The key difference between alpha arbutin and vitamin C is that when used in skincare products, alpha arbutin is more potent in skin-brightening than vitamin C in skincare products.
Alpha arbutin and vitamin C are important organic compounds that are very useful in manufacturing skincare products. Both these compounds act as ingredients responsible for skin-brightening and skin lightening.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Alpha Arbutin
3. What is Vitamin C
4. Alpha Arbutin vs Vitamin C in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Alpha Arbutin vs Vitamin C
What is Alpha Arbutin?
Alpha arbutin is an organic compound that can be identified as a derivative of hydroquinone. It has the chemical formula C12H16O7. The molar mass of this compound is 272.25 g/mol. It appears as a white crystalline powder, and the density of this compound can be given as 1.55 g/cm3. The melting point of alpha arbutin ranges between 195-196 degrees Celsius, while the boiling point lies at 561.6 degrees Celsius.
This substance can block the biosynthesis of melanin on the skin via the inhibition of enzymatic oxidation of Tyrosine and Dopa, and it also promotes skin lightening. Moreover, this compound can restrain melanogenesis via a blocking mechanism on tyrosinase, diminishing the sensile yellowish brown plaque, etc.
Alpha arbutin is useful as an ingredient in skincare products because it can even out and brighten the skin tone, lighten darken areas, reduce the appearance of scars, etc. Alpha arbutin gives this effect when it reacts with the melanin in the skin. Skin sometimes produces excess melanin and can also cause hyperpigmentation. Exposure to the sun, pregnancy, and the use of certain medications can cause hyperpigmentation. Arbutin can act on the melanin pathway to suppress melanin activity.
The melanin pathway can be described as a complex process in which the skin produces pigmentation. Various different skin-brightening ingredients can act during the different steps of this process to suppress the activity of tyrosinase, the enzyme that is responsible for melanin production.
What is Vitamin C?
Vitamin C is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H8O6. The molar mass of this compound is 176.12 g/mol. Its melting point and boiling points are 190 °C and 553 °C, respectively. This vitamin occurs in certain food types, and we can use it as a dietary supplement as well. The terms “Ascorbic acid” and “L-Ascorbic acid” are synonyms for this compound though they are slightly different from each other. Moreover, it is an essential nutrient for us because it can repair tissues in the body and can lead to the enzymatic production of some neurotransmitters. More importantly, it is an antioxidant.
The natural sources of this vitamin are fruits such as citrus fruits, kiwifruit, strawberries, and other food such as broccoli, raw bell pepper, etc. However, longer storage or cooking can destroy vitamin C in food. The deficiency of this vitamin may cause Scurvy disease. This disease occurs when the collagen produced by the body is unable to function properly without vitamin C.
This vitamin is available in both natural and synthetic forms. We call the purest form of vitamin C as “ascorbic acid.” Most of the time, the purest forms are made in laboratories. The natural forms are in combination with other components. Therefore, we need to refine and process the food in order to get the vitamin out of the food.
What is the Difference Between Alpha Arbutin and Vitamin C?
Alpha arbutin and vitamin C are two ingredients that can be used in skincare products. The key difference between alpha arbutin and vitamin C is that when used in skincare products, alpha arbutin is more potent in skin-brightening than vitamin C in skincare products. It is advised to use 2% alpha arbutin to get bright skin, while for vitamin C, the recommended concentration is 10-20%.
The below infographic presents the differences between alpha arbutin and vitamin C in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Alpha Arbutin vs Vitamin C
Alpha arbutin and vitamin C plays important roles in the body, specifically on the skin. The key difference between alpha arbutin and vitamin C is that when used in skincare products, alpha arbutin is more potent in skin-brightening than vitamin C in skincare products.
Reference:
1. “Alpha Arbutin Properties.” WorldOfChemicals.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Vitamin C Supplement” By Daniel Foster (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) via Flickr