MISSY CONFIDENTIAL
What's the deal with Vitamin A?
Heard of retinol? It’s another name for vitamin A. Find out why it's so desired in skincare creams worldwide.

Jul 12, 2013 07:59
by Missy

Vitamin A has been a core ingredient in countless luxury and supermarket brand skincare products for many years, and for good reason. There is plenty of documented evidence suggesting that vitamin A, an anti-oxidant, has a positive effect on improving the skin’s appearance. In fact, of all the vitamins found in cosmetics, use of vitamin A is the most supported by scientific evidence.  

Vitamin A can counteract the signs of aging by reducing wrinkles; it's also known to help fade pigmentation; lighten acne scars; fade stretch marks; and generally improve the skin’s elasticity. So how does it work? It is believed that vitamin A boosts the body’s own ability to produce collagen, aiding skin repair and rejuvenation.

While vitamin A is not the magic solution to all skin woes, it’s worthwhile to incorporate it into your regular skincare regime, particularly when you consider that it is relatively inexpensive.

Here is how to get more bang for your buck when it comes to vitamin A products.

 

1. Use a night cream with Vitamin A

Because vitamin A is inherently unstable when exposed to light, applying vitamin A cream at night gives your skin the best opportunity to absorb the active ingredients. A night cream with retinol (vitamin A) can help decrease visible signs of aging - including age spots, wrinkles, and fine lines. If blemishes are your enemy, vitamin A can help reduce blocked pores, and soothe your complexion too. Try Age Delay Intensive Anit-wrinkle Night Treatment Cream by Alpha H, philosophy help me retinol night, or Alpha H Liquid Gold Intensive Night Repair Serum.

2. Use a night cream with added hydration

Vitamin A by itself is not necessarily a hydrator, so look for a complex cream with added ingredients for hydration. In fact, when it comes to skincare - no one ingredient is a cure all, so complex creams that combat the signs of aging are your best bet. If you choose a Vitamin Serum like the Alpha H Vitamin A+ E , ASAP Super A+ Serum, or Medik8 Retinol 3 TR, then you'll need to follow up with a hydrator too. 

3. Know your As

Vitamin A comes in many forms, the most popular is retinol - a common component of many skin care products. Other forms of vitamin A often listed in cosmetics are retinyl esters, retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate, acitretin and adapalene. Also look out for the active ingredient coenyzme Q10 – although not a vitamin, it works similarly to vitamin A, and a handful of studies have shown coenyzme Q10 can also have an effect on reducing UV damage and stimulating healthy collagen production.

4. Use vitamin A eye creams.

Because of its effectiveness on wrinkles, vitamin A can be safely used on the sensitive skin around the eyes. Daily use will improve the skin’s elasticity, attacking those annoying crow's feet and fine lines, and reducing puffiness and dark circles. Try Dermalogica AGE Smart Multivitamin Power Firm, or origins A perfect World For Eyes Firming Treatment with white tea. 

5. Use Vitamin A on your whole body.

Have you noticed a ''crepey'' look on the skin on your legs, particularly during winter? Get into the habit of giving yourself a gentle all over exfoliation with a textured glove while you’re in the shower, then get yourself a tub of body cream with vitamin A and E and apply as soon as you get out. This daily practice will produce rapid improvements in your skin’s texture and suppleness. 


It's worth noting too, that Vitamin A exposed to air and light will at once begin to deteriorate, so to get the benefit of the vitamin - use it regularly, and ideally within about 6 weeks of opening.  Finally - whatever you put on your face and body at night, be sure that in the morning, you start your regime with a suncream if you're serious about fighting aging.

What's your favourite night cream or regime?

 

 

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