Are you getting your vitamins?

Do you know your ABC’s?

Vitamins are essential for the health of our body AND our skin.
Our favourite ABC’s (and D’s and E’s) to keep skin healthy and glowing are…

Vitamin A!

Vitamin A, aka Retinyl Palmitate, is a cell to cell communicator that encourages skin cells to continue their renewal process and regenerate the production of collagen and elastin.
And as we all know too well, collagen and elastin production is the objective in anti-ageing, right?!
Vitamin A also protects the skin and supports its regeneration, but is much less irritating than retinol and therefore more gentle, which is especially good news for sensitive skin.
Vitamin A is even more beneficial for ageing skin if it’s used in combination with Vitamins C and E.

Vitamin B(3)!

Also known as Vitamin B3, Niacinamide has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in the skin, encouraging a well formed stratum corneum. It also prevents the skin from losing water content and stimulates microcirculation in the dermis. It has an excellent reputation for being able to reduce acne, decrease inflammation and lighten pigmentation.
Other benefits of B3 include:
•Evens out complexion and reduces inflammation
•Helps prevent pigmentation
•Restores damaged skin caused by UVA/UVB, pollution and other environmental factors
•Improves skin barrier defence and hydration

Vitamin C!

Vitamin C is necessary for the formation of strong collagen.
It also acts as a scavenger for free radicals and protects the skin’s lipids from oxidisation.
Vitamin C is made up of Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Palmitate, both of which function as oxygen scavengers and antioxidants. Essentially, they neutralise free radicals and reduce the amount of oxidative stress and damage to cells. They also increase the level of inhibitors of collagen-degrading matrix metalloproteinase and modulate collagen-synthesising enzymes. New research also suggests that Vitamin C might just directly stimulate collagen synthesis by activating collagen gene regulation.
In a nutshell: they help slow down the ageing process and the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Who doesn’t love the sound of that?!

Vitamin D!

Vitamin D, aka D-Panthenol, promotes wound healing, helps restore damaged epithelium (tissue) reduces itching and inflammation, improves skin hydration, reduces trans-epidermal water loss, improves skin roughness, and more!
Interestingly, it’s not entirely clear as to exactly how this wonder-vitamin achieves all of this. Most likely, much of its success is due to its conversion of Panthenol to Vitamin B5 (aka pantothenic acid), a component of Coenzyme A, which has multiple metabolic functions in the body.
Having said that, D-Panthenol has been shown to increase the proliferation of fibroblasts (which are responsible for the production of collagen and elastin) in the dermis. Activation of fibroblasts is typically associated not just with an increase in their number but also with increased synthesis of all components of the skin matrix, such as collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Phew! …that’s a lot.

Vitamin E!

Vitamin E is a vital ingredient for soft, supple skin. Studies show over and over again that Vitamin E plays an important role in protecting the skin from environmental and oxidative damage. Dubbed the “protection vitamin”, it offers anti-inflammatory properties and positively influences wound healing.
Vitamin E also prevents premature ageing caused by UV irradiation and lipid peroxidation. Vitamin E protects cell membranes from the damage of oxygen radicals, and at the same time, acts as a skin moisturiser.
OK…we get it, that’s a lot to take in!
If you’ve got questions, or want to know more, feel free to message us!