**The New Skin MANUAL to Vitamin C**
Topical Vitamin C provides a range of benefits for your skin. With so many different types and formulations available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one.
This guide is designed to help you understand the Vitamin C options available from The New Skin and its subsidiaries, M'bayang Skin, M'bayang Beauty, and Kelenddi. It will also clarify what Vitamin C does and the differences between its various formulations.
**The New Skin's Collection of Vitamin C Formulations**
Click on the product names to explore more details.
| **Product** | **Key Benefits** | **Strength** | **Possibility of Tingling** | **Texture** | **May Suit** | **Frequency** | **When to Use** |
|-------------|-------------------|--------------|-----------------------------|-------------|--------------|---------------|------------------|
| Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% | Reduces visible signs of aging, Brightens skin tone, Provides antioxidant support | Very High | High | Textured Lotion (Grainy Lotion) | Suitable for all skin types | Best used in PM | After applying serums, before applying moisturizer |
| Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone | Reduces visible signs of aging, Brightens skin tone, Provides antioxidant support | Very High | High | Cream | Suitable for all skin types | Best used in PM | After applying serums, before applying moisturizer |
| 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder | Reduces visible signs of aging, Brightens skin tone, Provides antioxidant support | Very High | High | Powder | Suitable for all skin types | Can be used AM or PM | Mix with other formulas |
| Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% | Brightens skin tone, Provides antioxidant support | High | Low | Serum | Suitable for all skin types | Can be used AM and PM | After cleansing, before applying oils and creams |
| Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate Solution 20% in Vitamin F | Brightens skin tone, Provides antioxidant support | High | Low | Light Oil | Ideal for dry skin | Can be used AM and/or PM | After applying serums, before applying creams |
| Ethylated Ascorbic Acid 15% Solution | Brightens skin tone, Provides antioxidant support | High | Low | Oil-like serum | Suitable for all skin types | Can be used AM and PM | After water-based serums, before applying oils and creams |
Patch testing before use is recommended. For more information on how to patch test, refer to our detailed guide.
**General Vitamin C Information**
The challenge with antioxidants like Vitamin C is that they can oxidize, which means they lose their effectiveness. Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radicals, but when Vitamin C is exposed to air or water, it begins to oxidize, changing from clear to a darker color. This oxidation not only diminishes Vitamin C's efficacy but can also turn the formulation into a "pro-oxidant," potentially harming your skin. Despite patents and claims of stabilization, oxidation remains a concern, as patents do not guarantee effectiveness.
To address stability, some products use stabilized forms of Vitamin C, such as Ascorbyl Glucoside, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, and Ascorbyl Palmitate. These derivatives still need to be converted into L-Ascorbic Acid, the most active form of Vitamin C. The New Skin offers well-researched Vitamin C derivatives like Ascorbyl Glucoside and Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate in separate formulations. Interestingly, Vitamin C derivatives have been found to provide superior brightening effects compared to pure L-Ascorbic Acid.
Some brands use water-free Vitamin C formulations that remain stable but often in heavier silicone bases, which can reduce the effectiveness of the Vitamin C. The New Skin provides both silicone-free suspensions of pure L-Ascorbic Acid and a smooth-silicone suspension that aims to enhance dermal absorption.
*Note: For those interested in high concentrations of Vitamin C, M'bayang Skin offers Ethylated L-Ascorbic Acid 30% Network (ELAN), a water-free serum with 30% Ethylated Ascorbic Acid.*
