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Vitamins are an essential part of keeping the skin healthy and functioning properly, just as they are vital in maintaining bodily health. They offer different benefits to help your skin thrive in all environments, whether it’s busting down on harmful free radicals or strengthening the skin barrier to get you looking and feeling your best. We’ve collated all the info you need to know about the different skincare vitamins you’ll frequently see on your ingredients lists, and how they can support your skin journey towards reaching your goals. Scroll down to master your skincare vitamins one by one.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A refers to a group of retinoids that is made up of its different forms, including Retinol, Retinal and Retinoic Acid. The vitamin itself is recognized to be a powerhouse antioxidant against signs of aging, a loss of firmness and inflammation, as well as an ingredient to encourage cell turnover as the skin naturally slows down this process. Oilier skin types can use Vitamin A to treat acne, due to its exfoliating and sebum-balancing abilities. Retinol can be sensitizing and not recommended for more sensitive skin types, but Bakuchiol, a plant-based form of Vitamin A, is more gentle while still delivering the same benefits.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - SOME BY MI
Vitamin A is popular in well-aging skincare products, such as the Cos De BAHA Retinol Serum or ByWishtrend A-mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream. For a treatment that specifically targets the eye area and nixes those pesky crow’s feet, we recommend the SOME BY MI Retinol Intense Advanced Triple Action Eye Cream.
Vitamin B3
Given how much Vitamin B3 does for your skin, we implore everyone to add it to their top shelf. Better known as Retinol, this vitamin offers so many functions and benefits including: balancing oil-water levels; strengthening the skin barrier; refining skin tone; brightening hyperpigmentation; and much more. The versatile ingredient can be used alongside many skincare ingredients, save for a few such as skincare acids and Vitamin C, and can be used by all skin types.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - numbuzin
As versatile as the vitamin itself, the numbuzin No.5 Vitamin-Niacinamide Concentrated Pad can be used in place of toner, exfoliator, or applied to the skin like a sheet mask. When you need a boost within your current routine, the APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Ampoule Serum focuses on all-round revitalization and the ma:nyo Galac Niacin 2.0 Essence visibly bright and soft skin.
Vitamin B5
Need an additional boost of hydration in your routine? Meet Vitamin B5, AKA Pantothenic Acid or Panthenol. This ingredient is a humectant that binds water to the skin, replenishing lost hydration; it’s also an emollient that locks moisture in the skin so that it stays hydrated over the long term. Furthermore, Panthenol is a handy ingredient for healing damaged skin and reducing inflammation. It’s well-tolerated by most skin types, inclusive of sensitive skin.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - MARY&MAY
The Etude Soon Jung collection is widely known for its soothing Panthenol-packed formulas, our bestseller being the ETUDE Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. Panthenol also fits into different steps of the routine, as demonstrated by the SOME BY MI Beta Panthenol Repair Toner and MARY&MAY Hyaluronic Panthenol Hydra Mask.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and dermatologist favorite for its many benefits. As an antioxidant, it protects the skin from free radical damage caused by environmental aggressors or internal bodily processes. It’s a useful ingredient for slowing signs of aging like fine lines or sagging skin, in addition to fading dark spots, brightening skin tone, preventing sun damage and boosting collagen production for plumped skin. While Vitamin C is generally safe for all skin types, it has the potential to aggravate more sensitive complexions.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Intree
This vitamin typically appears in skincare in the form of Ascorbic Acid, which is the purest form of Vitamin C. Users who are starting their Vitamin C journey can begin with the Dear, Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop, which contains 5% Ascorbic Acid to allow the skin to get used to it. Experienced users with a higher tolerance can go for the Isntree Hyper Vitamin C 23 Serum that contains 23%. Aside from Ascorbic Acid there are other ingredients that provide Vitamin C to the skin, one of them being Green Tangerine found in the Goodal Green Tangerine Vita-C Dark Spot Care Serum.
Vitamin D
A short disclaimer to start off: this isn’t covering Vitamin D skincare. Vitamin D is another vitamin needed by the skin to remain healthy and ward off dryness, and aside from intake of supplements and food rich in Vitamin D, you can get your dose from sun exposure. What we really want to focus on is sun protection, and how you can get your Vitamin D without putting your skin at risk of UV damage.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Jumiso
The best way to protect your skin is to include sunscreen in your daily skincare routine and ensure you’re applying it every single day, regardless of the weather. You should be applying your sunscreen at the end of your routine after moisturizer, or can even forgo the moisturizer step with a hydrating SPF formula.
We recommend the PURITO Daily Go-To Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ to slick on on a daily basis, or the Jumiso Awe-Sun Airy-fit Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ for those wanting to check off moisturizer and SPF simultaneously. Makeup wearers can look towards the CANMAKE Mermaid Skin Gel UV SPF50+ PA++++ to secure a smooth base prior to getting their MOTD down.
Vitamin E
8 different types of chemical forms make up the Vitamin E family, including Tocopherol and Tocopheryl Acetate that commonly appear on the ingredient lists of skincare products. It’s another antioxidant, which neutralizes free radical damage, as well as an excellent hydrator, barrier booster and skin softener. As a stable ingredient it’s safe for all skin types, to be used in conjunction with other skincare ingredients.
Courtesy of Korean Skincare Brand - Viegano
Many K-beauty products include Vitamin E to further boost their efficacy, like the Dr.Ceuracle Vegan Kombucha Tea Essence and heimish All Clean Balm (both of these are VANA Award winners btw). The Viegano Bakuchiol + Tocopherol Vegan Revitalizing Serum places this vitamin front and center to enrich the skin and support a healthy glow.
Which skincare vitamin is a must-have in your routine? Make sure you’re following us on Instagram and Facebook, as well as keeping an eye on the VANA Blog, so you receive all the latest news, promos and information!
