Get Vitamin C From Real Food…

And Never Wonder If You Are Getting The Correct Form!

Yes, form DOES matter!

Most skincare companies use the wrong form of vitamin C- they use lab-made derivatives ascorbyl palmitate and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. These derivatives are easier to stabilize in skincare preparations, but they do not perform the same way as topical L-ascorbic acid , the correct and ONLY form of vitamin C that can be used by the body.

Recent studies have shown that vitamin C derivatives are either not absorbed by the body, or are not converted to the correct form (L-ascorbic acid) in high enough concentrations to have any effect.

If It Really Matters, Let's Talk About Form!

Yes, form matters when it comes to Vitamin C. If your skincare contains the wrong form- you could actually be causing more harm than good! Topical vitamin C must be in the form of L-ascorbic acid to be used by the body and skin. Only L-ascorbic acid will have the desirable effects and advantages of sun protection, antioxidant protection, and collagen synthesis. These are typically the benefits you are looking for, and paying top dollar for, in a vitamin C serum.

Unfortunately, L-ascorbic acid is very unstable and breaks down rapidly due to its anti-oxidant properties. The very oxygen you breathe is a free radical, and as soon as ascorbic acid in a water solution is exposed to air, it starts donating electrons to neutralize oxygen free radicals and quickly degrades.

Let’s take a closer look at what a free radical is and why we want to prevent as many free radicals within our personal eco-system as possible!

A free radical can be defined as any molecular species capable of independent existence that contains an unpaired electron in an atomic orbital. The presence of an unpaired electron results in certain common properties that are shared by most radicals. Many radicals are unstable and highly reactive.[1] A situation we try to prevent by consuming, applying and absorbing as many antioxidants as possible.

A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for proper physiological function. If free radicals overwhelm the body’s ability to regulate them, a condition known as oxidative stress ensues. Free radicals thus adversely alter lipids, proteins, and DNA and trigger a number of human diseases. Hence application of external source of antioxidants can assist in coping this oxidative stress. Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene and butylated hydroxyanisole have recently been reported to be dangerous for human health. [2]

Unfortunately, skincare companies know how much we “crave” younger looking skin and they have developed cost cutting ways to include “vitamin C” in their products. They promote the benefits of vitamin C, but what they fail to tell you is fact that they are either using the incorrect form (magnesium ascorbyl phosphate) or they have combined L-ascorbic acid with a molecule to make it oil soluble and easier to penetrate the skin. This molecule is palmitate and the lab-made version is known as ascorbyl palmitate. Unfortunately, ascorbyl palmitate can have the opposite effect you are craving when you purchased that high-priced Vitamin C serum.

Attaching palmitate to L-ascorbic acid enhances penetration because palmitate is a lipid (oil soluble) and easily passes through the skin’s lipid barrier carrying the ascorbic acid with it. It’s true the ascorbic acid will help neutralize free radicals within the cell, but the more frightening fact is what happens with the palmitate molecule. Palmitate generates the formation of two enzymes (4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and JNK) that destroy skin protein and collagen. The result is massive skin cell death- not exactly what you were looking for in that Vitamin C serum! Not exactly anti-aging and beneficial for your health in general.

The Healthy Me Begins With Real Food- Both Inside And Out!

Topical Vitamin C provides numerous health benefits for both your internal health (think free-radical damage and heart disease) as well as your outermost self- your skin. When you want to heal the inside of your body- or improve your overall health- the best way to do that is through diet- a real food diet. Real food contains the macro and micro nutrients the body needs to heal, protect and maintain health at the cellular level. Many have witnessed numerous health benefits of eating a real food diet!

The same is true for your skin- your largest organ. Vitamin C has numerous health benefits, but only if it comes from real food sources, not a lab.

Vitamin C:

• Can help combat wrinkles, blotches, large pores and other skin blemishes.
• Is key to the production of collagen, a protein that aids in the growth of cells and blood vessels, and gives skin its firmness and strength.
• Plays a role in collagen synthesis and helps create new tissue – so your skin can repair itself. In essences, L-ascorbic acid sends a signal to your collagen genes to synthesize collagen!
• Is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage.
• Topical Vitamin C can also provide photoprotection- or protection from the harmful effect of the sun. Vitamin C neutralizes the free radicals produced by oxygen, the highly reactive molecules produced by the interaction of sunlight on the cell membranes of the skin. Vitamin C does not absorb light, so do not consider it a sunscreen- but a great addition to protection from the sun.

The Collaboration Of Two Experts: The Real Food Expert And The Skin-Food Expert

In the spring of 2014, Liz Wolf, NTP (Real Food Liz, author of Eat The Yolks and Purely Primal Skincare Guide) approached me about collaborating on producing a Vitamin C Serum- so I began my research into vitamin C and the dilemma of what ingredients to use. After my research exposed the above information, I knew the only solution is use only the best and most abundant sources of vitamin C- real food. My search began for those fruits that contain the highest levels of vitamin C and from them, produce a serum that will provide the advantages only real-C can provide.

Introducing, from a collaboration of experts: C-ex, Vitamin C Face Serum from real-food. Vitamin C from real food infused in vitamin C-rich oils to provide the best source and highest amount of protection against aging.

C-ex Vitamin C sources: Rosehip Seed Oil*, Maracuja Oil*, Blackberry Oil, Acai Oil*, Mango Butter*, Goji Berries*, Mulberries*, Golden Berries*, Maquiberry*, Camu*, Jasmine Oil*, Neroli Oil*, Geranium Oil*, Ylang Ylang Oil*, Acerola*, Mangosteen, Buriti Oil*, Carrot Seed Oil*, Frankincense Oil*, Myrrh Oil**, Palmarosa Oil*, Spikenard Oil*, Mimosa Oil**, Sandalwood Oil*

*Certified Organic **Wildcrafted

**Because both experts believe in nourishing a healthy, non-toxic pregnancy, we offer a pregnancy version void of ingredients not recommended for use during the nine months of creation.

“C-ex”. We did what Big Cosmo couldn’t (or wouldn’t) do…

WHAT DID LIZ AND TRINA DO? WHY IS C-EX SERUM STABLE, SAFE AND VERY EFFECTIVE?

We put the Vitamin C directly in the oil by infusing fruit and nut oils rich in vitamin C with foods (berries) that are extremely high in natural vitamin C. No enhancers or nasty emulsifiers needed! No chemical compounds. Just good old vitamin C infused directly into that beautiful natural oil! C-ex, for the most nutrient rich vitamin C serum available!

You can’t get more stable than that!

You can’t get more real than that!

You can’t get more c-ex than that!

Available for pre-order only.  Will begin shipping August 01, 2015

Meet the Makers: for more information about the experts, see below:

[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/ Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health

[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3249911/ Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health