Vitamin C Ascorbic Acid

Ascorbic acid (C6H8O6 ) or vitamin c is usually found in citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes and green leafy vegetables. The name ascorbic acid literally means the ability to prevent vitamin c deficiency which often results to a disease called scurvy. In reality, the human body only needs about 10/1000 gram of vitamin c everyday. While this shows that every person is less likely to be deficient of the vitamin, many are still taking it as a supplement due to the serious health risks brought by vitamin c deficiency.

Health Advantages

Ascorbic acid is an ambassador to many health advantages. It neutralizes free radicals in the blood and liver. When taken with vitamin e supplements, vitamin c can make it 20 times more potent as it tends to donate electron which can recycle and reactivate vitamin e. This mechanism also works with the alpha lipoic acid and other known body antioxidants. It even helps recycle the more popularly known beauty ingredient called glutathione, which optimizes its benefits. The vitamin usually competes with lipoproteins inside the body, allowing it to prevent plaque from building up especially through the artery tissues and improve cardio vascular disease conditions. By maintaining the actual structure of the cell wall, it strengthens the body’s immune system by enabling each cell to resist invasions from viruses and mechanical stresses. In many studies, ascorbic acid was found to effectively reduce the risk of cancer for it has the capacity to block pro-tumor processes, promoting normal or programmed death of cells instead.

A Beauty Vitamin

Although not known to all, ascorbic acid can also be considered a beauty vitamin. Scientific data have shown that it effectively helps increase collagen production and delays collagen breakdown which is helpful in keeping healthy and youthful looking skin. It also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties which can reverse the effects of sun damage to the skin.

The vitamin is water soluble in nature. It is mostly circulated in the blood as well as inside the watery areas of the cell. While it cannot penetrate the fatty cell walls of most tissues and organs, it directly works with the red blood cells, cholesterol, triglycerides and other forms of blood lipids. Outside the cells, it helps destroy intracellular oxidizing agents. It promotes healthy synthesis of collagen and elastin, which is essential for normal formation of connective tissues. It also accelerates the rebuilding of connective tissues in cases of injury and stress, resulting to faster healing of wounds. Inside and outside the cell, in the heart and in the brain, inside and outside all your body’s organs; it plays crucial roles in the processes that maintain excellent health conditions.

Ascorbic Meaning

Understandably, insufficient ascorbic acid in the body will be a serious problem. The term ‘ascorbic’ literally means without scurvy. Scurvy refers to the seepage of blood from the capillaries, muscle weakness, subcutaneous bleeding, soft and spongy gums and loss of dental cement leading to the falling off of teeth. Vitamin c deficiency also causes impaired healing of wound. This emphasizes the importance of taking vitamin c supplements. A human body only needs an average of 50 mg/d of vitamin c ascorbic acid everyday to prevent scurvy. While animals can produce their own vitamin c from the metabolism of their food, the human body cannot. Vitamin deficiency presents serious health problems but there is no evidence to show that taking up to 1000mg/d or more of vitamin c ascorbic acid supplement will cause adverse health effects. Excess vitamins and usually excreted in the urine.

Vitamin C in Mineral Makeup

Thanks to modern science, ascorbic acid supplements are now available in many forms. Besides the traditional pill or tablet supplement, the vitamin or the substance is now already incorporated in many topical skin care and other personal care products. You can now see the vitamins working with many products such as night creams, moisturizing creams, toner, soap, shampoo and even on some nail care products. However, ascorbic acid is more popularly used as a natural ingredient of some exclusive mineral makeup lines.

Mineral makeup, such as foundations, loose powder, eye shadow, blush, bronzer and many others are using ascorbic acid both as a natural preservative and as an ingredient. However, when it comes to makeups, the vitamin c ester form of ascorbic acid is used. It is called the ascorbyl palmitate. Its anti-aging properties are helpful in establishing the mineral makeup line’s skin care benefits. With the daily assault of pollution, smoke and UV rays, this vitamin is helpful in neutralizing free radicals which normally turns the skin oil rancid. Rancid oils usually speed up the breakdown of collagen. With regular mineral makeup regimen, ascorbic acid in any form can effectively reduce fine lines and puffiness and dark circles under the eyes. Hence, ascorbic acid is a safe and active makeup ingredient that brings multiple health and skin benefits which is helpful in preventing skin damage brought by sun and aging. For more information on Antioxidants in Mineral Makeup.