There are many precautions that can be taken to promote healthy skin; some of these include getting a sufficient amount of sleep, drinking lots of water, and eating a well-balanced diet. And while these are all important skin-protecting measures, esthetic college graduates understand that there are certain vitamins and nutrients that do not get delivered to the skin in large enough quantities through food and water alone – and that there are other strategies for helping our skin absorb these essential elements.
Students planning to enroll in esthetic courses will learn that many of these skin-saving vitamins can actually be found at local drugstores, where they are featured in certain topical creams and serums. Read on to learn more about some of the vitamins that industry professionals recommend for maintaining healthy skin.
Vitamin A Helps Skin Stay Young
This vitamin is most commonly used for its anti-aging properties. Retinol and retinyl palmitate are both forms of Vitamin A, and they are antioxidants. Experts know that the main difference between the two is that retinol is slightly stronger than retinyl palmitate. Retinol can be found within a wide range of topical creams, and it is generally used to stimulate collagen and promote fibroblast (connective tissue) production. Though retinol does effectively help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, committing to it can become quite pricey, as products that boast this anti-aging vitamin typically cost between $65 – $400 per bottle or container.
Vitamin B3 for Winter Dryness
Graduates of esthetic school will normally recommend that clients suffering from very dry and irritated skin use products that contain vitamin B3, as it works to hydrate the skin while reducing redness. Vitamin B3, or niacinamide, is used to strengthen the skin’s epidermis, as well as boost ceramide production. Estheticians understand that skin conditions like eczema and dry skin are caused by reduced levels of ceramide. This means that finding a way to increase the production of ceramide will help hydrate the skin, while keeping it moisturized and healthy. Moisturizers and creams containing vitamin B3 are much more affordable that those containing retinol, as they start at approximately $25.
Vitamin C to Lighten Up!
Most people associate vitamin C with bright coloured citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits and lemons; therefore it should not come as a surprise to learn that one of this vitamin’s main functions includes promoting brighter skin. Estheticians know that Vitamin C also protects the skin from damaging free radicals—the molecules that advance premature aging—and it also helps reduce the appearance of brown spots and other types of sun damage. While Vitamin C can be found in tons of moisturizing products, it can be consumed orally, in the form of daily tablets, as well. Taking vitamin C tablets can enhance the effectiveness of sunscreen when it is applied to the skin. This will, in turn, decrease cell damage, as well as help the healing process of any wounds. Moisturizers containing vitamin C are fairly easy to find and they are moderately priced, as these products typically start at approximately $15.
What other vitamins do you know of that promote healthy skin?