What is the "Morning C, Evening A" Anti-Aging Skincare Method?
The "Morning C, Evening A" method has long been a popular skincare regimen in the beauty industry due to its significant antioxidant and anti-aging effects, as well as its benefits for whitening and reducing spots. So, what does "Morning C, Evening A" mean? Why should they be used together? What steps should be followed, and are there any precautions to take? This article will provide you with the answers!
What is Morning C, Evening A?
Simply put, "Morning C, Evening A" means using Vitamin C (VC) products in the morning after waking up and using Vitamin A (VA) products in the evening before going to bed. VC products have antioxidant properties, can lighten scars, improve skin tone, and brighten complexion. On the other hand, VA products promote skin metabolism, strengthen the skin's stratum corneum, and unclog pores. The rational combination of antioxidant VC products and anti-aging VA products can indeed have a synergistic effect greater than the sum of the two parts. However, the underlying principles of this combination are not widely known.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, has whitening, antioxidant, and anti-photoaging effects. VC products aim to keep the skin bright and prevent dullness during the day. Through long-term use, they help to eliminate various free radicals accumulated in the skin and inhibit their further production.
• Brightening: Vitamin C can reduce the production of melanin and restore already generated melanin.
• Antioxidant: VC is the most abundant antioxidant in the body, capable of neutralizing free radicals and protecting cell structures from oxidative stress.
• Protection against UV damage: In addition to protecting the skin from free radical damage caused by UV rays, VC can also inhibit lipid peroxidation and reduce the transmission of oxidative stress signals in sensitive cells.
• Anti-aging: Promotes collagen growth and reduces wrinkles.
Most existing VC products mainly contain pure VC and VC derivatives. Since pure VC is a water-soluble substance, it is recommended that cosmetics containing it be water-free or have a pH value of less than 3. However, the lower pH value may affect people with sensitive skin and thin stratum corneum. Therefore, products mainly containing VC derivatives, such as ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, have appeared on the market. Although their antioxidant properties are slightly inferior to pure VC, they are much less irritating to the skin.
Why use Vitamin C in the morning?
Vitamin C or its derivatives have excellent antioxidant effects, can be used in both the morning and evening, but using them during the day maximizes their effects. During the day, the skin is exposed to high levels of ultraviolet radiation, leading to the production of free radicals.
Vitamin C, with its high reactivity, acts as a protective barrier for the skin, preventing UV-induced immune suppression and inhibiting melanin production. Therefore, using Vitamin C during the day is aimed at maximizing resistance to external factors such as ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollution, resulting in tighter, smoother skin.
Benefits of Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also known as retinol, is renowned for its wrinkle-reducing, anti-aging, and collagen-boosting effects, making it beneficial for sensitive skin, oily skin, and acne-prone skin.
• Restoring the stratum corneum: Substances classified as Vitamin A can enhance the metabolism of skin corneocytes, reinforce cellular connections, thus increasing epidermal thickness, and effectively addressing thinning skin associated with aging.
• Reducing fine lines and wrinkles: By promoting collagen synthesis while reducing matrix metalloproteinase degradation of collagen, Vitamin A helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
• Stimulating collagen regeneration: The strong penetrative nature of Vitamin A aids in reaching the dermis, promoting collagen regeneration, providing structural support to the skin, resulting in firmer skin.
• Prevent pore blockage: Vitamin A acts as an exfoliant, helping to normalize oil secretion and prevent pore blockage.
Vitamin A substances encompass four types: retinoic acid, retinol, retinal, and retinyl esters. Retinoic acid, with its potent irritative properties, is commonly used in medicinal treatments for skin conditions and is not typically added to cosmetics. Similarly, the retinal is also irritative. Retinyl esters have low conversion rates. Hence, the most frequently used Vitamin A substance in cosmetics is retinol, which strikes a balance between efficacy and minimizing skin damage.
Why use Vitamin A in the evening?
Now that you know the benefits of Vitamin A, it's a fantastic skin-repairing ingredient that helps combat aging. When you sleep at night, Vitamin A substances can aid in repairing damage caused during the day, promoting the skin's self-repair mechanisms. Moreover, Vitamin A substances mostly exhibit photosensitivity, meaning they easily degrade and become inactive under ultraviolet radiation, making them more suitable for nighttime use.
"Morning C, Evening A" skincare formula is not suitable for everyone.
Those with sensitive skin or weakened skin barriers should avoid using it, as it could exacerbate skin issues.
Pregnant women or those intending to conceive should not use it, as Vitamin A has been linked to birth defects in infants.
Individuals unable to establish tolerance should abstain from its use. Vitamin A tends to be somewhat irritating, and tolerance should be gradually developed before ramping up usage frequency.
How to build skin tolerance for "Morning Vitamin C, Evening Vitamin A"?
Many people who have tried the "Morning Vitamin C, Evening Vitamin A" routine often experience mild stinging and redness in the early stages, which is actually normal. Building skin tolerance is essential when using the "Morning Vitamin C, Evening Vitamin A" routine.
Before applying any product directly to your face, it's essential to conduct a patch test on sensitive areas like behind the ear or the inner wrist. If there are no adverse reactions such as redness or stinging, you can proceed to apply it to a small area of your face.
Additionally, gradually increase the frequency of use. Start with once a week and gradually increase it to 2-3 times a week.
Vitamin C can be divided into prototype Vitamin C and Vitamin C derivatives. VC derivatives are less irritating and more stable. Beginners are advised to start with low concentrations of VC derivatives and transition to the prototype VC after building tolerance. You can start with a 5% concentration of prototype VC and gradually increase to 10%, 15%, or 20%. For non-sensitive skin, VC derivatives can start at 10% concentration and transition gradually.
As for Vitamin A, you can start with a concentration of 0.1% and increase it after establishing tolerance. A concentration of 0.5% is sufficient for most purposes. Higher concentrations of VA don't offer significant benefits as they can be more irritating than retinoic acid.