If you want to brighten your skin, support collagen production, and clear dark spots + hyperpigmentation, incorporating a vitamin C serum into your skincare routine is a no-brainer.
Unfortunately, many vitamin C serums are made with synthetic vitamin C, meaning it was made in a laboratory and synthesized from ingredients like acetone and corn syrup.
On top of being artificial, synthetic forms of vitamin C are not easily absorbed by the skin and therefore are blended with even more artificial ingredients to enhance absorption.
Why do companies use synthetic vitamin C?
Companies use many different forms of synthetic vitamin C due to it being a much cheaper way to incorporate the beneficial nutrient in their product formulations.
Types of synthetic vitamin C
The most common forms of synthetic vitamin C and their potency percentage are listed below:
|
L-Ascorbic Acid |
100% |
|
Sodium Ascorbate |
95% |
|
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate |
60% |
|
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate |
55% |
|
Ascorbyl Palmitate |
40% |
|
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate |
13% |
The potency refers to the amount of Vitamin C that is actually delivered to your cells, and the purest form of Vitamin C on this list is L-Ascorbic Acid.
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Natural vitamin C benefits
Like most good and pure things in life, natural vitamin C – also known as L-ascorbic acid – can be obtained from nature.
That’s why here at BellaVita Botanics, you won’t ever find synthetics in our formulas, as we allow our botanical ingredients to do the heavy lifting in all of our formulations.
As a reminder: our goal with every formulation is to pick the right ingredients, the right concentration, in the right amounts.
And where vitamin C is concerned, we source ours from rosehips, apricot kernel, marula, and sea buckthorn oils.
Rosehip oil benefits
Rosehip Oil is lightweight yet powerful and contains rich amounts of naturally occurring vitamins C and E which work together to protect and moisturize the skin. Alongside its high vitamin count, rosehip oil is also a carrier of essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 + omega-6, making it a great emollient and moisturizer.
People are using rosehip oil to:
- Support collagen production
- Clear dark spots and hyperpigmentation
- Reduce wrinkles and scarring
- Enhancethe absorption of other ingredients
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Apricot kernel oil benefits
Apricot kernel oil is a pale golden and odorless oil extracted from the kernels of apricots. Gentle and suitable for all skin types, this natural oil serves as an emollient and anti-inflammatory and is a good source of bioactive compounds like tocopherols and phytosterols.
People are using apricot kernel oil to:
- Support a strong + healthy skin barrier
- Lock in moisture for all-day hydration
- Improve the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles
Marula oil benefits
Derived from the nuts, seeds, and fruit of the tropical African Marula tree, Marula oil is non-comedogenic – meaning it won’t clog your pores – and packed with antioxidants. Studies have shown Marula oil to be safe for most, if not all skin types.
People are using Marula oil to:
- Seal-in hydration + soften skin
- Offer their skin extra antioxidant protection
- Reap the benefits of its anti-inflammatory + antibacterial properties
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Sea buckthorn oil benefits
Sea buckthorn, a.k.a. Siberian pineapple, is a flowering shrub native to the lands of both Europe and Asia. Its oil is derived from its fruit which has quickly risen to stardom as of late thanks to its immense amounts of naturally occurring vitamin C. 10x that of an orange + the 3rd highest source of vitamin E among all plants.
People are using sea buckthorn oil to:
- Improve the appearance of fine lines + wrinkles
- Provide all-day hydration
- Reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation + even out skin tone
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Food for thought
While we know it is possible to have a positive experience with synthetic ingredients like vitamin C, we highly recommend you reach for products containing more natural ingredients – for you + your skin’s long-term health.
Our Face Elixir, Daylight Face Cream, Blu Magic Peptide Cream, and Evening Face Cream will all provide you with one or more organic oils mentioned above that contain naturally occurring vitamin C. By using products like ours, you reduce any risk to your skin from synthetic ingredients while still enjoying natural benefits like graceful aging.
Have you reaped the benefits of any of the ingredients we mentioned above? If so, let us know what you experienced in the comment section.