A balanced diet is a key to maintain healthy body and a healthy body means healthy and radiant skin. A glowing skin is owned by a healthy body is true only if a holistic approach is followed. At times people eat balanced diet compromising of all types of fruits and veggies and even pop in supplements in forms of multivitamin tablets but still miss out on benefits of the same on skin. Though eating healthy keeps the skin glowing and supple but at times skin does not get the required amount of nutrients and hence, the benefits of these multivitamins are not visible readily.
So where are we going wrong?
Apply them topically!
Yes, you have read it right! There are multivitamins available in form of creams, serums, lotions that can be applied topically on the skin to get their benefits. When it comes to premium skincare it’s best to start with the basics. Here, we will be discussing about the ABC of skin care routine. These multivitamins if applied on skin help in the following:
1. Exfoliating the dead skin cell
2. Improving the skin texture
3. Improving the skin tone
4. Improving the under eye dark circles
Let’s have a look at individual vitamin and their benefits:
1. Vitamin A
This is the most important vitamin for skin. It is available in form of retinoids, mostly available on prescription only. It is capable of doing all the good to the skin that one may require.
a. This helps in improving texture and quality of skin, helps in reducing and shrinking open pores as it helps in regenerating collagen and improving thickness of skin.
b. It helps in reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
c. It increases cell proliferation and cell turnover rate, thus, helping in reducing pigmentation and boosts radiance. Also, retinoids block enzyme which is required for melanin pigment production, hence, helps in delivering even toned skin.
d. There are different forms of retinoids available (which one can read about in our another blog {Vitamin A & its Skincare Benefits}) Retinoic acid is the form which can be used in case of pimples.
Few things should be taken care of while applying vitamin A or retinoids. These products are not recommended to women who are pregnant or lactating. Also, vitamin A creams can cause some irritation, thus, it is recommended to start off with very small quantity. It can be applied by mixing with moisturizer as it can cause exfoliation. These molecules can break down on exposure to UV rays, so always add them to night skincare regimen and apply sunscreen the following morning. Always get advice from an expert dermatologist before using it.
2. Vitamin B or Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
This vitamin is the most underrated one but has miraculous benefits for skin. Some of them are:
a. It boosts hydration and reduces redness of skin. Thus, it is very good for dry and sensitive skin. Vitamin B3 helps in reducing redness, hence, can be beneficial for patients suffering from Rosacea.
b. It boost collagen production.
c. It helps in improving skin barrier by accelerating the ceramide and fatty acid production which are the most important components of the skin barrier. This is how it locks the moisture and keeps irritants away from skin.
d. It shrinks open pores and reduces pigmentation as well.
e. It reduces sebum production and oiliness of skin by preventing the glands from going into overdrive. Thus, prevents severe acne especially papules and pustules.
f. It helps in stimulating cutaneous oxygenation of skin, thus, has anti-ageing benefits like reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.
g. It helps to get rid of toxins, the pollutants and reduces oxidative stress and damage caused by environmental stress.
It must be applied before sunscreen and the concentration should be gradually increased with time.
3. Vitamin C or ascorbic acid
It has amazing antioxidant properties and possess almost all the properties of vitamin B3 such as:
a. It shields the skin from free radicals produced by sun rays. Therefore, prevents sun damage.
b. It reduces oxidative stress and prevents the harmful effects of pollution and cigarette smoking.
c. It also boosts collagen production which helps in improving fine lines, wrinkles and shrinking large open pores.
d. It also boosts the hydration of the skin and helps in fading the pigmentation and dark spots on the skin.
e. Vitamin C also has skin healing properties. It helps in reducing inflammation and irritation thus improving skin’s ability to heal and reduce breakout marks too.
As vitamin C protects against UV damage it should be used in the morning. It can be combined with sunscreen or applied before sunscreen. Vitamin C can also be used at night. Dose of vitamin C should be 10-20 percent daily.
An expert dermatologist can help to plan the right skincare regimen which best suits individual skin type and requirements. Hence, one must consult a dermatologist before starting the application of any cosmetic or skincare products.
Keep Healthy! Keep Glowing!