Anti-Aging Properties of Vitamins for Skin (Bookmark this page, you’ll need it for reference)
The world of vitamins for skincare can be complicated. That’s why I have simplified it in this post by examining each vitamin’s anti-aging properties in bullet points. Please bookmark this page.
Note: if you have sensitive skin, rosacea, dermatitis, inflammation and/or any other skin issues please consult your dermatologist before using vitamins.
The different vitamins
Vitamins are necessary for our health. They are nutritional compounds which are used in skincare for different healthy reasons. Here are the most common vitamins for skincare:
- Vitamin A (also known as Retinol)
- Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacinamide)
- Vitamin C (also known as Ascorbic Acid)
- Vitamin E (alson known as Tocopherol)
How vitamins help with anti-aging properties
Anti-aging ingredients should help encouraging epidermal rejuvenation, provide antioxidant properties, strengthen the skin’s barrier, boost connective tissue production and remove hyperpigmentation..
Vitamins can help with the above, let’s have a look at how by going through the anti-aging properties of vitamins in 2 different ways:
1. by anti-aging concerns and by what each vitamin can do for your skin
2. in terms of their anti-aging benefits
1. By Anti-Aging Concerns
| Anti-Aging Concerns | Vitamins |
| Preventing the loss of elasticity and firmness | A (Retinol), C (Ascorbic Acid) & E (Tocopherol) |
| Preventing wrinkles | A (Retinol), C (Ascorbic Acid) & E (Tocopherol) |
| Strengthening skin’s barrier function | B3 (Niacinamide) |
| Hyperpigmentation | B3 (Niacinamide) |
| Antioxidant properties | C (Ascorbic Acid) and E (Tocopherol) |
| Increasing collagen production | C (Ascorbic Acid) |
| Photoprotection from UV rays | E (Tocopherol) |
| Used as a depigmenting agent | E (Tocopherol) |
| Treating photodamaged skin | A (Retinol) |
| Breaking down collagen in the dermis | A (Retinol) |
Which vitamins help prevent the loss of elasticity and firmness?
Vitamins A (Retinol), C (Ascorbic Acid) & E (Tocopherol).
Which vitamins help prevent wrinkles?
Vitamins A (Retinol), C (Ascorbic Acid) & E (Tocopherol).
Which vitamin helps strengthen skin’s barrier function?
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide).
Which vitamin helps with hyperpigmentation?
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide).
Which vitamins have antioxidant properties?
Vitamins C (Ascorbic Acid) and E (Tocopherol).
Which vitamin increases collagen production?
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid).
Which vitamin can help with photoprotection from UV rays?
Vitamin E (Tocopherol).
Which vitamin can be used as a depigmenting agent?
Vitamin E (Tocopherol).
Which vitamin can be used to treat photodamaged skin?
Vitamin A (Retinol).
Which vitamin can be used to breakdown collagen in the dermis?
Vitamin A (Retinol).
2. By Anti-Aging Benefits
| Vitamin | Anti-Aging Benefits |
| A (Retinol) | – Prevents the loss of elasticity and firmness – Helps prevent wrinkles – Treats photodamaged skin – Breaks down collagen in the dermis |
| B3 (Niacinamide) | – Strengthens the skin’s barrier function – Helps with hyperpigmentation |
| C (Ascorbic Acid) | – Prevents the loss of elasticity and firmness – Helps prevent wrinkles – Has antioxidant properties – Increases collagen production – Helps with photo-protection – Can be used as a depigmenting agent |
| E (Tocopherol) | – Prevents the loss of elasticity and firmness – Helps prevent wrinkles – Has antioxidant properties – Helps with photoprotection from UV rays – Can be used as a depigmenting agent |
So, in a nutshell, each vitamin is good for:
Vitamin A (Retinol)
- Prevents the loss of elasticity and firmness
- Helps prevent wrinkles
- Treats photodamaged skin
- Breaks down collagen in the dermis
Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
- Strengthens the skin’s barrier function
- Helps with hyperpigmentation
Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
- Prevents the loss of elasticity and firmness
- Helps prevent wrinkles
- Has antioxidant properties
- Increases collagen production
- Helps with photo-protection
- Can be used as a depigmenting agent
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
- Prevents the loss of elasticity and firmness
- Helps prevent wrinkles
- Has antioxidant properties
- Helps with photoprotection from UV rays
- Can be used as a depigmenting agent
I hope the above at least makes it easy for you to understand how vitamin work with antiaging concerns in a nutshell. You can always refer to this page for easy benefits in bulleted points.
Below I link to an affiliate product, at no extra cost to you.
Recommended Products: All Vitamins Packed Into 2 Nifty Serums
I like InstaNatural products. They don’t break the bank and have fantastic natural ingredients. They do use Phenoxyethanol in some of their products (their Vitamin C serum does) but considering the amount of great ingredients they use I’m ok with the preservative.
Vitamin Pack Duo Bundle
I found a duo pack by InstaNaturals that offers all of the vitamins discussed above. A Vitamin C serum to use as part of your morning routine after cleansing and toning (or day and night if you like) and a Retinol serum to use at night followed by SPF moisturizer or sunscreen during the day. The Retinol serum contains Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) so you’re covered for that one as well. The Vitamin C serum contains Tocopheryl Acetate (synthetic form of Vitamin E but much more powerful for the skin) and the Retinol serum contains Tocopherol (natural Vitamin E which is also good for its antioxidant properties as we saw above).
Directions
Let’s make applying these products easy! One serum in the morning, one serum at night. Finish the products and then assess how the skin looks and feels.
Vitamin C Serum: To be used in the morning or morning and night. Massage a small amount onto cleansed and toned skin, allowing the serum to absorb completely. Follow with appropriate moisturizer.
Retinol Serum: To be used at night. Massage a small amount onto cleansed and toned skin, allowing the serum to absorb completely. Follow with an SPF moisturizer or sunscreen during the day.
Ingredients
Vitamin C Serum: Aqua, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Cassia Angustifolia Seed Extract, Globularia Cordifolia Callus Culture Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Algae Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Ferulic Acid, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Extract, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
Retinol Serum: Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin*, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Dimethyl Sulfone*, Niacinamide, Dicaprylyl Ether*, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate*, Retinol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride*, Ubiquinone, Astaxanthin, Hesperidin, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Flower Extract, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Geranium Maculatum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol*, Xanthan Gum*, Pentylene Glycol*, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid*, Limonene*, Linalool*. *Naturally Derived
The World of Vitamins for Skin
The world of vitamins for skin is huge and there are many, many products out there. The above products can most definitely get you going. I believe in simplifying skincare and using less steps but consciously knowing what it is you’re exactly doing/achieving with each step. I might write a post covering this important topic soon.
Patri xx
