet.

• It's a polyhydroxy acid (PHA), that is often referred to as next generation AHA
• It gently lifts off dead skin cells form the skin surface making skin smooth and even
• In the long term it provides anti-aging benefits, like increased skin thickness and decreased wrinkles (though a tad less than even more proven superstar AHAs)
• It's a great moisturizer and even helps to repair impaired skin barrier
• It's antioxidant, and does not make your skin more sensitive to the sun
• It can be used even if your skin is very sensitive, rosacea prone or if you are post cosmetic procedure

Read all the geeky details about Gluconolactone here >>

We don't have description for this ingredient yet.

Also-called: Orange Oil | What-it-does: perfuming

The essential oil coming from the sweet orange. In the case of orange (and citruses in general), the essential oil is mainly in the peel of the fruit, so it's pretty much the same as the orange peel oil (also has the same CAS number - a unique ID assigned to chemicals).

Its main component is limonene (up to 97%), a super common fragrant ingredient that makes everything smell nice (but counts as a frequent skin sensitizer).

If you have oily, acne-prone skin, Zinc PCA is one of the actives to put on your "TO TRY" list.

It's a synergistic association of two great things: Zinc and L-PCA. The Zinc part is there to help normalize sebum production and limit the proliferation of evil acne-causing bacteria. L-PCA stands for pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and it's a key molecule in the skin that helps with processes ofhydration and energy (it's actually an NMF, a natural moisturizing factor).

L-PCA is not only there to hydrate the skin, but it also helps to increase the efficacy and bioavailability of zinc. An in-vivo (done on real people) test done by the manufacturer shows that Zinc PCA reduces sebum production statistically significantly after 28 days of application (1% was used in the test), and in-vitro (made in the lab) measurements show that Zinc PCA has strong anti-microbial activity against P. acnes (between 0.1-0.25%) and other bacterial strains.

If that would not be enough there is also a 2011 research paper saying that based on in-vitro (made in the lab, not on real people)  findings Zinc PCA might be a promising anti-aging active that helps with the production of type I collagen (and we all know more collagen = firmer skin).

All in all, definitely a goodie for oily, acne-prone skin.

An easy-to-formulate, commonly used, nice to have ingredient that's also called pro-vitamin B5. As you might guess from the "pro" part, it's a precursor to vitamin B5 (whose fancy name is pantothenic acid).

Its main job in skincare products is to moisturise the skin. It's a humectant meaning that it can help the skin to attract water and then hold onto it. There is also research showing that panthenol can help our skin to produce more lovely lipids that are important for a strong and healthy skin barrier.

Another great thing about panthenol is that it has anti-inflammatory and skin protecting abilities. A study shows that it can reduce the irritation caused by less-nice other ingredients (e.g. fragrance, preservatives or chemical sunscreens) in the product.

Research also shows that it might be useful for wound healing as it promotes fibroblast (nice type of cells in our skin that produce skin-firming collagen) proliferation.

If that wasn't enough panthenol is also useful in nail and hair care products. A study shows that a nail treatment liquide with 2% panthenol could effectively get into the nail and significantly increase the hydration of it.

As for the hair the hydration effect is also true there. Panthenol might make your hair softer, more elastic and helps to comb your hair more easily.

• A multi-functional skincare superstar with several proven benefits for the skin
• Great anti-aging, wrinkle smoothing ingredient used at 4-5% concentration
• Fades brown spots alone or in combination with amino sugar, acetyl glucosamine
• Increases ceramide synthesis that results in a stronger, healthier skin barrier and better skin hydration
• Can help to improve several skin conditions including acne, rosacea, and atopic dermatitis

Read all the geeky details about Niacinamide here >>

A kind of polymer (big molecule from repeated subunits) that helps to create beautiful gel-like textures. It's also a texturizer and thickener for oil-in-water emulsions. It gives products a good skin feel and does not make the formula tacky or sticky.

It works over a wide pH range and is used between 0.5-1.2%.

• A natural moisturizer that's also in our skin
• A super common, safe, effective and cheap molecule used for more than 50 years
• Not only a simple moisturizer but knows much more: keeps the skin lipids between our skin cells in a healthy (liquid crystal) state, protects against irritation, helps to restore barrier
• Effective from as low as 3% with even more benefits at higher concentrations up to 20-40% (around 10% is a good usability-effectiveness sweet spot)
• High-glycerin moisturizers are awesome for treating severely dry skin

Read all the geeky details about Glycerin here >>

Also-called: Vitamin E Acetate | What-it-does: antioxidant | Irritancy: 0 | Comedogenicity: 0

It's the most commonly used version of pure vitamin E in cosmetics. You can read all about the pure form here. This one is the so-called esterified version.

According to famous dermatologist, Leslie Baumann while tocopheryl acetate is more stable and has a longer shelf life, it's also more poorly absorbed by the skin and may not have the same awesome photoprotective effects as pure Vit E.

A very common ingredient that can be found in all cell membranes. In cosmetics it's quite the multi-tasker: it's an emollient and water-binding ingredient but it's also an emulsifier and can be used for stabilization purposes. It's also often used to create liposomes.

A super common emollient that makes your skin feel nice and smooth. It comes from coconut oil and glycerin, it's light-textured, clear, odorless and non-greasy. It's a nice ingredient that just feels good on the skin, is super well tolerated by every skin type and easy to formulate with. No wonder it's popular.

Also-called: Coenzyme Q10 | What-it-does: antioxidant

Thanks to Nivea, Q10 is a pretty well-known ingredient and the fame and Beiersdorf's (the parent company of Nivea) obsession with it are not for no reason. It's an antioxidant found naturally in human cells where it plays a bigrole in energy production.

In fact, it's so important for energy production that if taken as an oral supplement it has a caffeine-like effect and if taken at night you will probably not sleep very well (so you should take it in the morning). Q10 supplementation is not a bad idea: it not only gives you energy but research also shows that oral Q10 increases the Q10 level of the skin (of course, it decreases with age like pretty much every good thing in the skin) and may help to reduce wrinkles. If you are not for supplements, dietary sources include fish, spinach, and nuts.

As for skincare, Q10 comes in the form of a yellow, oil-soluble powder that's shown to absorb into the upper layer of the skin and act there like an awesome antioxidant. Itnot only has preventative effects but might also be able to reduce the depth of wrinkles, though 0.3% Q10 was used in the study that counts as really high (products containing that much should be very yellow!).

What-it-does: emollient, solvent | Irritancy: 0 | Comedogenicity: 0

A water light oily liquid (aka ester) that has a light skin feeling and is often used to reduce tackiness and lighten the feel of heavier emollients. It's popular in sunscreens to "lighten up" oil soluble chemical UV filters.

It's pretty much the current IT-preservative. It's safe and gentle, but even more importantly, it's not a feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason paraben.

It's not something new: it was introduced around 1950 and today it can be used up to 1% worldwide. It can be found in nature - in green tea - but the version used in cosmetics is synthetic.

Other than having a good safety profile and being quite gentle to the skin it has some other advantages too. It can be used in many types of formulations as it has great thermal stability (can be heated up to 85°C) and works on a wide range of pH levels (ph 3-10).

It's often used together with ethylhexylglycerin as it nicely improves the preservative activity of phenoxyethanol.

What-it-does: preservative | Irritancy: 0 | Comedogenicity: 0

The most common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason parabens. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient to make sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon.

Apart from the general controversy around parabens (we wrote about it more here), there is a 2006 in-vitro (made in the lab not on real people) research about methylparaben (MP) showing that when exposed to sunlight, MP treated skin cells suffered more harm than non-MP treated skin cells. The study was not done with real people on real skin but still - using a good sunscreen next to MP containing products is a good idea. (Well, in fact using a sunscreen is always a good idea. :))

A very common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason parabens. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient tomake sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon.

You may also want to take a look at...

Normal (well kind of - it's purified and deionized) water. Usually the main solvent in cosmetic products. [more]

Pure Vitamin C. A skincare superstar that is clinically proven to boost collagen production (in 5-20% concentration), fade hyperpigmentation and boost UV protection under sunscreen. Also, it's extremely unstable and hard to formulate. [more]

Simple alcohol that's a great solvent, penetration enhancer, creates cosmetically elegant, light formulas, great astringent, and antimicrobial. In large amount can be very drying. [more]

An often used glycol that works as a solvent, humectant, penetration enhancer and also gives a good slip to the products. [more]

The sodium salt of lactic acid. It's a great skin moisturizer and also used to regulate the pH value of the cosmetic formula. [more]

Sugar - as a skincare ingredient it has water-binding properties, which means that it helps to keep your skin nice and hydrated.  [more]

A castor oil derived, white, lard-like helper ingredient that is used as a solubilizer to put fragrances into water-based products such as toners.

It's the salt form of famous humectant and natural moisturizing factor, hyaluronic acid. It can bind huge amounts of water and it's pretty much the current IT-moisturizer. [more]

A type of silicone that makes the skin smooth and nice (emollient), moisturizes and helps to reduce the tackiness of the products. [more]

A great skin soother and moisturizer, and it even shows promising anti-aging benefits. It's also shown to have wound healing properties and is a mild antioxidant. [more]

A super commonly used thickener and emulsion stabilizer. [more]

A next generation AHA, a so-called PHA that gently exfoliates skin without irritation. It also moisturizes and helps the skin barrier. It also has antioxidant properties. [more]

The essential oil coming from the sweet orange. Its main component is limonene (up to 97%), a super common fragrant ingredient that makes everything smell nice. [more]

A synergistic combination of Zinc and l-PCA that can reduce sebum production and limit the proliferation of evil acne-causing bacteria. A goodie for oily, acne-prone skin. [more]

Pro-Vitamin B5 is a goodie that moisturises the skin, has anti-inflammatory, skin protecting and wound healing properties. [more]

A multi-functional skincare superstar that has clinically proven anti-aging, skin lightening, anti-inflammatory and barrier repair properties. [more]

A kind of polymer (big molecule from repeated subunits) that helps to create beautiful gel-like textures. It's also a texturizer and thickener for oil-in-water emulsions. [more]

A real oldie but a goodie. Great natural moisturizer and skin-identical ingredient that plays an important role in skin hydration and general skin health. [more]

A form of vitamin E that works as an antioxidant. Compared to the pure form it's more stable, has longer shelf life, but it's also more poorly absorbed by the skin. [more]

It's quite the multi-tasker: an emollient and water-binding ingredient but also an emulsifier and can be used for stabilization purposes. It's also often used to create liposomes.  [more]

A very common emollient that makes your skin feel nice and smooth. Comes from coconut oil and glycerin, it's light-textured, clear, odorless and non-greasy. [more]

Q10 - an antioxidant found naturally in human cells where it plays an important role in energy production. As for skincare, it works as an awesome antioxidant that might also be able to reduce wrinkle depth. [more]

A water white oily liquid (aka ester) that has a light skin feeling and is often used to reduce tackiness and lighten the feel of heavier emollients

Pretty much the current IT-preservative. It's safe and gentle, and can be used up to 1% worldwide. [more]

The most common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason parabens. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient to make sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon.  Apart from the general controversy around parabens (we wrote about it more here), there is a 2006 in-vitro (made in the lab not on real people) research about methylparaben (MP) sho [more]

A very common type of feared-by-everyone-mostly-without-scientific-reason parabens. It's a cheap, effective and well-tolerated ingredient to make sure the cosmetic formula does not go wrong too soon. [more]

Ciracle Vitamin Source C 20

Source: https://incidecoder.com/products/ciracle-vitamin-source-c-20