Using Vitamin A, B & C for anti aging

source: from google images

Few days ago, a client of us who manufactures with us requested for anti agin product that would really work.

And so because of that; I had to look for the 'gold standard' when it comes to anti aging.

Most of the time; when you study products or listen to you tubers; they have like their own version of anti agin that they swears by.

Sometimes it can get mind boggling especially if you are someone like me who is quite 'lazy' when it comes to skincare.

I mean don't give me 10 products and ask me to layer them.

If possible I want something that just apply and go. 

of course being someone who is in this field; and as a pharmacist I know that you can't combine all this together as it may have interactions, or in order to keep the products stable; the formulators will have to reduce the percentage of the active ingredients which results in suboptimal outcome.

For me; if I want to use something (like active ingredients/ cosmeceuticals) I want to use in mid to high range so that it gives the fastest outcome, with the least side effects (or I try to overcome the side effects with other things).

so anyways; upon searching through all the research papers and trials; it turns out for gold standard; use vitamin A, Vitamin B3, and Vitamin C.

Vitamin A

Now vitamin A comes in many forms; there is retinol, there's retinaldehyde, and there is retinoid acid. 

The former takes a long time to convert to retinoid acid while the retinoid acid is something that is already an active metabolites that works directly. 

ill be talking more in-depth about this the next article. 

But for now; for anti aging ie to reduce wrinkles and fine line formation; use vitamin A. You can get the retinoid (the least potent vitamin A derivative) in most drug store or skincare. This usually takes a very long time to notice any effect as it needs to be converted into retinoid acid before it can 'work'.

the next form of retinoids are the retinaldehyde. This is more potent form and it can be found in drug stores too. However; I don't know any products available in Malaysia that contains this (maybe I should make one with this ingredient. Hmm)

lastly the retinoid acids are prescription creams that you can find in any pharmacists. in Malaysia you can get tretinoin 0.05%, or adapalene 0.01% in the pharmacies. These are the more potent vitamin A that gives significant effect.

But because they are potent; they can be slightly irritating and drying which can be reduce by retinization (which ill go further in details in the next post).

Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) 

Niacinamide is the second ingredient most commonly used in anti aging products.

It works as moisturiser, an anti inflammatory, and also as brightening ingredient that helps in diminishing age spots/ sun damage/ pigmentation.

Its an ingredient that I really love especially for people with sensitive skin and in soaplab it can be found in our glass skin series cleanser and essence.

its most company used in 2-4% but there are times its used at 10% in the market which obviously gives more irritation and it may also reverse the anti pigmentation effect (ill have to study more trials on this and ill talk more when I speak about this ingredient next) 

So when it comes to aging skin; we use niacinamide as moisturiser, and pigmentation eraser.

Vitamin C

next is vitamin C. Now vitamin C is a very versatile ingredient and it comes in many form. But the most potent one would be L-ascorbic acid. Unfortunately though, L-Ascorbic acid are unstable and it gets oxidise fast; resulting in a product can probably only be used for 24 hours. anytime more; its already oxidised and wouldn't work well.

L-Ascorbic acid is also quite irritating therefore always start in smaller percentage first before going higher.

The ultimate percentage you would want to reach for anti aging would be somewhere between 15-20%.

in this range it will work as antioxidant that will protect the skin from sun damage, and to stop formation of pigmentation.

Usually we use vitamin C in the morning as mornings is when the skin gets hit by sun and its will form pigmentation.

so Vitamin C will be there to sacrifice itself and helps in reducing the formation of pigmentation

Ill be talking more inept about this in the next post so do check it out.

Conclusion

so; as you can see; the most important ingredients for anti aging (if you were just starting) is this: Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C.

Vitamin A; to reduce formation of lines and wrinkles. Its the best to start using this around the age of 25-27 as this is the age when collagen starts reducing in skin; hence the aging signs. plus it also thickens skin over time (reducing the blue red veins you see most commonly under eye)

Vitamin B: To moisturise; reduce rashes (cos its anti inflammatory), and to remove pigmentation after its form. 

Vitamin C: its antioxidant that protects skin from Sun rays (but still have to use sunscreen ya), and it also reduce the formation of pigmentation.

Now remember; vitamin C is there to make sure pigmentation doesn't form, while Vitamin B is to remove pigmentation that's already there. so it works together. not the same thing where u can choose one ya. 

so anyways; here's the basic summary on what vitamins to use as anti aging. Ill be talking more in-depth about all these in individual posts in the future. 

so do check it out:-)

Take care;

Nisha