Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C/Altrient C - a must-have

US Version

A slightly unusual one for a review, but these seem to be too good to not talk about. I've adapted the questions below to suit supplements rather than skincare but if you think of any others, please let me know in the comments and I will add.

What is it?

A bioavailable vitamin C. 

Who is it for?

Everyone except those medically contraindicated.

What’s in it?

Vitamin C (as sodium ascorbate), Phospholipids (from soy lecithin), Phosphatidylcholine, Phosphatidylethanolamine, Phosphatidylinositol, Deionized Water, Sodium Ascorbate, Lecithin Phospholipids, Alcohol (12% w/w), Xanthum Gum, EDTA. Citric Acid, Calcium Disodium

*Altrient inci list

What's not in it?

sugar, starch, artificial flavours, artificial colours, meat products, dairy products, wheat, gluten and yeast

How do you use it?

Very specifically. Neck it like a shot. Minimal fluids, one gulp.

How long before you should see results?

Well you won't 'see' results, but it hits your bloodstream immediately, so you may 'feel' them.

How long did I test it for?

I've taken them multiple times daily since Tuesday - only a week, but I'm convinced they've helped kick my nearly three-week-long tracheitis to the kerb and my skin is definitely looking firmer. I'm still dehydrated from antibiotics, but they're not affecting my skin as much as they have done in the past.

How much is it? /Size/Approximate cost per usage?

In the US they are $29.95 and in the UK we get screwed - they are £35.99, both boxes contain 30 sachets.

*Due to the differing governing laws in the USA/EU they are called Altrient in the EU - same liposomes, same good effect. Don't make the same mistake I made and order the original if you live in the UK - they're £44.00 on Amazon instead of £35.99 through distributors (details below).  #idiot

What’s good about it?

We need vitamin C for a multitude of reasons - including:

• To help protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals - same as your anti-ageing serums, except these work internally. 
• To support a healthy immune system - especially coming into winter!
• To support collagen production for healthier skin, muscles and joints - all of us, every day all day. Vitamin C is vital for your collagen, if yours is slacking, step it up.
• To promote muscle repair - great for those of you that are particularly active, workout a lot/run/have busy lifestyles, kids, everything..
• To support healthy gums - because who wants their teeth to fall out? ;)

Traditionally vitamin C is hard to digest and ingest. These are encapsulated and protected by microscopic bubbles called Liposomes. Liposomes are made of phospholipids, the same material that makes up cells. This allows the nutrient to pass through your cell membranes, unlike other vitamin c products which frequently linger in the system before they are excreted in your urine. 

A lot of vitamin C products on the market can be flushed from your system, Lypo-Spheric passes through your digestive system unharmed. There is no bowel intolerance and no vitamin flush meaning more of the nutrient reaches your cells. Apparently a very famous woman whose name rhymes with Bineth Haltrow takes 6 of these before she gets on a plane. 

The extremely popular vitamin C powders - EmergenC are marketed well and cute to take, but they are full, full of sugar. In the original Orange flavoured 9g sachet, there are 6g of sugar. Same for the kid's version.

What’s not so good about it?

They're expensive, but you get what you pay for. 

Would I purchase/repurchase?

I already have. These will be a solid addition to my tight supplement routine.

Available from:

USA - Amazon.com or Liposome-encapsulated/lypo-spheric-vitamin-c

UK -  www.altrient.com or Amazon.co.uk  

*No affiliate links. 

See my full disclaimer here:

http://bit.ly/1rpEmSq

The views expressed on this site are the author's own and are provided for informational purposes only. The author makes no warranties about the suitability of any product or treatment referenced or reviewed here for any person other than herself and any reliance placed on these reviews or references by you is done so solely at your own risk. Nothing on this site shall be construed as providing dermatological, medical or other such advice and you are always advised to seek the advice of a suitable professional should you have any such concerns.

Cheat Sheet - Anti-ageing

Anti-ageing.

We're all so used to this phrase that we don't even question it. If a product says it is anti-ageing on the box then it must be - right?

WRONG.

If ever a phrase has been overused it is this one. There are few ingredients that are indeed anti-ageing.
Although to be fair some should be called 'ageing prevention' as they don't reverse signs of ageing - they just slow them down or prevent them from getting worse.

Before we get on to the ingredients a reminder from your friendly nag about the 3 worst things you can do for your skin.

Sun, Sugar and Smoking

Sun - get a little - not a lot. Be sensible.

Sugar - probably one of the best (and hardest) things you can do for yourself, your health and your skin is to cut out sugar.
In a nutshell - sugar destroys your collagen - think of collagen as scaffolding for your face. Every time you eat/drink sugar it is like taking a piece of the scaffolding away - saggy baggy and drawn. Enjoy that cola won't you. And I'm not preaching here - I struggle every day with leaving sugar alone!

Smoking - No need to go into detail. I could not possibly be more anti-smoking. I was once able to tell a client how she blew her smoke out of her mouth (straight up her face from her bottom lip) because of the condition of her skin in that area.
Smoking leaches the oxygen out of your face with every puff. Smokers have grey skin. Yes. Grey. If you smoke - get help and stop - as soon as you can.

So - digression over. The next time you pick up a product that claims to be anti-ageing what you need to look out for is one of these:

• SPF      
  SPF is anti-ageing. Proven, undoubtedly, unequivocally. Although if you're younger you could argue that it belongs in the 'prevention' category. It doesn't fix what has been done. That is the job of:
• Vitamin A   
  Vitamin A is the only other ingredient along with SPF that the FDA will legally let you claim to be anti-ageing in the USA. Vitamin A reverses the signs of ageing. Rebuilds collagen, repairs sun damage and is an all round good egg. There are varying degrees of vitamin A - if you have previously used a product with vitamin A in it and reacted badly - it may just be that you haven't found the right one for you yet.
• Glycolic/Lactic/Salicylic Acids   
  Acids used in the right way can be beneficial to the skin - when applied as topical exfoliants they resurface the epidermis allowing better product penetration and in the case of some well formulated AHA's - help rebuild collagen.
  Glycolic and Lactic are better for a dryer skin - Salicylic for oily/combination. Don't go too strong straight away and don't go mad. Less is sometimes more. 
• Vitamins C and E
  These two work well together as vitamin C is traditionally water-based (newer formulas include oil-based vitamin C) and vitamin E is oil based thus protecting both parts of the cell. Both are anti-oxidants and so in the 'prevention' category.
• Niacinamide
  Newer than the others, this is vitamin B3 by another name. When used on the skin it has shown to stimulate the dermis and in turn increase the fatty content of the cells along with aiding in the retention of water. As it is shown to enhance barrier function of the epidermis it has had good results with acne sufferers by protectng against bacterial attack.

Honestly?

That's about it.

Other ingredients may be and are beneficial to the skin in other ways - but if anti-ageing is the aim - you need some of these in your product - not all at once - let's not give the epidermis a heart attack.

And what age to start using anti-ageing?

I'm 'nutshelling' again but here goes:

SPF - from birth - no brainer. But please don't cover your babies in SPF50 until they are white. They need SOME sun.

Vitamin A - 30+ depending on lifestyle - if you're a sun worshipper start earlier.

Glycolic/Lactic/Salicylic - again depends on lifestyle and skin type. If you have acne you can use Salicylic topically from a fairly early age. The other two can be introduced 25+.

Vitamins C and E - from the word go. As soon as you start your skincare routine choose something with these in. Good move.

Niacinamide - 25+ ish again depending on lifestyle and skin. Acne? Crack on.

The basic thing to remember with anti-ageing is that our collagen production is linked directly to our ovaries.
When we are at our most fertile our skin is is usually at its height. As you near menopause and go through peri-menopause you will notice huge changes in your entire system, not just your skin. Hitting menopause has a direct link to your collagen, its a bit like someone takes away a little of the scaffolding that supports your facial structure with each passing year.

So start taking care of your skin when you get your periods - and step it up a notch when you get to 35+ (before if you go into early menopause or have a full hysterectomy).

And when you DO start using these products - all of them but especially the Vitamin A - DO NOT FORGET YOUR SPF.
During winter I get my SPF from my foundation, but I live in the northern hemisphere and work predominantly indoors. Once the sun is out its time for a dedicated SPF on top of your moisturiser and underneath your foundation. More of which here: www.carolinehirons.com/spf-cheat-sheet

And if you DO smoke? Scrap all that advice and use all of the above - now.