We’re skincare experts – an essential ingredient for anti-aging & why it should remind you of a summer BBQ
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WITH so many beauty products touting anti-aging benefits, it can be hard to know which ones actually do the trick.
Skincare chemists Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu say that one ingredient, in particular, is a "skincare multitasker" that's great at fighting aging – but you might not love the way it smells.
"Vitamin C has decades of clinical testing to prove that it is an effective free radical quencher, collagen booster, and skin brightener," they wrote.
It's an "incredibly effective antioxidant" that can prevent aging, tackle uneven skin tone, and lessen fine lines and wrinkles.
But the good vitamin C serums have an unfortunate if unintentional fragrance: hot dog.
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"Did you know that the good vitamin C serums can actually smell like hot dogs?" the experts wrote.
So what, exactly, makes it smell like that?
"The 'hot dog water' smell is signature of the classic vitamin C, E, ferulic acid combination," the pair told the US Sun.
"Individually, none of these ingredients have a strong scent. In fact, if you're using a vitamin C product that doesn't contain ferulic acid or tocopherol, it won't have the hot dog water scent," they said.
But all three ingredients used together have "synergistic antioxidant benefits for skin" – so it's really a good idea to check the label for all three when buying.
One popular product that checks those boxes is – and fans have certainly noticed the odd eau de processed meat.
"If you can get past the hot dog water smell, then I think you’ll enjoy this," wrote one four-star reviewer.
"Yes, it smells a little like hot dogs, but you get used to it, and it's so worth it," wrote another.
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"The serum smells like hot dogs but it’s not overwhelming and it goes away after a minute or so," said a third.
Yet another raved: "Ok yes, this smells like hot dog water BUT this is by far the best Vit C serum out there. Nothing beats it. I have tried every single one."