The 4 Best Vitamins For Your Skin

We often talk about the importance of looking after your diet here at AP Skincare. That’s because what you consume has a really vital effect on your skin. This is a lot to do with the vitamins they contain – your skin needs quite a mix of vitamins and nutrients to do its job properly. We’d be here forever listing them all, so for your convenience, we’ve prioritised the top four for you in this week’s blog.

The top four vitamins for your skin are:

  1. Vitamin A – a great all-rounder
  2. Vitamin C – a crucial anti-oxidant
  3. Vitamin E – hydrates and protects
  4. Vitamin K – repairs your skin

All in all, getting enough vitamins protects against dark spots, redness, wrinkles, rough patches and excessive dryness. Ready to find out how?

Vitamin A

kale

Also known as retinol, Vitamin A is renowned in the skincare industry for being a real ‘wonder’ in protecting skin! It’s essential for skin maintenance – for starters, it boosts collagen, supporting the underlying structure of the skin. It also reduces pigmentation, and controls oil production in spots. By doing this, it helps to prevent acne and dry skin, while reducing fine lines and wrinkles It’s no wonder it’s got such a great reputation for being an all-around anti-ageing hero! The most noticeable symptom of Vitamin A deficiency is that your skin takes on a dry, flaky complexion. If that happens, sweet potatoes, carrots and dark, leafy vegetables like spinach or kale are all rich in Vitamin A, so include some more of those in your diet!

Vitamin C

orange

Otherwise known as ascorbic acid, Vitamin C is found in high levels in your epidermis (your outermost layer of skin) and your dermis (the layer underneath). It’s an excellent antioxidant, and plays a big role in producing collagen to keep your skin healthy. What’s more, it’s got potent UV protective properties, which shields your skin from the worst effects of sun damage and early ageing. While shielding and repairing your skin, it also mops up free radicals that trigger wrinkling, sagging and other changes – it’s another great one for its anti-ageing properties! As an added bonus, Vitamin C is fantastic for fighting colds.

You can make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin C by eating plenty of citrus fruits like oranges and strawberries. It’s also plentiful in other, less sweet sources like broccoli and spinach.

Vitamin E

spring onions

Vitamin E shares many of the greatest things about Vitamin C. It’s also a brilliant antioxidant, protecting against the worst effects of the sun’s harmful rays. Vitamin E also hydrates and rejuvenates your skin, providing moisturising and anti-inflammatory qualities while at the same time boosting its UV defence. Here’s something interesting: your body actually produces lots of Vitamin E itself, through sebum (oil) on your skin. The right balance of Vitamin E keeps your skin conditioned, preventing dryness and flaking. The fact that it keeps your skin soft while giving your hair extra lustre and strength is just another in the long list of reasons to love Vitamin E.

Vitamin E is found in foods like nuts and seeds, almonds, hazel nuts and sunflower seeds. You can also find it in nuts and spinach – that’s plenty to boost your diet with!

Vitamin K

wheat germ oil

This is another particularly vital one for your skin – Vitamin K’s main job is to aid blood clotting, helping your body recover from physical damage like cuts and bruises. While doing this, it can also be a major factor in recovering from skin conditions like stretch marks, spider veins, scars, dark spots, and especially stubborn circles under your eyes. Plenty of Vitamin K means your skin looks younger, healthier and firmer – it works on capillaries under the skin to reduce dark circles and puffiness. When coupled with the collagen boost that other vitamins can provide, it thickens the thin skin around your eyes, which reduces the visibility of dark circles. Vitamin K is found in kale, spinach, lettuce, cabbage and green beans, which are all fantastically easy to incorporate into your regular meals.

You may have noticed something while reading through these – there’s no denying the beneficial effect that spinach has on your skin! If you’re not a fan though, the foods we’ve listed are all just examples. There are lots of ways to boost your vitamin intake, and you might even be doing so already without realising it!

Here at AP Skincare, we employ a dedicated team of experts who place your welfare as their highest priority, and we’ve got a range of core treatments to choose from to leave your skin looking and feeling amazing. Feel free to pop in to see us at our Blackburn treatment centre, or give us a call on 01254 297 000 to book an appointment.

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