Vitamin C skincare is very useful as an anti-wrinkle cream, but the effectiveness of this vitamin depends wholly on the form of the vitamin and it’s particular concentration and means of storage. To add to the confusion, your choice may depend on the price. Is the product more expensive than another similar product?

To be able to know what type of vitamin C is good for you and your skin, you need to know the difference between between the different types and what they are supposed to be used for. I have listed the three main types of vitamin C skincare all with a short explanation of what they are and the best way to use them to your advantage.

 Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, (MAP) is a derivative of vitamin C that will help increase the collagen in your skin. This type of vitamin C is much more stable than the pure vitamin which means it does not degrade as fast. It can even be used on sensitive skin as it is very gentle. To stop MAP from degenerating it is best to store it in a dry place away from sunlight.

L-ascorbic acid is a natural type of vitamin C. To be really effective, this form of vitamin C must be very well stored. L-ascorbic acid does have its downsides: it degrades very quickly when exposed to air, heat or sunlight and can be very irritating to sensitive skin types. Dermatologists recommned that if you do not know the proper way of using this type of acid, do not use it. L-ascorbic acid is not suitable for people with rosacea or sensitive skin.

 Ascorbyl Palmitate is similar to the MAP type of vitamin C, but does not work quite as quickly or quite as effectively as the former. Much like L-ascorbic acid; it must be carefully looked after and stored away from sunlight and air, as this type of vitamin tends to degrade quite quickly. To have a collagen boosting effect, Ascorbyl Palmitate has to be used more frequently and in much larger doses than you would have to use with MAP.

Before purchasing any vitamin C skincare products make sure you know what type of vitamin C they contain. Many manufacturers mix various types of vitamin C which renders the product ineffective and can also be irritating for your skin. By checking each of the ingredients the product contains you will know what product is best for you.