ELLEbeauQ

THT,TRT]THABOT-IT.OOVIWINC

More thanjust a coldremed2, uitamin C is the secret

uteapon'in2our beauQ arsenal. ELLE's Georgia Collins

un c aa ers it s s kin- tran sforming p lLU ers

Photographb2PAULZAK

Fact: vitamin C is essential in helping maintaina healthy body But what many of us don't knowis it has manymore benefits thanjust helpingus fightoff a cold. It is also crucial for youngerJooking,blemish-free skin. Of course, what we want to knowis exactlyhowmuchvitamin C we needto achieve this

holy grail of skincare, and why is it so powerful?

LESSISMOREOur bodies can't produce vitamin C independently,

so we need to find it elsewhere. Specialists have

debated the exact arnount we should be consuming

for years and according to Ana-Kristina Skrapac,

the specialist dietician and spokesperson for theBritish Dietetic Association, a surprisingly small

amount wiII do, 40-60mg per day Overdosing won'thelp reverse the ageing process either, explains

Skrapac. 'Mtamin C is a water-soluble nutrient,which means any more than the amount our bodies

can absorb will go straight through us,' she says.

COLI-{GENBOOSTPerhaps the most important role that vitamin C (or

L-ascorbic acid, as you'll often see it called on labels)

plays in the body is its abiJity to stimulate collagen

production in the skin - the key to a plumpedcomplexion. i\eing and tIV rays can deplete collagen

Ievels, but vitamin C not only kick-starts its production,

it makes exactly the right type that the skin can use,'

says Dr Tom Mammone, Clinique's executive

director of skin physiology and pharmacology )

ELLEUK.COM 247

SPOTCHECKSryiamin C is being used more and moreas a key ingredient in acne treatrnents,,says Dr Mammone. ,Its multitaskingabilities mean it can work on decreaseJcollagen levels, excessive free radicals [tqpeeds up skjn turnover] and address anvpigment damage that acnemayhave caused.'

ELLEbeauQimplications, especially on the heart. AsShabir Daya, pharmacist and co-foundero[ victoriahealth.com explains:'Bioflavonoids (al<a vitamin p) found inthe pith of vitamin-C-rich foods such asoranges, lemons and grapefruits, helpstrensthen the walls of these sofi tissues,

'T [ -:';;4;4_3,r",c il E. \acu .. E B \ :

6

Using a stable form of vitamin C andmagnesium ascorbyl phosphate, this gelhelps increase collagen production andreduce sun-induced hlper-pigmentation.IntmsituMagC Gel, {47.50, bkno

E d ' ' n-_ a : . i . r

g.t'"8 3,An antioxidant-rich powder that turns tocream upon application, each vialcontains 1.959 of vitamin C. pure WtaminC Powdn Cremn, d7g, $t Ih Sebagh

LE ! Ir j..'\' . "*.".t.' .

The antioxidur',t piope.tiei of vitamin Care harnessed and used with vitamin Eand ergothioneine, a naturally occurringamino acid, to protect the skin fronienvironmental aggressors. Rzpaintnar LfiSPF 15 FirmingDal Cream, d34, b7 Clinique

'g'{_} Er?i:}\i.,} {, }t;'i:,'.\. { l{}li }. , .

Zinc is known for its immune-boostingabilities, so suck up to seven of these a daywhen you feel the onset of a cold. (inc plusInzmges, d7.10, fut lanbnts

-rEr-:-t: ;, .".;

f -B-1}'I hi;i,". "This daily supplement contains allicinfound in garlic (an antimicrobial), as wellas your daily dose of vitamin C and 40mgof citrus bioflavonoids, essential for tissuerepdr. All;'uin Max, d I G. 2 0, $t Altbin Max I

Yl{k

AGREAIANTIOXIDANTFree radicals in the skin(released after IJ! pollutionand smoke exposure) formwhen a bond breaks and theythen attach themselves to thenearest molecules, creatingcell damage. 'Vitamin C plugsthe free radicals and thedamage stops there,' saysMammone. ELLE loves CEFen:Iic, dI29, by Skinceutica.ls,which contains vitamin C andantioxidants vitamin E andferulic acid to do exactly that.

ORANGESAREN'TTHEONLYFRTIITIf you want to increasevitamin C in your diet, don,tjust buy oranges. Kiwis, red

r{owMucHVITAMINC DO

YOUNEED?

ensuring they are smoothand blood ispumped easily,

READTHELABELVitaminCisavolatileactive, which means itneeds to be stabilised inskincare products. If not, itstops being an effbctiveantioxidant and can actuallyrelease those unwanted freeradicals. 'Tieat your beautyproducts with care - tell-talesigns of vitamin C gonebad include a yellowishcolour changer' advisescosmetic dermatologist DrSam Bunting. She adviseschoosing white and clearproducts so you can detectthis change. Stabilisingingredients to look out forin creams are magnesiumascorbyl phosphate and

.:.:.]::. i

The percentageof ltour RDA-of uitamit,,per l:9Ag,,i,;'i

' : . 1.:

'l/irnrnin C addresses alrnosteuerySKlNcARE cvncsrn21frvmryeingtn (-IVdarnage,

a cold, there are.other foods that haveimmune-boosting properties. A study byThe Journal of Nutrition found whitebutton mushrooms (with their antiviraleffects), and zinc supplements (to fightinfection)will help.

CIRCUI-ATIONINCREASEVitamin C also plays an important rolein our circulatory systems. As we age,our soft-tissue structures - like veinsand arteries - become weak, causingsluggish blood flow, which has negative

t-I\*

5*E

ux

*,dBI4

Fn

h6E!

a15l

ffi

4z<")3lgI:t{lHItl@lolEIEtqtlEt8l@l9t

8Ssoo+oo6oN\ti@Az<noo

peppers, strawberries and parsley are alsoexcellent sources - eat fresh, raw, or soonafter it's been steamed. Fruitjuice (with noadded sugar) is good, but restrict yourselfto a small glass, as that,ll give you all thevitamin C you need. If you,re fighting

ascorbyl palmitate, but make sure they,rehigh up on the list of ingredients.

THEBESTMULTITASKER'The great thing about vitamin C is itsversatility and because it,s a natural

,-t.i::t *l

active, it's also very safe,, says DrMammone. 'It addresses almost everyskincare concern from ageing and UVdamage to hyper-pigmentation - it,sin almost every treatment productClinique makes.'Dr Bunting agrees andhighlights its anti-inflammatorvproperties, too - it reduces th" *.rrugobetween cells that contribute toinflammation. 'It's so well-tolerated thatalmost every patient I see will leavewith a bottle of vitamin C serum ifnothing else,' she concludes.

ELLEUK.COM 248

TI{ERESULTS...

7lo/oof areas treated utith topical

uitamin C shouted photo-damage improuement--