Never lose out on brighter skin with Vitamin C.  One of the best ways to brighten, even out, and defend your skin against sun damage/photoaging is by applying Vitamin C aka, Ascorbic Acid solution.  Vitamin C is a water soluble nutrient first discovered by Albert Szent-Györgyi in the 1930s.  This in itself is a massive discovery since, humans no longer have the ability to create their own Ascorbic Acids due to the lack of an enzyme gulonolactone oxidase.  But not until later in 1964, Liposomal Vitamin C was discovered by Alec Bangham.  The significance of Liposomal Vitamin C is that it can stay in your body for longer, and directly absorb into tissue.  Now the question lies, which one is better for you?

What is Vitamin C

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant, meaning that it can protect your skin from environmental, and free radicals.  These free radicals break down our skin's collagen through oxidative damage.  However, note that free radicals are naturally produced in our bodies to fight off viruses, bacteria, and damaged body cells in an oxidative burst.  They are further exacerbated through environmental factors, such as, UV radiation, cigarettes, or stress.  When free radicals break down collagen, Vitamin C is particularly important.  As an antioxidant, it can help reduce the damage from free radicals.  Furthermore, collagen helps the development of fibroblasts, which are connective tissue cells in the dermis, or middle skin layer. Playing a role in replacing dead skin cells with new ones.  When we get older, our elastin, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans, which creates that youthful appearance, which we all desire, decreases.  Even though, there is a low turnover for elastin, many other environmental  factors can cause elastin to degrade overtime.  Free radicals speed up this process.  

Beware, not all Vitamin C are the same in fact there are 6 types: (L) Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Ascorbate, Calcium Ascorbate, and Ascorbyl Palmitate.  While, It can further be broken down into L ascorbic Acid and D Ascorbic Acid, which simple means L for natural, and D for synthetic. D ascorbic acid is virtually identical to L ascorbic acid, however, atomically different.  Furthermore, while some clinical studies have found that subtle differences can be occur, more research will have to be conducted.  If you would like to read the study, click here. Even though, these seem unrelated, each of these is a form of Vitamin C.  

Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid can have many different effects depending on your skin type.  It can hydrate, moisturize, and keep free radicals away.  However, Vitamin C is most commonly know to have favorable results in cancer, high blood pressure, asthma, and many other health related problems, but most notably age related degeneration, which we are focusing on in this article  While there are numerous other benefits of Vitamin C, which can be in the form of topical Vitamin C and/or ingestible Vitamin C.  The benefits of ingestible Vitamin C is out of scope of this article.  

Topical Vitamin C is widely known to brighten up your skin.  It works by inhibiting the production of melanin.  Specifically, by the reduction of an enzyme called tyrosinase.  Which is responsible for the pigmentation in our skin. This helps lessen the appearance of dark spots, which are commonly caused by sun exposure/photoaging and increased free radicals.  To put in another way, it will even out skin tone, and help to repair UV damage.  Vitamin C can also help to increase your body's production of collagen, which helps keep the skin looking youthful and vibrant.  Even so, it does not effectively pass through the epidermis stratum corneum barrier, which is the outermost layer of the skin.  With that said, that does not mean that all Vitamin C is not effective.  In fact, Vitamin C in combination with squanane, which is the product of  squalene, with an 'e'.  Where it is converted into squanane through a process called hydrogenation.  Squanene is a naturally created by your body from the sebum gland.  With all that said, squalane with Vitamin C can work together to make dull, dry skin, appear brighter, with less wrinkles.   

What is Liposomal Vitamin C

Liposomal Vitamin C or Liposomal ascorbic acid is still ascorbic acid, but encased by a lipid bilayer which make it easier to enter tissue and cells.  Further effectively helping wherever needed.  This is different from standard ascorbic acid, in the sense that since the non liposomal ascorbic acid is absorbed into your bloodstream, it can be flushed out of the system faster, as compared to liposomal ascorbic acid, which can stay in the system for longer.  

This is a lot to understand, so let's get familiar with some terms.  To start, let's begin with lipids.  A lipid is a molecule that can range from triglycerides, fatty acids, and cholesterol.  They store energy as well as, structure the cell's membrane.  Note that lipids cannot be absorbed in water.  Liposomal ascorbic acid is made of a outer layer of fatty acids from sunflowers or soy, which is called phospholipids.  

Benefits of Liposomal Vitamin C

Liposomal Vitamin C or Ascorbyl Palmitate, is a form of Vitamin C that is made up of liposomes, which are tiny capsules that surround and protect the Vitamin C molecules. The key benefit which are listed above, is that it can penetrate deep into the dermis, where it can be absorbed directly into the cells. This means that it is more effective than traditional Vitamin C solutions and can provide better results at a lower concentration. Liposomal Vitamin C also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce the appearance of dark spots, as well as other skin discolorations. In addition, it can also help to improve skin elasticity and firmness, making it a great choice for those looking to reduce the signs of aging.

Conclusion

When it comes to brightening up your skin, both Vitamin C and Liposomal Vitamin C have their benefits. Traditional Vitamin C solutions can help to reduce the appearance of dark spots, while Liposomal Vitamin C can penetrate deeper into the skin and provide better results at a lower concentration. Both can also help to improve skin elasticity and firmness, making them great choices for those looking to reduce the signs of aging. Therefore, it is important to consider your individual needs and preferences when deciding which form of Vitamin C is right for you