Type of serum

Q5: Could you please help? I don’t know how to choose between L-Ascorbic Vitamin C Serum, Collagen Serum and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Serum. Can I use Collagen Serum for fine lines at eyes?

A:

Hi twinklet,

Thanks for your massage.

Regarding how to choose the serum, it depends on what effect you want to achieve.

Vit C is famous for its whitening and anti-oxidant effect. Vit C also boots the production of collagen. With more collagen in the deeper layer of your skin, your skin looks firmer and younger

Collagen Serum – when you apply it on your face, it works great to moistures the outer layer of skin, as it has the capability to lock the water. When use it with the ultrasonic stimulator, it help the synthesis of the collagen.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Serum – HA serum can hold moisture that is 500 times of its volume. So even you apply a very small amount, your skin is till very moisturized. It is the most effective moisturizer so far. When the moisture in the skin layer is enough, then it prevents the formation of wrinkles.

Vit C will not cause break out, but it might bring irritation (red spots) to sensitive skin. If you apply the Vit C and still got break out, then it is the cleansing work that is not done well. If that is the case, then you may want to consider changing your way to clean your face or choosing another cleanser. If you wear make up everyday, it is very important to use make up remover (oil / water based) to remove the make up, then only use the cleanser to clean your face. Using cotton pad to apply toner (gently slide the cotton pad from bottom to top direction) will help to clean the face for second time. That is what Niu Er said in the TV show.

I am not sure if you have pimples frequently, if you do, then I will advise you use the Vit C Serum first. Vit C is good for pimples too. It will help to cure the injuries (because of pimples) faster. But do not use the ultrasonic stimulator on pimples. Just apply the serum on pimple area will do. If you never use Vit C product before, then start with a small amount first (1-2 drops for the whole face). If you feel a bit itchy, then that is normal. Your face will get used to it. Later when your face can take it, then you can use 3 drops.

As for the lines, if it is beside your eyes, then you can use Collagen Serum. You can do a direct apply only, or use it with the stimulator. Please be careful when you deal with eye areas, the action need to be gentle. Do not use on eye balls. I do not advise to use Vit C on eye areas, as eye areas are way too sensitive compare the skin on our cheek.

One more thing I would like to comment is apply sun block or face cream with SPF is important. The sun light not only causes our skin becomes dark, the UV light also cause our skin to lose it elasticity which finally bring to lose skin and wrinkles, and the worst is cancer. The UV light just acts as a scissor, it goes into the deeper layer of your skin, and start cutting it.

Hope this help. Feel free to let me know if you have any more questions.

Wish everyone becomes prettier and prettier ~

Cheers ~



Vitamin C + E + ferulic acid: enhancing stability and effectiveness of topical ascorbic acid



Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is one of the relatively few topical agents whose effectiveness against wrinkles and fine lines is backed by a fair amount of reliable scientific evidence (see our article on vitamin C). Unfortunately, vitamin C is relatively unstable. When exposed to air, vitamin C solution undergoes oxidation and becomes not only ineffective but also potentially harmful (oxidized vitamin C may increase the formation of free radicals). A variety of approaches have been used to try to stabilize vitamin C in water solution. Unfortunately, there are no good studies comparing the effectiveness of different stabilization methods under the conditions of real life usage. In this article, we discuss a method where vitamin C is stabilized and potentiated by the addition of vitamin E and ferulic acid.

Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant. In living systems, vitamins C and E can regenerate each other and thus potentiate each other's antioxidant effects. While the capacity of vitamin E to protect vitamin C from oxidation in a water solution is relatively modest, vitamin E enhances the antioxidant effects of vitamin C when they are co-applied to the skin. Therefore, even if some of the vitamin C in a product is degraded, the remainder works better in the presence of vitamin E. Studies indicate that the combination of vitamins C and E provide better protection from UV-induced damage than either vitamin alone. On the other hand, vitamin E appears to have little effect on the ability of vitamin C to stimulate the synthesis of collagen.

Ferulic acid is a naturally occurring phenolic compound found primarily in plant cell walls. It is a potent antioxidant and may have skin benefits even when used alone. However, skin care related studies of ferulic acid focused on its ability to enhance the effects of vitamins C and E. Preliminary research indicates that ferulic acid may improve the stability of Vitamin C in water solution. Also, the addition of ferulic acid to the combination of vitamins C and E appears to increase protection from UV-induced skin damage. In one study, the addition of ferulic acid to a vitamin C + vitamin E formula almost doubled the UV-protection benefits. Whether ferulic acid affects the ability of vitamin C to increase collagen synthesis is unclear.

While the combination of vitamin C, E and ferulic acid appears to have clear advantages over vitamin C alone, a number of limitations remain. First, even though combining vitamin C with vitamin E and ferulic acid makes it more stable, some degradation still occurs and may still be a significant factor depending on the usage and storage conditions. Second, vitamin C is acidic and may be irritating for people with sensitive skin, especially at relatively high concentrations required for stimulating collagen production. There are alternatives allowing to get at least some of the benefits of stable topical vitamin C while minimizing skin irritation. (See our articles on vitamin C derivatives and anhydrous vitamin C.)

The topical combination of vitamin C (15%), vitamin E (1%) and ferulic acid (0.5%) has been patented by SkinCeuticals corporation and is available as a commercial product from SkinCeuticals.com and many retailers. (We are not affiliated with SkinCeuticals in any way). If purchasing this product, make sure to check the expiration date and preferably store the product in a refrigerator tightly closed. Alternatively, you can relatively easily make a C+E+ferulic formulation yourself (see DIY Anti-Aging Skin Care Infopack). However, keep in mind that C+E+ferulic combination has been patented by SkinCeuticals. This may not affect the DIY formulation as long as you do not intent to sell it. However, we are not legal experts. If you are considering the DIY route, please check with SkinCeuticals corporation and/or patent authority in your country.

http://www.smartskincare.com/treatments/topical/vitamin-c-vitamin-e-ferulic-acid.html



Moisturizing eye area skin



The skin around eyes is particularly prone to dryness because it lacks sebaceous glands. Keeping it well hydrated is an important step in preventing wrinkles. It is best to use a long-lasting moisturizer providing 24-hour protection without the need to apply it more than twice a day. Even though hundreds if not thousands of different moisturizers are on the market, most containing at least a dozen of ingredients, relatively few substances have been shown to actively trap and/or firmly hold moisture and be skin friendly. Some of the ingredients to look for in a moisturizer are hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, and colloidal oatmeal.

If you feel you need additional eye area hydration, you may want to try a night cream specifically formulated for the eye area. These creams tend to be heavier than regular moisturizers and often leave a visible residue after application - that's why they are best used before bedtime.

Simply using moisturizers, even good ones, may not be enough to fully hydrate the skin around the eye. You may also need to adjust some environmental and lifestyle factors. See our article on moisturizing for further details. See also tips for the eye area submitted by our visitors.

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Tini, I think it would be great. Hyaluronic Acid is a great way to retain the moisture within your skin. I know Philosophy (there's a plug!) has capsules now with just pure Hyaluronic Acid.

Hyaluronic Acid – Skin care products containing this substance are often used in conjunction with vitamin C products to assist in effective penetration. Hyaluronic acid (also known as a glycosaminoglycan) is often touted for its ability to "reverse" or stop aging. In news reports, you might have heard of hyaluronic acid as the "key to the fountain of youth." This is because the substance occurs naturally (and quite abundantly) in humans and animals, and is found in young skin, other tissues, and joint fluid. Hyaluronic acid is a component of the body’s connective tissues, and is known to cushion and lubricate. As you age, however, the forces of nature destroy hyaluronic acid. Diet and smoking can also affect your body’s level of hyaluronic acid over time. Skin care products with hyaluronic acid are most frequently used to treat wrinkled skin.

Hyaluronic acid (also called Hyaluronan) is a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. Hyaluronan occurs throughout the body in abundant amounts in many of the places people with hereditary connective tissue disorders have problems such as joints, heart valves and eyes. Hyaluronic acid abnormalities are a common thread in connective tissue disorders. Interestingly, they are also common biochemical anomalies in most of the individual features of connective tissue disorders such as mitral valve prolapse, TMJ, osteoarthritis, and keratoconus.

Hyaluronic acid has been nicknamed by the press as the "key to the fountain of youth" because it has been noted that at least some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages.

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