A Vitamin Skincare Guide: A, B, C, E
Most of us know the benefits of having enough vitamins in our diet. But despite what supplement companies tell us, oral vitamins don’t target the skin specifically.
The vitamins we eat have to pass through our bodies and get absorbed by different parts long before they reach our skin. So our fine lines and wrinkles never get the full benefit.
But that’s where vitamin skincare comes in.
Vitamin skincare targets dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles where they are – on our skin.
And as a result, they work much faster and deeper than supplements or food ever could.
But to properly use vitamin skincare, it’s important to know what each vitamin does, the impact of each vitamin on the skin and how/when to apply each.
Here’s the lowdown on the 4 main vitamins in skincare, A, C, D and E, and product recommendations for each.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A comes in many different forms. You might know it as retinol, or retinyl palmitate. The main benefit on the skin is anti-aging, so this is for those of us who want to minimise and prevent fine lines and wrinkles and hold on to our youthful skin.
Vitamin A works to regulate cell turnover (basically how often new skin cells are created) whilst also improving collagen and elastin in the skin.
Another benefit of vitamin A is its role in reducing acne, blemishes and scars. Retinoic acid is prescribed to those who suffer with acne and this works to improve the skin’s texture.
Depending on your skin, retinol can cause dryness and can irritate sensitive skin, so it’s important to start using this at a lower concentration and only 1-2 times per week before building it up in both strength and frequency.
It’s important to only use retinol at night as part of your night time skincare routine as increased cell turnover means the skin is more sensitive to sunlight and UV. It’s recommended to always wear a sunscreen generally, but more so when using retinol to protect the skin from UV damage.
Like with any skincare product, especially serums, you’ll likely only start to see benefits after using it for a few weeks, so don’t worry if you don’t see instant results! It’s recommended to start using retinol in your 20’s for best results.
Vitamin A Recommendations:
Vitamin B
The most well-known form of vitamin B is vitamin B3 which is known as niacinamide. Vitamin B is another skincare ingredient which works well for those suffering with acne, or hyper pigmentation. Whilst vitamin B3 is the most well-known, there are actually 8 variations of vitamin B.
Vitamin B works to reduce skin congestion, regulate sebum production and keep the skin hydrated. It also helps the skin maintain its natural barrier function and therefore keeps skin hydrated and moisturised.
Those who suffer with dry skin, or rosacea can benefit by introducing vitamin B into their skincare routine.
Vitamin B Recommendations:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is the most well known and most popular vitamin when it comes to supplements, but also in the skincare world too. This is probably because it has the most benefits and it’s suitable for all skin types and ages. Not only does it work to protect and strengthen the skin but it also has anti-ageing benefits too.
Vitamin C works to boost collagen production, protect against environmental aggressors, protect against UV and also reduce hyperpigmentation. It has antioxidant benefits which protects the skin against free radicals and these work to increase the level of protection against UV rays. Therefore preventing ageing, fine lines and wrinkles.
Vitamin C is also well known for its brightening properties. If you suffer with dark circles or hyper pigmentation, the addition of a vitamin C serum in your skincare routine can help to improve these issues.
You only need a small amount of vitamin C in your skincare routine to get the benefits, as it’s very potent. 2-3 drops of vitamin C serum as part of your morning skincare routine is enough. You might notice that vitamin C serums often come in a dark coloured glass bottle, this is because it’s very unstable and so needs to be kept out of sunlight.
Vitamin C Recommendations:
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is another vitamin which works to keep the skin moisturised and the skin barrier happy. If your skin is a little dry, whether just in winter, or all year round, products with vitamin E can help to retain moisture in the skin and keep it looking smooth and plump.
Not only is vitamin E intensely nourishing, it’s also an incredible antioxidant that works to protect against damage from free radicals and pollution. Think of vitamin E like a layer of armour that protects your skin from the damaging factors in the environment – and this protection means your skin stays youthful, plump and glowy. Vitamin E products are largely suitable to be used by any skin type.
Vitamin E Recommendations:
The Body Shop has a great range of vitamin E products available, from hydrating sprays to cleansers and moisturisers and is a great place to start on a lower budget.
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