The "C" Monster

Lots of personal care & skin care products tout having vitamin C in them.

Here's the good news about C: it slows the break-down of collagen in the skin.

What's collegen? It's like the frame for your skin. It makes your skin fit so that it doesn't sag & wrinkle. In other words, vitamin C can help slow down accelerated aging of the skin, so your skin stays smooth and wrinkle-free. It's an anti-aging vitamin. So, having C in skin care & personal care products makes sense. Right? Products like hand & body lotion, face cleansing products, day & night creams, etc.

Here's what you want to know:

Look at the ingredients label of a product that says it has vitamin C in it. Does it list water as an ingredient? If it does, there's little or no vitamin C in the product. They're basically "C" monsters. It may (or may not) have been put in the product when it was made, but by the time it reaches you, it won't be there, or it will be there is such tiny amounts as to make no difference.

Why is that?

Because Vitamin C is water soluble. We learned that in 7th grade science class, right? Exposed to water, it immediately begins to break down. "But oranges, which have a lot of vitamin C (if they're organic) have water in them!", you say. Yes, but when vitamin C is in it's natural tissue - like the tissue of an orange - it doesn't break down as long as the orange is whole & intact. "But don't companies that make those products know that?", you ask. Maybe. Maybe not.

Take home message: Read labels, and understand what you're reading. Look for a skin care product that has no water in the formula. Yes, they're out there. And in my book, pretty packaging isn't a good substitute for a good product, either.

Be well - be informed!

Nancy