The Way We C It

Mediocrity has become standard in the skin care business. It is very rare that you will find a company that gives consumers the best of the best, it’s too expensive. Well, for companies that use depend on heavy marketing and celebrity endorsements to promote their products it is. Obagi doesn’t use either of these sales tactics so I am confused as to why their products aren’t top of the line? Maybe they are using out-dated scientific research?

Ingredients

• Ascorbic Acid: A water-soluble, natural form of Vitamin C that cannot penetrate the surface of the skin. Ascorbic acid loses its strength after 24 hours and breaks down rapidly. Ascorbic acid is the most acidic of all the vitamin C derivatives and may cause skin irritation and redness.
• Propylene Glycol: Most commonly found in brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In  cosmetics this is used as a humectant to prevent moisture and water from escaping. It is recommended that users avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as it is a strong skin irritant and may cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.
• Propylene Carbonate: Used to dissolve other substances
• Other Ingredients: Water, Fragrance

Pros

• Provides clinical studies on official website

Cons

• Does not list ingredients on website
• Uses an acidic, highly irritable form of Vitamin C
• May cause redness and skin irritation
• Does not have any moisturizing ingredients
• May cause more free radical damage
• Uses fragrances that may cause irritation

Conclusion

Obagi Pro-C Serum 20% is certainly lacking in the ingredient department. Ascorbic acid is unstable and can easily oxidize, meaning it has a very short shelf-life. Once Obagi Pro-C serum oxidizes it is ineffective and potentially harmful, oxidized vitamin C increases the formation of free radicals.  It is important to pay attention to expiration dates and to keep an eye on the color of your serum. Once it starts to change colors, throw it out. There are stable forms of vitamin C, like Vitamin C esters that are a combination of L-ascorbic acid and a fatty acid derived from palm oil. Vitamin C ester is  10 times more absorbable that vitamin C, and it does not irritate the skin, like ascorbic acid alone. Vitamin C ester is more stable and potent than vitamin C and can last months longer and does not cause skin irritation or redness . I also like to see some higher-end ingredients in Vitamin C Serum like DMAE,  Alpha Lipoic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, and ingredients like palm oil to regulate the pH balance. More common antioxidants like Vitamin E are also great additions to Vitamin C Serums. Obagi Pro-C Serum does not offer any of these.

If it weren’t obvious enough, we do not recommend Obagi Pro-C Serum to help you get the skin brightening, and anti-aging benefits you want from a vitamin C serum. Your input is important so please consider writing a review for any products you have had a chance to try. This will help others make an informed decision prior to purchasing.