Retinol and Vitamin C are two of the most powerful skincare ingredients today.
Retinol is extremely effective for stimulating collagen production, treating acne, tightening the skin, softening skin texture and leveling skin pigment. Vitamin C can single-handedly brighten the skin, shield the skin from pollutants and sun damage, treat hyperpigmentation, and reduce skin inflammation and redness.
Used separately, these two ingredients can target specific skin conditions but when used together, Retinol and Vitamin C create the ultimate skin-beautifying duo for any skin type. Before we divulge the benefits of using this powerful skincare combination in unison, it helps to understand why and how these two ingredients work so well individually.
HOW DOES RETINOL WORK?
Retinol, a form of vitamin A, aids the body in cellular turnover which is the biological process by which our bodies are prompted to shed skin cells and regenerate new skin cells. It’s the process responsible for ridding our old, dead, dull skin cells and replacing them with new, strong, radiant cells.
Our surface skin cells have been through a lot. Every day, they face pollution, dirt, debris, and grime... all factors that leave our skin cells dry, flaky, discolored, and anything but desirable. Studies have shown that air pollutants are actually linked to a number of skin conditions, like eczema, skin aging, dermatitis, acne, and psoriasis.
By shedding these damaged skin cells and telling our bodies to produce new skin cells, the cellular turnover process (boosted by Retinol) can heal and reinvigorate our skin for a youthful, healthy, ageless skin.
HOW DOES VITAMIN C WORK?
Vitamin C, also known as L-ascorbic acid on a chemical level, is an antioxidant. This means its function is to neutralize free radicals, unstable molecules that damage not only our skin cells but all of our cells. Free radicals are known to cause cancer, diabetes, eye diseases, and various other life-threatening conditions. Unstable by nature, free radicals are missing an electron — and all electrons need to be paired for them to function properly. This unpaired electron causes the unstable molecule to attack a stable molecule and steal an electron, rendering the stable molecule unstable. Thus, this electron-stealing behavior creates a chain reaction of unstable molecules taking the stable ones with them.
It’s important for us to neutralize these free radicals as quickly as possible, before they cause a mass chain reaction of damaging cells. That’s where antioxidants (and more specifically, Vitamin C) come into the picture. Vitamin C counteracts free radicals by providing them with their missing electron, which successfully neutralizes these damaging molecules.
Vitamin C is the primary brightening ingredient in skincare. This means it has the ability to lighten hyperpigmentation, brighten skin dullness, reduce dark spots, and fill fine lines and wrinkles — all of which contribute to a youthful and full appearance.
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