Information Of Substances Used In Beauty Products
Alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin C are two different things but their integrities are interrelated with each other and hence causing confusion in understanding the two entities and thus making their functionality questionable, which is the effect on skin.
The alpha hydroxy acids are also known as AHAs. They are found in almost all the beauty products, which include cleansers, night creams etc. The alpha hydroxy acids are being extracted from various resources, which are sugar cane, milk and fruits. The way these acids work is by retexturing the skin by gently exfoliating the dry and dead outermost layers of skin and on the other hand moisturize the newly revealed layers. The alpha hydroxy acids are beneficial to complexions that have grown to look dull, dry or flaky, as it is believed that the AHAs help give the skin a new radiance.
There are other acids that are being used in various skin products such as glycolic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid. Just to understand what these acids do, let us first consider glycolic acid. Glycolic acid is used widely in the skincare products. These are extracted from sugarcane and is mostly used in chemical peels and serums, as it has a pretty strong property to act as an exfoliating agent. The next one is lactic acid, which is derived from the sour milk and has strong hydrating properties and it is most commonly used in moisturizers. The last one that we are going to talk about here is the salicylic acid, this acid is derived from willow bark and it is a beta hyrdroxy acid. It works deep into the skin and its function is to open the clogged pores and to minimize the fine lines. This acid works really good for skins, which are prone to acne.
Now coming onto vitamin C, which is a natural antioxidant and it works by fighting the free radicals.
Our skin is at a constant threat and is damaged by free radicals or molecules formed in the skin while it is exposed to the environment or the pollutant factors such as sunlight, smoke, dust etc. The way the free radicals damage the skin is that they breakdown the collagen and elastin present in the skin, as these are the major ingredient to keep the skin firm and with vigor. The major function of vitamin C is that it strengthens the collagen and elastin in the skin and protects it from being damaged by the free radicals.
The major setback with vitamin C is that it breaks down pretty quickly and this just causes it to lose its effectiveness. The most stable compound of vitamin C is L-ascorbic acid, so whenever you are buying the creams or lotions, which are saying they have vitamin C, look for the compound L-ascorbic acid in them, as it is the best choice. It is very important to know that the bottles that you get the creams in must be airtight and are protected from the lights entering them because the light oxidizes vitamin C pretty quickly. You must store the product at a cool dry place.
The common effect of AHAs and vitamin C is that they reduce the lines and creases of the face and thus reduce the ageing signs. Vitamin C containing products work really well for the dry skin.
Skin care guide for you including makeup tips and beauty tips.
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