We all want more radiant skin. Not only for looking and feeling more confident, but for our overall long term health. One smart way to boost skin health and appearance is with nourishing vitamins that encourage moisture, cell regrowth, and protection from free radicals.
“Research suggests that some vitamins might play a key role in skin health,” writes the experts for Medical News Today. “Following a healthful, balanced diet that is free of vitamin and nutrient deficiencies may improve skin health by boosting overall health.”
If you’re looking to supplement your way to more supple, sublime skin, our experts agree that these vitamins can make a difference – check ‘em out:
Vitamin D
When trying to protect our skin, the most common thing we hear is to stay out of the sun. But did you know a bit of vitamin D can actually be beneficial to your skin?
Getting small amounts of vitamin D from the sun has been shown to help treat conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Vitamin D can also help with skin rejuvenation and premature aging. If you don’t want to risk too much time in the sun, supplements and topical vitamin D creams are a great way to ensure you’re getting just the right amount!
Yliana Guerra, Holistic Nutritionist
Adding more Vitamin D to your daily routine is a no-brainer with KOR’s Intense Defense. This tart and spicy wellness shot combines tropical passion fruit with 235% of your daily vitamin D.
Vitamin C
Taking care of your skin should be an essential part of your health regimen. It is, after all, your body’s largest organ. If you’re looking to treat your skin from the inside out, make sure you get enough vitamins to keep your skin looking happy and healthy.
Vitamin C is found at high levels in the epidermis (the outer layer of the skin) as well as the dermis (the inner layer of the skin). Its cancer-fighting (antioxidant) properties and its role in collagen production help keep your skin healthy. This is why vitamin C is one of the key ingredients found in many anti-aging skincare products.
Consuming vitamin C (from foods or in supplement form) can enhance the effectiveness of sunscreens applied to your skin for protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It does this by decreasing cell damage and helping the healing process of bodily wounds.
Vitamin C can also help fend off the signs of aging, because of its vital role in the body’s natural collagen synthesis. It helps to heal damaged skin, and in some cases, reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Adequate vitamin C intake can also help repair and prevent dry skin.
The recommendation is 1,000 mg per day. If you findt that you aren’t get enough vitamin C in your diet, you can: 1. eat more citrus foods, such as oranges 2. explore other plant-based sources of vitamin C, such as strawberries, broccoli, and spinach, 3. drink orange juice, or 4. take supplements, as approved by a doctor.
Harland Adkins, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Fast Food Menu Prices
Boost your skincare routine with KOR’s Potent-C. This sweet and refreshing shot is packed with organic sea buckthorn and baobab and makes up 50% of your daily value of vitamin C.
Probiotics
A healthy gut is vital to overall health, both internally and externally. Through antibiotic use, high sugar diets, and various lifestyle habits, the gut can become imbalanced, causing an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria and yeast to take over. Candida, a type of yeast, can grow and show itself on the skin through unwanted and uncomfortable skin rashes and infections.
This highlights the importance of taking probiotics regularly and in large doses while you fight to get your gut health back in order. The more that you can fill your intestines with healthy bacteria, like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, the less chance the Candida yeast will have of taking over your gut.
Probiotics are a great addition to anyone's health regimen regardless of age, gender, or health status. They help with digestion, reduce inflammation, boost your immunity, and maintain a healthy balance of flora in your gut.
There are three probiotic strains I recommend for men and women alike: L. plantarum, L. paracasei, and L. acidophilus. Each addresses individual aspects of health.
When it comes to colony forming units (CFUs), it’s important to ensure your probiotic contains at least 10 billion CFUs of bacteria and a number of well-researched probiotic strains. Avoid probiotics that contain ingredients like sweeteners or gums that might inflame your gut.
Most importantly, look for a probiotic supplement that has some kind of mechanism for getting its bacteria past your stomach acid and to your gut. Regular probiotics in vegetable capsules deliver a tiny fraction (around 4%) of their bacteria past stomach acid.
Lisa Richards, Nutritionist, The Candida Diet
Did you know that KOR’s Gut Check has 1 billion CFU probiotics? This vibrant blend of apple cider vinegar and aloe vera juice can be a delicious addition to any skincare routine.
Vitamin E
I always recommend vitamin E to clients for healthier and younger-looking skin. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that supports your immune system, and it’s a potent antioxidant that protects your skin from harmful free radicals.
Its benefits include: 1. Helping to prevent signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, 2. moisturizing dry skin, 3. decreasing skin itching, and 4. acting as a skin barrier against free radicals and harmful UV rays.
Excellent sources of vitamin E include: nuts (almonds, peanuts), oils (corn oil, sunflower oil), and green leafy vegetables.
Antioxidant-based supplements
There are two primary causes of accelerated aging that appear on the skin: 1. excessive unprotected sun exposure and 2. advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGE's form as a result of sugar combined with fat or protein.
This describes most processed convenience foods, like potato chips, baked goods, and ice cream, to name a few. These products increase aging and also lead to poor gut health. Both of these side effects are damaging to overall health.
Vitamins and supplements provide the body with antioxidants which work to counteract this damage through vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.
Antioxidants are plant compounds that stimulate the immune system and are also responsible for reducing inflammation by preventing clumping of blood platelets.
Chronic, low-level inflammation causes oxidative stress in the body that leads to many of the chronic conditions common to Western nations. The most common of these conditions caused and/or exacerbated by inflammation include heart disease, obesity, and most notably, aging.
Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, Balance One Supplements
B Vitamins
The eight Vitamin B’s are necessary for nearly every function in the body. For skin, a deficiency can cause acne, dry flaky skin, and it can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, and even personal care products. Our body does not store vitamin B, so we need a daily dose to stay healthy. Fortunately, there are a multitude of foods containing these important vitamins, including:
Vitamin B-1 (Thiamine): for supporting the immune and nervous systems.
Vitamin B-2 (Riboflavin): for cell turnover, collagen production, and preventing skin dryness (which helps regulate the skin’s oil production and can help reduce breakouts).
Vitamin B-3 (Niacin): for treating a wide range of skin problems, including rosacea, eczema, and sun damage (it also has strong anti-aging properties).
Vitamin B-5 (Pantothenic Acid): for providing much-needed moisture to the skin and helping to increase the skin’s elasticity.
Vitamin B-6 (Pyridoxine): like B-1, for reducing stress by helping the body produce serotonin, melatonin and norepinephrine (stress and lack of sleep contribute to premature aging).
Vitamin B-7 (Biotin) for metabolizing fatty acids and protecting cells from moisture loss. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps fight acne.
Vitamin B-9 (Folic Acid) for protecting the skin from environmental damage and reducing sun damage (it’s a powerful antioxidant).
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamin) for supporting cell regeneration and reducing inflammation.
Debora Pokallus, CEO, Bel Essence
Under the guidance of your doctor or dermatologist, vitamins can be a great way to boost your skincare routine so you can keep glowing all day long. If you’re looking for our wellness experts’ favorite ingredients for boosting skin health and appearance, you can find them in these KOR wellness shots:
Intense Defense: For a sun-free splash of vitamin-D
Potent-C: For the skin-boosting and antioxidant benefits of vitamin C
Gut Check: Because when you optimize your gut, you optimize yourself inside and out
Incorporate vitamins into your skincare routine with KOR!