hi, has anyone tried out the body shop vit c line? its very very expensive her…approx 1800-2300 rupees per item…so not too keen on being the guinea pig if someone else has already been one!! 
its supposedly to even out ur skin tone and lighten pigmentation marks - and supposedly give u a glowing complexion…
any users???
its a whole line with vit c capsules to apply to ur face; vit c serum for quick pick meup; vit c daily moisturiser; vit c night treatment; vit c mask..etc..
Re: body shop vitamin c line
sounds cool
Re: body shop vitamin c line
does body shop have vitamin e- capsules?!?.........
no only vitamin c capsules...
has NOONE used the vitamin c line? any luck with lightening of freckles?!
Re: body shop vitamin c line
I love the vitamin C face polish… makes my skin feel fresh and zingy…
Rockon, i don’t think the Vitamin C line will lighten your freckles… i get a lot of freckles in the summer, so i just make sure i apply a high SPF sun screen all year round, but also i went to my derm who gave me a cream which contains HQ. My sister also gets a lot of freckles, and she had IPL which got rid of them all together.
I’ve also heard good stuff about the Shiseido White range from friends who have used it to even out skin tone 
Re: body shop vitamin c line
vit c is essentially useless outside of a lab...so dont believe any product that claims to work wonders using vit c...
an interesting article that sheds light on Vit C products.
Anhydrous vitamin C combo. Making the best of vitamin C skin care.
Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is one of the relatively few topical agents whose effectiveness against wrinkles and fine lines is backed by a fair amount of reliable scientific evidence (see our article on vitamin C). Unfortunately, the practical use of vitamin C in skin care presents some difficulties for a number of reasons. First, vitamin C is relatively unstable. When exposed to air, vitamin C solution undergoes oxidation and becomes not only ineffective but also potentially harmful (oxidized vitamin C may increase the formation of free radicals). Second, vitamin C products (especially the effective ones) tend to be irritating for many people. Topical vitamin C formulations need to be at least 10% strong to boost collagen synthesis and thereby improve wrinkles. At this concentration, vitamin C preparations are highly acidic (pH around 2.5), which may be irritating, especially for sensitive skin. Neutralizing the acidity does not solve the problem because buffered vitamin C becomes ionized, which markedly reduces skin penetration. At present, there are two practicable approaches to solving the above problems. They may be combined to maximize the chances of squeezing all possible skin benefits out of vitamin C.
Anhydrous vitamin C
One approach to improving vitamin C stability and reducing the potential for skin irritation is to use anhydrous vehicle, i.e. a topical base cream containing no water. Since water acts as a catalyst of vitamin C oxidation, anhydrous environment reduces the rate of vitamin C degradation. Anhydrous vitamin C is more stable not only during storage but also on the skin after the application. This is an important advantage, even compared to some stabilized water-based vitamin C formulas, which may store well but still oxidize quickly on the skin surface. Furthermore, anhydrous vitamin C tends to be less irritating than regular ascorbic acid products because the irritation is caused mainly by hydrogen ions generated by acid dissociating in water.
More importantly, evidence indicates that ultrafine microcrystalline vitamin C in an anhydrous vehicle can stimulate collagen synthesis. In a 2006 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, Dr Geoffrey K. Heber and co-workers studies the effects of 20 - 23% ultrafine microcrystalline anhydrous vitamin C on the collagen synthesis in the sections of human skin. The researchers found an increased production of both type I and type III collagen (both of these types of collagen are important for youthful skin).
Vitamin C derivatives
Another solution is to use of vitamin C derivatives, which may provide skin benefits similar to the unmodified vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) but tend to be more stable and less irritating (see our article on vitamin C derivatives.) Unfortunately, vitamin C derivatives have limitations of their own. While a number of vitamin C derivatives appear promising as collagen boosters, more studies are needed to definitively determine which ones are as effective as vitamin C itself. Also, due to variation in individual skin biochemistry some people who respond to vitamin C do not respond to its derivatives and vice versa.
Anhydrous vitamin C combo, possibly the best of both worlds
There is some evidence that combining water soluble and oil-soluble forms of vitamin C may provide synergistic skin benefits through broader antioxidant protection and better penetration. However, combining high concentrations of oil and water-soluble active ingredients is often technically difficult using typical skin care vehicles. Fortunately, in the case of vitamin C, some anhydrous vehicles allow to combine high potency vitamin C with its oil-soluble derivatives while providing the extra stability of water-free base. For example, one can combine L-ascorbic acid (water soluble) and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate (oil-soluble) in an anhydrous vehicle. A study of such a formula, conduced by Drs Fitzpatrick and Rostan, was published in Dermatological Surgery (a peer-reviewed journal) in 2002. The researchers used a combination of L-ascorbic acid and tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate in anhydrous polysilicone gel base applied to one-half of the face vs. inactive polysilicone gel base applied to the opposite side. The researchers concluded that the formulation produced "clinically visible and statistically significant improvement in wrinkling when used topically for 12 weeks" and that "the improvement correlated with biopsy evidence of new collagen formation."
While many biocompatible organic vehicles may be used as an anhydrous base (e.g. glycerin), the best results seem be obtained with siloxanes and polysilicones. These are related silicon-containing organic compounds often used as skin protectants. Siloxanes and polysilicones appear particularly effective in forming an anhydrous film that protects the skin surface from irritation, oxidation, and other offenses.
Unfortunately, as of the time of this writing, no commercial product seems to be an anhydrous vitamin C combo. Non-anhydrous products with vitamin C derivatives are available. So are a few anhydrous L-ascorbic acid products, although they tend to be rather expensive. While waiting for an anhydrous vitamin C combo to become commercially available, you can try to use both of these types of products. If you do, apply them at least a few hours apart. Applying a regular product (i.e. a product containing water) together with an anhydrous one reduces the benefits of the latter.
Alternatively, you can take a DIY route. Skin-friendly anhydrous bases are readily available. With minimal effort and expense, you can make anhydrous vitamin C and/or anhydrous vitamin C combo yourself. You can even enhance it with Vitamin E, which is known to potentiate antioxidant effects of vitamin C. (See DIY Anti-Aging Skin Care Infopack for specific instructions).
no only vitamin c capsules...
has NOONE used the vitamin c line? any luck with lightening of freckles?!
i tried a couple of things from body shop vitamin c line,,,,i got a bad reaction from it,,,but its my fault cuz i didn't pay attention to "not for sensitive skin"....if u have sensitive skin don't use it...
maham i used vitamin c capsules from lumene...they are good,,,but i stopped using it when i got the reaction from body shop vitamin c products....
shiseido's white lucent line is aweeesomme! but i dont know where u would find it in pakistan and its more pricey than vit c at the body shop. ive never used it for freckles though.
hi…
actually, most anti oxidant products are not stable upon exposure to light and oxygen…the same goes for all retinol products for the same reasons…but i came across this research on vit c…it says, in a nutshell, that u gotta rotate ur anto ixidants as research has not proven a single one to be totally effective…and anyways, all research is preliminary…who knows, 40 years down the line they will be feeding us some other shipiel!!!
Vitamin C
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Vitamin C became a celebrated cause in the world of skin after Dr. Sheldon Pinnell from Duke University published a paper in 1992 showing how L-ascorbic acid (a form of vitamin C) reduced UVB damage when applied to the backs of hairless pigs. That was big news and it generated product lines either based on L-ascorbic acid or other forms of vitamin C. Each company said the version of vitamin C they used was best (and most stable) for skin, which created more confusion than helpful information. With the passing years an impressive body of research has evolved proving the benefits, stability requirements, and usage levels for many forms of vitamin C.
Before I get to the benefits vitamin C can bestow on skin, it needs to be stated up front that vitamin C is not the answer to your skin care concerns and it is not the be-all, end-all antioxidant cosmetic companies often purport it to be. There is no conclusive or even vaguely convincing research indicating which antioxidant is best amongst the hundreds and potentially thousands that exist. In fact, there are lots and lots of potent antioxidants, of which vitamin C is just one (Sources: International Journal of Pharmaceutics, July 14, 2005, pages 153-163; Journal of Pharmaceutical Biomedical Analysis, February 2005, pages 287-295; and Journal of Molecular Medicine, August 2000, pages 333-336).
But back to vitamin C. When it comes to applying this vitamin topically at levels ranging from 0.3-10%, the benefits are:
Potent antioxidant, particularly in regard to protecting skin cells from UV-induced damage
Delays tumor formation after (animal) skin is exposed to extensive UV damage
Has a low risk of skin sensitization at concentrations up to 10% in the form of ascorbic acid
Reduces transepidermal water loss, thus strengthening skin’s barrier response
Promotes collagen production and has the potential to thicken the dermis
Reduces inflammation
Ascorbic acid at levels of 5% and above has a positive effect on hyperpigmentation (though the results are not as impressive as hydroquinone, suggesting a combination of the two would be optimal)
Improves the appearance of sun-damaged skin by strengthening skin’s repair mechanisms
Enhances the effectiveness of dermatologist-performed procedures such as peels and microdermabrasion
(Sources for the above statements: International Journal of Toxicology, Volume 24, Supplement 2, 2005, pages 51-111; Experimental Dermatology, September 2005, pages 684-691 and June 2003, pages 237-244; Dermatologic Surgery, July 2005, pages 814-817; Nutrition Reviews, March 2005, pages 81-90; Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, November-December 2004, pages 298-303; BMC Dermatology, September 2004, page 13; International Journal of Dermatology, August 2004, pages 604-607; and Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Volume 5, Issue 2m March-April 2003, pages 145-149.)
An article in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (January 2000, pages 464–465) nicely summed up the positive effects of vitamin C stating that it “…is a valuable antioxidant and protectant against photodamage that is created by sunlight in both the UVB and UVA bands… . Although oral supplementation may also be useful, topical preparations are able to deliver a higher dosage to the needed area. Topical vitamin C…augments the skin’s ability to neutralize reactive oxygen singlets [free-radical damage] that are created by the ultraviolet radiation, thereby preventing photodamage to the skin…Used appropriately, topical vitamin C is an important adjunct to the use of sunscreens, an adjunctive treatment to lessen erythema [redness] in skin resurfacing, a helpful adjunct or an alternative to Retin-A in the treatment of fine wrinkles, and a stimulant to wound healing.”
As with most vitamins, there are many forms of vitamin C but the ones primarily found in skin-care products are ascorbic acid, L-ascorbic acid, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, ascorbyl palmitate, ascorbyl phosphate, ascorbyl glucoside, retinyl ascorbate, ascorbyl stearate, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, and magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (Source: International Cosmetic and Ingredient Dictionary and Handbook, 10th Edition, 2004). So is there a best form of vitamin C for your skin? The simple answer is no, though many seem to be reliable and beneficial for skin.
L-ascorbic acid is a good option in terms of its potential bioavailability on skin, but Pinnell’s own research about his prized form of vitamin C shows it is highly sensitive to formulary concerns, including concentration and the pH needed for it to remain stable (Source: Dermatologic Surgery, February 2001, pages 137–142). Current research has demonstrated that adding magnesium sulfate with L-ascorbic acid can make this form of vitamin C stable much longer without acidic pH concerns (Source: Journal of Cosmetic Science, January-February 2004, pages 1-12).
Ascorbyl palmitate is considered stable and there is research showing it to be effective as an antioxidant (Sources: Photochemistry and Photobiology, June 1998, pages 669–675; and Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, March 1997, pages 795–801).
In terms of stability, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is reliable for skin as well (Source: Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, Volume 15, Issue 6, March 1997, pages 795-801). A single study demonstrated that it can also be effective for skin lightening when used at a 10% concentration (Source: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, January 1996, pages 29–33). That’s good to know, but, to the best of my knowledge, there are no products with that amount of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate available and no other research has duplicated those results (or compared it to other effective antioxidants).
Ascorbic acid (Sources: Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, July-August 2004, pages 200-206 and Experimental Dermatology, June 2003, pages 237-244) and retinyl ascorbate (Source: Free Radical Research, May 2005, pages 491-498) have also been shown to be potent and effective forms of vitamin C (with ascorbic acid being the entire vitamin C molecule). Rounding out the list is sodium ascorbyl phosphate. Research has shown it to be a stable form of vitamin C (Source: International Journal of Pharmaceutics, April 30, 2003, pages 65-73).
IMPORTANT NOTE: All forms of antioxidants are extremely vulnerable to the presence of light and oxygen. When antioxidants are exposed to sunlight or air they quickly break down and deteriorate, losing their benefit for skin. This means the type of packaging used for formulations containing antioxidants (as well as other types of ingredients) is critical. As a general rule it is best to completely avoid products packaged in jar containers or any other container that exposes the product to air or light.
REMINDER: Despite the benefits topical vitamin C provides, it is important not to get hung up on any one antioxidant, regardless of its history. Aging is more complicated than just the loss or need for vitamin C—or any other vitamin, enzyme, protein, peptide, fatty acid, amino acid, or lipid in the skin. Although vitamin C is clearly an effective ingredient for skin, there are many antioxidants that are as good, including beta-glucan, vitamin E, vitamin A, green tea, grape extract, selenium, curcumin, lycopene, superoxide dismutase, and on and on. Furthermore, many researchers studying antioxidants and their effects on the human body feel the best plan of attack is to use multiple antioxidants rather than narrowing your choices to a few well-publicized options or the mistaken belief that there is a single “best” antioxidant to apply and consume (Sources: Archives of Dermatologic Research, April 2005, pages 473-481; Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, February 2005, pages 515-528; Photochemistry and Photobiology, January-February 2005, pages 38-45; and Mutation Research, April 2005, pages 153-173).