We all know how tricky it is to maintain flawless skin. Maybe you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on skincare products and still haven’t found the right one. Or, maybe you have your go-to products, but something still seems missing (like that special glow). Perhaps vitamins are the missing piece of your skincare routine. Your health and what you put into (or on) your body does affect your skin, after all. There are so many benefits to vitamins and they usually have no side effects. On top of that, they’re generally not expensive, so you don’t need to worry about breaking the bank. Below are some vitamins and how they may help your skin. In most cases, applying the vitamin directly to your skin is the most efficient way of getting its benefits for your skin. However, consuming the vitamins may also have an impact.

Vitamin A

You may have noticed vitamin A (or its derivative, retinoid) as an ingredient in night creams or lotions. There’s a good reason for that—vitamin A corrects multiple skin conditions, but sunlight inactivates most forms of vitamin A. So, applying it at night helps to decrease sebum production (preventing acne), reduce inflammation, decrease clustering of melanin granules (therefore, reducing brown spots), normalize blood flow and increase collagen production (preventing premature aging and loss of elasticity).

Vitamin C

Too much exposure to the sun really can wreak havoc on your skin, thanks to the sun’s harmful UV rays. These rays penetrate the skin, causing DNA damage and burning the skin. This can eventually reduce the skin’s elasticity (leading to sagging skin and wrinkles) and cause sun spots. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your skin from UV rays. In addition to using sunscreen, you can also consume vitamin C to protect your skin from sun damage. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it neutralizes the free radicals which cause DNA damage. It also boosts collagen (which gives our skin its elasticity) and reduces pigmentation.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is another popular ingredient in skincare products. This is because it also has antioxidant properties, which protect the skin. So, the vitamin can help to prevent and treat brown spots caused by aging and free radical damage. It also helps to treat wrinkles by boosting collagen production and stimulating cell regeneration. Further, vitamin E is great for moisturizing dry, cracked skin (something many of us struggle with, especially in the winter). If you are applying vitamin E directly onto your skin, it’s best to do so before and after sun exposure. This is because UV rays can deplete up to half of your skin’s natural vitamin E.

Vitamin B

Of all the B vitamins, vitamin B3 (AKA niacinamide) is one of the best ones for your skin. Like vitamin E, it is also good for maintaining your skin’s moisture. It does so by increasing the production of ceramides and fatty acids, which act as a barrier, keeping moisture in and bad stuff out. This makes it great for those with dry skin (although anyone can benefit from it, as it also leads to softer skin). In addition, Vitamin B3 minimizes dark spots by inhibiting the transfer of pigment to skin cells. Vitamin B5 (AKA pantothenic acid) is great for moisturizing your skin, too. It stabilizes the skin’s barrier, keeping moisture in. Beyond that, it helps to reduce redness caused by inflammation and heals wounds effectively. Finally, vitamin B1 boosts circulation, giving your skin a healthy-looking glow.

Vitamin K

Are you a victim of those pesky, dark circles under your eyes? It really can be frustrating trying to get rid of them. If you’ve tried everything but have had no success, perhaps it’s time to try vitamin K. There are many causes of dark circles under the eyes, but one of the most common is blood leaking out from fragile capillaries. Since vitamin K helps with blood coagulation and circulation, it may help to reduce the darkness and puffiness under your skin. The best way to make use of vitamin K for your skin is to apply it topically, in combination with a collagen-boosting vitamin.

Blog submission by:

Helen Sanders https://www.healthambition.com/