Lorraine Meisner created Cellex C in the late 1980s as a topical vitamin C treatment combining ascorbic acid with zinc and tyrosine. The product was commercialized after media coverage and became influential in anti-aging skincare. Modern science supports topical vitamin C for antioxidant protection and collagen support, but formulation stability remains crucial. Several historical and commercial claims about Cellex C warrant further verification.

How Cellex C started

Cellex C is a topical vitamin C treatment developed in the late 1980s by Lorraine Meisner. Frustrated by the limits of then-popular retinoids, Meisner experimented with a direct, topical vitamin C formulation intended to protect and support collagen in sun-damaged skin.

Why vitamin C matters for skin

Sun exposure, smoking, pollution and other environmental stressors create free radicals that degrade collagen and deplete vitamin C in the skin. Without adequate vitamin C, the skin's ability to maintain and repair collagen weakens, which contributes to lines and texture changes.

Meisner's approach was to deliver vitamin C directly to the skin surface rather than rely on oral supplements alone. Topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant and cofactor for collagen synthesis, but it is also chemically unstable unless formulated correctly. Modern skincare keeps to that same principle: an effective topical product needs a stabilized form or a carefully controlled formulation to remain active on the skin.

The original formula and early reception

Meisner's original mixture reportedly combined 10% ascorbic acid with zinc and the amino acid tyrosine to improve effectiveness and skin uptake. When she tested the formula on friends and family, she observed noticeable improvements in skin tone and texture.

After early media attention, the product was commercialized and reached a wider audience. Reports from the time say a Canadian company acquired production rights and that Meisner received a patent around 1990. Cellex C went on to become a well-known name in topical vitamin C products, and it gained particular attention in regions with heavy sun exposure.

Some practitioners also reported using Cellex C after procedures such as chemical peels and laser resurfacing to support recovery, though clinical claims about accelerated healing times vary by source. 1

What changed since then

Since the 1990s, research has reinforced the value of topical vitamin C for photoaged skin when formulations deliver active, stable ascorbic acid or effective derivatives. The market has also moved toward more stable vitamin C derivatives, airless packaging, and combined antioxidant formulas to address stability and penetration concerns.

Meisner's core idea - that targeted, topical vitamin C can support collagen and reduce visible effects of environmental damage - has endured. The specific product, its ownership, sales figures and some historical claims have been reported in media accounts; several of these details should be checked against current corporate records and patent databases for confirmation. 2

Practical takeaways

  • Topical vitamin C remains a supported option for antioxidant protection and collagen support in skin care.
  • Stability and formulation matter: look for reputable formulations or stabilized derivatives.
  • If you are considering topical vitamin C after a cosmetic procedure, consult your treating clinician about timing and product choice.
  1. Confirm whether a Canadian company purchased production rights to Cellex C after New York Times coverage and identify the company.
  2. Verify that Lorraine Meisner received a patent for Cellex C in or around 1990 and collect the patent number.
  3. Confirm historical sales claims (e.g., "million seller" and "biggest selling skin treatment in Australia") and source contemporary sales or market data.
  4. Check reports that plastic surgeons commonly sold Cellex C to patients and the claim that it halved healing time after laser and chemical peels.

FAQs about Cellex

What is Cellex C?
Cellex C is a topical vitamin C formulation developed by Lorraine Meisner in the late 1980s to address sun-damaged and aging skin by delivering ascorbic acid directly to the skin.
How does topical vitamin C work on skin?
Topical vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and a cofactor for enzymes involved in collagen synthesis, helping protect skin from free-radical damage and supporting structural repair when the formulation is active and stable.
Is topical vitamin C better than oral vitamin C for skin?
Topical application delivers vitamin C directly to the skin and can achieve higher local concentrations than oral supplementation alone, making it a preferred route for targeted skin benefits.
Are there stability issues with vitamin C creams?
Yes. Pure ascorbic acid is chemically unstable in air and light. Modern products use stabilized formulations, derivatives, or protective packaging to preserve activity.
Can I use vitamin C after cosmetic procedures?
Some clinicians use topical vitamin C to support recovery after peels or laser treatments, but timing and product choice should be guided by your treating practitioner.

News about Cellex

Solving the ‘Last Mile’ to Patients: Biotech Leaders CGT Global and Cellex Cell Professionals Come Together to Scale Cell and Gene Therapies Globally - Business Wire [Visit Site | Read More]

Swarm Oncology Partners with Cellex to Advance T Cell Therapies for Solid Cancers - Contract Pharma [Visit Site | Read More]

The Generalitat assumes the administration of the Cellex and Mir Puig scientific foundations - Diari ARA [Visit Site | Read More]

A Decade of Cell & Gene Therapy Manufacturing and Major GMP Facility Expansion: Cellex's Track Record of Scalable Excellence - PR Newswire [Visit Site | Read More]

Blackstone Life Sciences, Cellex Cell Professionals, and Intellia Therapeutics Launch New CAR T-Cell Company - Intellia Therapeutics [Visit Site | Read More]

Swarm Oncology Ltd. and Cellex Cell Professionals GmbH Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Swarm's Innovative T Cell Therapies for Solid Cancers - PR Newswire [Visit Site | Read More]

The executors of Pere Mir's will are being investigated for possible irregularities in the foundations. - Diari ARA [Visit Site | Read More]