No oil soluble Vitamin C forms that are less effective or liquids that can cause the Vitamin C to oxidize.
Active ingredients: l-ascorbic acid, kojic acid, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, n-acetyl glucosamine, niacinamide
Inactive ingredients: food starch
Vitamin C in its water-soluble form (l-ascorbic acid) is extremely effective as an anti-oxidant, and it also repairs past damage, lightens sun spots and stimulates collagen production. The problem with Vitamin C is that it oxidizes rapidly in liquid, becoming a prooxidant, creating free radicals rather than neutralizing them. Skin care companies have tried to resolve the l-ascorbic acid problem by replacing it with oil-soluble forms (Vitamin C-esther, ascorbyl palmitate), however studies show that these versions are much less effective than l-ascorbic acid.
MVO solves this problem by delivering Vitamin C in powder form and in capsules. This allows you to dispense the exact amount you need and ensures that it's fresh each time.
An important note about kojic acid:While kojic acid is highly effective for skin lightening treatments, it is extremely unstable, and degrades upon exposure to light as well as liquid. Most skin care companies substitute kojic acid dipalmitate for kojic acid to increase stability. As in the case of ascorbyl pamitate replacing l-ascorbic acid, studies find that these stabilized versions lose most of their effectiveness as active ingredients.
To make sure you are getting effective Vitamin C in your skin care, check the label for l-ascorbic acid. If it's a Vitamin C serum, chances are you will be getting an oil soluble version of Vitamin C, rather than l-ascorbic acid. If it is indeed l-ascorbic acid, check the color of your serum. If it's yellow or orange, your Vitamin C has begun to oxidize. If it's brown or dark brown your serum contains only prooxidants and will be doing your skin more harm than good.
Keep in a cool place. For external use only. At night mix 1 capsule with selected serum in palm of hand until dissolved and apply to face, neck and chest. If irritation develops discontinue use and consult a physician.
