Vitamins play an important role in skin health, they help to heal, cure, soften the skin, as well as fight against skin diseases. Vitamins, especially A, C, D and E, have been shown to have positive effects on the skin. We will divide vitamins into two large groups, water-soluble and fat-soluble, in order to better explain their benefits and functions in skin health and in our body in general.
Properties and uses of water-soluble vitamins
Vitamin C: It is an antioxidant that protects the body from many forms of oxidation and free radicals. Vitamin C has many functions in the body and one of them is the generation of collagen, a protein for the skin, promotes healing and tissue formation that acts to support the body, helps the body deal with stress, maintain high defenses and prevents the appearance of expression lines.
Vitamin B1: Helps regulate the nervous system, the heart and also growth.
Vitamin B2: It is made of enzymes that help cells to produce energy, maintain membranes, skin, and oxygenation.
Vitamin B3: It favors the creation of neurotransmitters and contributes to the improvement of the circulatory system.
Vitamin B5: It is responsible for purifying and detoxifying the body.
Vitamin B6: It contributes to the creation of red blood cells to carry oxygen in the body. It also helps alleviate the effects of PMS.
Vitamin B8: It promotes the formation of glands that generate hormones and the formation of the dermis.
Vitamin B9: It intervenes positively in cell multiplication, as well as in the development of the nervous system.
Vitamin B12: It is essential in the synthesis of DNA and RNA (nervous system and genetics).
Properties and uses of fat-soluble vitamins
Vitamin A: It is a great antioxidant and helps in the formation of hormones such as those generated by the adrenals. Maintains the general health of the skin, this vitamin helps the functioning and repair of skin cells.
Vitamin D: Often known as the “shine vitamin,” it is essential for protein production and calcium, which is vital for bone development. Promotes healing and skin health.
Vitamin E: Forms tissues and intervenes in fertility in a positive way. It works together with vitamin A to protect the skin from the sun’s rays, and also helps heal structural skin damage such as spots and stretch marks.
Vitamin K: Regulates blood coagulation, and it is important for muscle movement, energy regulation, water balance in the body, and it is used to shrink capillary veins.
The nutrients that the body needs for its proper functioning should be primarily in the food we eat, however, if a meal does not contain the necessary nutrients, an effective way to maintain good nutrition for our skin is through the consumption of vitamins and mineral supplements.
Benefits of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals, aids your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.
So, in the same way that eating antioxidant-rich foods helps your body fight free radicals, topical antioxidants do the same thing for your skin by helping to offset daily aggressors like UV damage and exposure and air pollution.
This free radical-fighting power is not only important in preventing signs of premature aging, but also in neutralizing free radicals, vitamin C can also help protect skin from precancerous changes caused by UV rays exposure to chemicals.
Main benefits of vitamin C:
– Antioxidant properties are the best benefit of vitamin C.
– Vitamin C has many amazing properties that speed up the skin’s healing process.
– Vitamin C helps promote collagen and elastin, which are natural protein fibers that help keep skin firm and strong, thus helping to prevent premature skin aging.
– It also contains a property that inhibits your skin’s production of melanin, which causes skin discoloration such as dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
Is vitamin C good for all skin types?
If you tend to have sensitive skin, I recommend starting with a lower concentration and also testing a test area first to make sure there is no allergy.
Incorporate vitamin C into your daily skin care routine.
The best vitamin C skin care product to use is a serum, because serums are more effective than creams or toners.
Adding another antioxidant like vitamin E to the mix is another great way to increase the effectiveness of vitamin C. This combination can double the protection against free radical damage. This is why you will often find the two antioxidants formulated together in serums.
Other forms of vitamin C that you can find in skin care products include tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, and methylsilanol ascorbate.
How to use it?
Remember: Because Vitamin C helps protect your skin from pollution, ultraviolet light, and free radicals, the best time to use it is in the morning rather than in the evening.
As a skincare rule, skincare products should typically be applied from “thinnest” to “thickest” in terms of consistency.
- Wash your face.
- Use a toner. (Optional)
- Apply Vitamin C serum.
- Apply a moisturizer (remember the “thinnest to thickest” rule.)
- Apply your favorite eye cream.
- Apply sunscreen.
A good thing about Vitamin C serums is that they can be applied as a base layer underneath whatever products you use in the morning.
How often should it be used?
For optimal results, you should use Vitamin C serum every single day. However, Vitamin C serum is most effective when your skin is properly exfoliated, that way the product can penetrate the skin better and seize the benefits of the vitamin.
We recommend applying Vitamin C serum every morning, and then use AHAs and BHAs at night a few times a week.
Renew Esthetics Medical SPA offers personalized skincare guides to help you create a beauty routine that meets your needs.
Book an initial consultation with our Skincare Specialists
IDALIS BAILEY
Medical Facial Expert
Nurse, MBA – Marketing, NYS Licensed Medical Aesthetician & Certified Laser with more of 15 Years Experience
