Dot and Key Vitamin C + E Moisturizer
Review
Vitamin C + E Moisturizer from Dot and Key is an okay product. It is more of a moisturiser than a vitamin C product.
If you expect the benefits of a moisturiser and not of a vitamin C serum, it’s an okay product. I say ‘okay’ as a moisturiser and not ‘ good’ because it has fragrance. Dot and Key says it is a certified fragrance. But that doesn’t make it right. Fragrance irritates the skin, no matter what form it is used in.
If you expect the benefits of vitamin C, this product is not for you.
Keep reading to find out what the product can and can’t do…
The product’s primary benefit is adding hydration to the skin and helping it retain that hydration. It adds hydration through its humectants, which are water magnets. It retains water through its occlusive and emollients.
Hydrated skin is soft and plump. It also reduces the chances of many skin concerns, like breakouts, redness, and dullness. Keeping skin hydrated is the primary purpose of a moisturiser, and this product does that.
If you have dry skin, the hydration this product will add will not be enough.
It’s important to note that this product contains three vitamin C derivatives, which are not as good as pure vitamin C. This is a significant distinction, as it explains why the product should not be labelled as a ‘vitamin C’ product when it primarily contains ‘vitamin C derivatives’.
These vitamin C derivatives, fruit extracts, oils and vitamin E work as antioxidants. Antioxidants neutralise harmful molecules called free radicals. Free radicals age our skin. So, the outward benefit of antioxidants is bright skin. The level of brightness depends on the efficacy of antioxidants. Though the efficacy of antioxidants in this product is not as high as the pure form of Vitamin C, it adds some brightness to the skin.
Another noteworthy aspect of the product is its inclusion of panthenol and other anti-inflammatory ingredients, albeit in small quantities. These ingredients calm the skin and reduce redness, reducing the chances of issues like pigmentation and dull-looking skin to some extent.
Conclusion
This product will hydrate skin and help retain that hydration. It is more of a moisturiser than a vitamin C product.
It will make skin soft and plump and add a brightening effect.
If you have dry skin, the hydration this product will add will not be enough.
However, it has a fragrance, which is a huge negative. Fragrance can be counterproductive and can, over time, dull the face.
How to use the product
Cleanse your face.
Apply the product. If it’s daytime, apply sunscreen on top.
Ingredient 1 – Aqua (Water)
Function: Solvent
It helps in dissolving other ingredients in the product.
Dissolved ingredients can spread better on the skin.
Ingredient 2 – Glycerin
Function: Humectant
It is a water magnet. It pulls water molecules from the atmosphere to the top layer of the skin. This way, it hydrates the skin.
Ingredient 3 – Dicaprylyl Ether
Function: Emollient
Emollients soften and smoothen the skin.
They do this by forming a thin layer on the skin and reducing the loss of hydration from the skin through evaporation.
Ingredient 4 – Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter
Function: Occlusive, Anti-inflammatory
Hydrates skin.
It forms a protective layer on the skin, seals the water in, and prevents water from the skin’s surface from evaporating into the atmosphere.
It reduces the inflammation and redness on the skin. It is important to keep inflammation in check because inflammtion eventually leads to pigmentation on the skin.
Ingredient 5 -Dimethicone
Function: Emollient, Texture enhancer
It adds a thin layer on top of the skin and thus reduces the evaporation of water from skin’s surface. This keeps the skin hydrated.
It also enhances the texture of the product. It gives the product a silky feel.
Ingredient 6 – Xylitylglucoside
Function: Humectant
Its a water magnet. It binds itself to water molecules and keeps the hydration in the skin. It prevents water loss through evaporation.
Ingredient 7 – Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6
Function: Thickener, Texture enhancer
Thickens the product. Enhances the texture of the product.
Ingredient 8 – Acrylates/C1030 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Function: Texture enhancer, Film forming
Enhances the texture of the product. Forms a film, a continuous covering over the skin.
Ingredient 9 – Methylsilanol Mannuronate
Function: Anti-static, emollient
Antistatic agents reduce static electricity, and prevent hair or skin to be electrically charged. Soften and smoothen the skin.
Ingredient 10 – Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Function: Antioxidant
Derivative of vitamin C. Not as effective as pure form of vitamin C. Brightens the skin by fighting off free radicals. Free radicals are nasty molecules that age skin and give skin a dull look.
