From the time we are born, aging occurs in all the organs of our body and there is no exception for our skin, which is the largest organ and shows the first and the most visible signs of aging. 

Cutaneous ageing is induced by external and intrinsic factors. 

Intrinsic aging is inevitable and results in a gradual dermal atrophy, leaving a dry thin skin and numerous visible signs in different areas such as fine lines, horizontal necklines and lip lines.

It’s known that the majority of the aging factors have an extrinsic background, linked to the exposome, due to poor nutrition and pollution, among others. The long-term exposure to UV-radiation results in photoaging, the loss of tensile strength and elasticity and the appearance of brown spots.[1]

Some nutrients like vitamin C and iron impact this ageing process. 

Normal skin contains high concentrations of vitamin C and several reports have shown that those levels decrease during the ageing process. It has been shown that excessive exposure to oxidant stress or sun exposure is associated with depleted vitamin c levels in epidermal layers and that this vitamin limits the exposome impact. [2]

The rise of iron storage on the surface of the skin accelerates skin ageing. During menopause, iron levels increase by 40%. Those high levels of iron have a pro-oxidant activity, linked to the Fenton reaction which will induce fast appearance of brown spots and collagen depletion. [2]

Tannic acid inhibits the hydroxyl radical formation of this Fenton reaction by complexing Fe3+. [3,4]

Vitamin C is a potent reducing agent and scavenger of free radicals and an ally during the ageing process: it is essential for the collagen biosynthesis and has an important anti pigmentary effect, interacting with copper ions at tyrosinase-active sites and inhibiting the tyrosinase enzyme. [5]

Although we need a Vitamin C supply, our body is not capable of synthesizing it, that’s why an adequate vitamin C daily intake is essential both orally and topically. 

It is important to choose the right pure vitamin C serum for your skin. Like other delicate actives extracted from nature, L-ascorbic acid is difficult to stabilize. Thanks to its exclusive antioxidant technology, ALPHASCIENCE developed unique formulas combining pure vitamin C and Tannic acid, proven by independent laboratories to be not only long-term stable but also when exposed to high temperatures and inside the skin. 

1. Zhang, Shoubing, and Enkui Duan. Cell transplantation vol. 27,5 (2018): 729-738.
2. Leveque N, Robin S, Makki S, Muret P, Rougier A, Humbert P. Gerontology. 2003 Mar-Apr;49(2):117-22.
3. Lopes GK, et al. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999 Oct 18;1472(1-2):142-52.
4. Gülçin I, et al. Arabian Journal of Chemistry, 2010 (3-1):43-53.
5. Pullar, Juliet M et al. Nutrients vol. 9,8 866. 12 Aug. 2017