Our love affair with retinol (a.k.a. a vitamin A-derivative) has been going on for quite some time now. With super-effective over-the-counter and prescription-strength formulas, who wouldn?t want to take advantage of such a powerful anti-aging, acne-fighting superhero"
But regardless of how dewy and zit-free retinoids leave your skin, they have one major pitfall: They?re banned from the skin-care routines of all pregnant and breastfeeding women as a precaution, as excess amounts of vitamin A have been linked to birth defects (and even using a topical cream can risk absorption of vitamin A into your bloodstream).
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That’s a pretty important group of women who can’t use these products, especially considering the stress and body changes that come with childbirth and caring for a baby (read: out-of-whack skin that probably needs soothing the most). There must be safe, effective alternatives out there, right" We consulted Yale dermatologist Mona Gohara, who says that while retinoids are hands-down the most effective anti-ager on the market, vitamin C comes in a close second. ?Free radicals are cosmetic particles that bind to your skin and cause cancer, sagging, and wrinkles, and antioxidants like vitamin C pick them up, almost like a game of Pac Man,? she says.
Photo: ImaxTree
?Most vitamin C products are cosmetically elegant, easy to layer, and highly concentrated,? says Gohara. ...