Vitamin C is a brightening and nourishing ingredient for the skin, and now is a great time to create your own product line based around it. Let’s talk about how to create it and what to include after a quick recap of the different Vitamin C options available to you.
Ascorbic acid (aka L-ascorbic)
Ascorbic acid, also known as L-ascorbic and topical vitamin C is one of the most common forms of the vitamin and found in numerous skincare products. It decreases the visible signs of aging and is a great antioxidant. Vitamin C can make skin more sensitive to sunlight so be sure to pair with either a good sunscreen or in night-time products. In its active form, we sell it as a white odorless powder which is soluble in water and alcohol but oxidizes quickly (so it can easily turn a shade of brown and requires dark packaging—more on that later).
Ascorbyl palmitate (aka vitamin C ester)
Ascorbyl palmitate is the salt form of ascorbic acid and is also known as vitamin C ester. This is a powerful antioxidant and usually considered to be one of the best weapons in the fight against aging and the appearance of mature skin. Ascorbyl palmitate is also an active form of the vitamin that can dissolve in fat or oil and is more stable than L-ascorbyl acid in products. It is less likely to turn brown through oxidation.
A note on citric acid
It’s worth noting that many people assume citric acid is directly linked to vitamin C, however, it is not considered to be a direct source of ascorbic acid and instead is used for other chemical properties. We tend to use it in exfoliants and chemical peels, or to adjust the pH in products like lotions, cremes, shampoos and more. We will place citric acid to one side for now.
Learn more on these 3 forms here.
A Vitamin C Line
We have carefully considered how best to incorporate vitamin C into products and produced a line of 3 items that are all jam-packed with the vitamin. We will run through our 3 products and how you can use them before discussing how to create your own line and integrate it with complementary existing products you may have.
Vitamin C Cream
This crème uses ascorbyl palmitate (vitamin c ester) and benefits from other antioxidant-rich fruits such as blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry extracts. It is a great crème for either night or day (with suitable SPF) and we usually put it on our face and neck areas, but it would be great all over the body.
This crème can easily be scented with essential oils or fragrance oils. Customers often associate vitamin c products with citrus fruits so a light citrus scent profile can work well, or a light floral scent. Our crème does not have a strong smell so get creative! We do still recommend keeping this crème in dark or opaque packaging to lessen the chance of browning over time from light exposure.
Vitamin C Serum
This is our favorite vitamin c blast that encourages greater absorption and delivers a full spectrum of nourishment. It is light, easily absorbed, and a super-fine silky serum that, like all of these skincare products, brightens and revives skin. It too has a full spectrum of antioxidants and has both ascorbyl palmitate and ascorbic acid.
We do not scent our serums but you are free to scent this serum.
Vitamin C Facial Toner
Toners are used after cleansing the face and before you add the serums and moisturizing creams, so a vitamin c toner lays the foundation of this line and preps the skin with its first round of the vitamin. Toners help to give a final cleanse to the face and also help shrink the appearance of pores. The vitamin is a great addition to also provide antioxidants that mature skin needs, and in this we use the ascorbic acid.
You can easily scent this toner to match your line, and this item is particularly sensitive to light so do be sure to use opaque or light-blocking containers here.
Tips
As mentioned, all vitamin c-based products should be packaged in a dark or opaque container so you can prevent the contents from oxidizing. Our three products can be scented to your taste and to match other items under your brand. Although vitamin c helps with the appearance of the effects of sun exposure, it can also make the skin more susceptible to the harmful effects of the sun if in direct light. So if used during the day you must wear sunscreen, and don’t forget to do so in the winter too!
Ideas to incorporate vitamin c skincare products into your brand:
1. Create your own line. Start with the toner, add the serum, and complete it with the crème. If you want to add a cleanser, we recommend a simple one because you will simply be washing off the ingredients. We like the Green Tea Cleanser and it would be relatively simple to scent a standard cleanser and a citrus scent might help the cohesion of the new line.
2. Create a vitamin-based skincare line: use the Vitamin C Serum and Crème, but add the Vitamin A or E Butter. Offer the ‘complete vitamin’ collection, or let customers mix and match.
3. Make a Vitamin C Night Care range (so the additional need for SPF is mitigated).
4. Create a Mature Skincare: Vitamin C range that focuses on the effects of the antioxidants for older skin types.
Edit: Please note that due to global production changes prices of some vitamin C versions, including ascorbyl palmitate, are likely to go up in price.
