When it comes to shopping for your anti-aging skincare, knowing what ingredients to look for is important. Our beauty expert Christine Cho came by to talk about how to find the right anti-aging ingredient for you!

1. SUN DAMAGED SKIN: KOJIC ACID



Basic Facts:

Beauty Benefits:

Beauty Products:

2. PREVENTITIVE: L-ASCORBIC ACID



Basic Facts:

Beauty Benefits:

Beauty Products:

3. MATURE SKIN:  COENZYME Q-10 (CoQ-10)



Basic Facts:

Beauty Benefits:

Beauty Products:
How effective is CoQ10 in skin care?

Wrinkles appear when skin loses its elasticity. This is due to decreased collagen production and collagen crosslinking. Everyday life, cell metabolism, exposure to sun and other environmental factors, toxins, cigarette smoke - all result in production of free radicals. Those overactive pesky molecules or atoms have odd electrons on their orbits and try to find a balance. They either give away the odd electron or find a pair for it, thus making another molecule unstable, turning it into another free radical.

While this process is natural and unavoidable as a part of metabolism, too many free radicals cause dangerous chain reactions that destroy cellular compounds and can damage DNA, proteins and lipids (fats). When it comes to skin aging, free radicals interfere with collagen production and cause premature aging.

Coenzyme Q10 has exceptional antioxidant properties. Studies show that it can effectively counteract free radical damage and provide significant protection against UVA-induced depletion of cell membrane. In other words, it will prevent damage to collagen and elastin production process and help you avoid wrinkles.

CoQ10 is so powerful, it is able to reduce cancer tumors and minimize stroke consequences that are due to suddenly increased levels of free radicals. So when applied topically, it can provide extra protection for your skin and produce a dramatic anti-wrinkle effect.
Note: Information in this article is not to be taken as a medical advise. Always consult your doctor if you need professional help.


DIY RECIPE!

Vitamin C Serum (10%)

Ingredients:
½ teaspoon l-ascorbic acid powder
3½ teaspoon distilled water (bottled water is fine, should be at room temperature)
1½ teaspoon propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin
1 amber or dark blue glass bottle

Instructions:

1. Make sure your glass bottle is sterile by boiling it in some hot water. You can also sterilize it with some rubbing alcohol.
2. Wait for the bottle to cool and dry completely.
3. Add the l-ascorbic acid to the bottle.
4. Add the distilled water.
5. Swish around the bottle or use a stirrer until all the l-ascorbic acid is dissolved.
6. Add the propylene glycol or glycerin (must be vegetable glycerin, however you can use Monistat Anti-Chafing gel if your skin is fine with silicones).
7. Mix well (cap the bottle and keep shaking until everything is blended or use a stirrer) and use up as early as possible.

Comments:

You want to use a dark bottle because it prevents the l-ascorbic powder from oxidizing. L-ascorbic powder is destabilized when it reacts with light and/or heat, so store your homemade C serum in a cool, dark place.

Mix well and use up the C serum as early as possible because l-ascorbic acid is highly unstable. Make a new batch every few days because as time goes on, the l-ascorbic acid grows less potent.Make sure the l-ascorbic acid you buy is 100% with no additional ingredients. You can buy powder or crystals (from the vitamin section in your local health food store), but I like to use powder because it dissolves faster. Sometimes Vitamin C will just list "ascorbic acid" as its ingredient. If this is the case, call the company to see whether or not it's l-ascorbic acid. Also, make sure there are no unnecessary ingredients in the Vitamin C capsules you buy (such as sweeteners, rose hip oils, etc).

If you find this percentage of vitamin C to be too irritating, you can always add less l-ascorbic acid. If it's not strong enough, you can add more, but don't go over 20%.


GENERAL INFO ON ANTI-AGING INGREDIENTS & PRODUCTS: