Vitamin C – whose name in pure form is L-ascorbic acid – is one of the active ingredients that has gained the most popularity in facial care for some time. This is because it is a powerful antioxidant, an ally to fight against free radicals that cause oxidative stress in the skin.
In addition, it increases the synthesis of collagen and elastin in our skin, helping it to look smoother, younger and more radiant. As if this were not enough, it enhances the action of sunscreen, protecting our skin from the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation. Likewise, it provides a lot of luminosity to the skin, resulting in that desired 'glow' effect, depigments the complexion and evens out the tone.
For all these reasons, it has become a fundamental ingredient in facial care routines, being used especially in serum format. It is ideally used in the morning, to reinforce sun protection, but it is always essential to apply sunscreen afterwards. However, something that few people know is that vitamin C is a particularly sensitive compound and can oxidize, something that is not beneficial for your skin.
Cosmetics also have an expiration date, which refers to the number of months they remain in good condition once opened and you will find this reference on the packaging, within a drawing of an open jar, with a number accompanied by a capital letter M. Even if your vitamin C serum has been opened for less time than indicated, it may still have oxidized, since it is a compound that is very sensitive to environmental conditions and contact contamination.
There are two key things that will help you tell if your vitamin C serum is oxidized: its color and its smell. If your vitamin C is oxidized, it will take on an orange or brown hue and begin to smell slightly like metal or rust. You may have both conditions or just one of them, but when you observe one or the other, you should know that it is time to throw that cosmetic in the trash.
The main reason why it is not advisable to apply a product with oxidized vitamin C is that it loses all its effectiveness, so you will be wasting your time and money applying a cosmetic that will not give you good results. But this is not all. If you apply oxidized vitamin C, it will not act as an antioxidant, it can stain your skin and cause clogged pores, blackheads and acne. And you even expose yourself to an allergic reaction.
To prevent your vitamin C from oxidizing, try to store it in a dry and cool environment – bathing is not a good idea, due to the heat of the shower steam – as well as away from the sun. Likewise, avoid leaving the cosmetic open for too long so that air or other bacteria do not spoil it.
