Expert word: NEVER combine vitamin C with this ingredient

Social networks are invaded by “experts” who claim that many active ingredients should not be combined in a routine. According to his point of view, vitamin C cannot be combined with alpha or beta hydroxy acids, or the latter must not be mixed with retinol and, like this one, many other cases. However, voices that know a lot about skins defend the opposite. On the contrary, vitamin C can benefit from a combination with hydroxy acids to brighten the skin, and even many products on the market combine this vitamin C with retinol or retinaldehyde in some products. It makes no sense to say that they can’t go together, because on the contrary, they can support each other in solving a certain problem. This only happened years ago, when it was principles of low stability,” explains Elisabeth San Gregorio, technical director of the company Medik8, a brand that contains, for example, vitamin C and r-Retinoate together in its product r-Retinoate Youth Activating. .

However, based on this easily debunked myth, there is a mixture that should be avoided at all costs. It is vitamin C in combination with copper, especially when we talk about salts, that give certain cosmetic products a blue color. Why? “Because they cancel each other out and vitamin C oxidizes copper salts. In fact, for example, together in the same morning routine, they have a pro-oxidant effect, they no longer protect against damage like UV rays and provide a pro-aging effect on tissue,” said Raquel González, director of education at Perricone MD.

How can we introduce them together in our beauty regime? It’s as easy as not using them in the same daily routine. “We can apply them individually, using one in the morning and the other in the evening. In this way, we can take advantage of all the antioxidant and regenerative benefits of each of the principles,” says Estefanía Nieto, technical director of Omorovicza.

Both ingredients are very beneficial for the skin. “Vitamin C aids in the synthesis of collagen and elastin, protects against environmental influences, helps with hyperpigmentation and improves skin luminosity. For its part, complexes with copper, such as copper PCA, provide superior performance. 40 times more antioxidant than vitamin C, which protects the skin from harmful free radicals and reduces the possible inflammation of the skin, which causes aging and an irregular appearance,” adds Valeria Navarro, technical director of the company Boutijour. In this way, we provide the skin with a great defense and regenerative agent by using one in the morning and one in the evening. When is it better to use which one? “I recommend taking vitamin C daily in the morning as it also provides great brightness, creating a glow effect that we want to take advantage of more during the day. If we are heavily exposed to the sun, a product containing copper -especially however, copper PCA will protect us more, and it is better to replace them with the product in this particular case by giving copper overnight,” concludes Catalina Narváez, director of training at Aromatherapy Associates.

On the other hand, it is positive to know that given the choice between one or the other, in case of acne or inflamed skin, products with copper are more recommended for their anti-inflammatory and healing power. In case of pigmentation or loss of elasticity, vitamin C is recommended.

Here we leave you our favorite products with vitamin C and copper. Take note!