Let’s take a dive into the world of vitamin-enhanced wellness for healthy skin, and a healthy body. What your skin needs—and how you can get it. We also wanted to link buzz terms like niacinamide and retinol, with their vitamin function—and share why we have chosen irritation-free, plant-powered alternatives that serve your skin, and your body.
In a nutshell, we believe in your best skin, organically—and will show you how to do that with the power of nature.
What Are Vitamins?
The technical speak is that vitamins are organic molecular substances that give life-promoting and sustaining qualities to our organs and our bodies.
There are roughly 14 known vitamins with many grouped and better known by the letter they represent. Vitamin B for example covers eight similar but equally important and individual life-sustaining functions, as well as giving desirable skin benefits.
What Are Nutrients + Minerals?
Vitamins fall under the umbrella of an essential nutrient. Nutrients are necessary to help our bodies grow and maintain wellness.
There are number of essential nutrients, both macro and micro, yet the easiest seven to understand are:
Water
Carbohydrates
Protein-Amino Acids
Fat
Vitamins
Minerals
Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
Minerals on the other hand are often present in soil and water, and once consumed by plants and animals, give life to our bodies as a dietary chain reaction. It’s important to know that vitamins (and minerals) are needed for everyday functioning of our bodies, yet the clincher is, we don’t always produce these naturally. In fact, we need to obtain these externally, frequently, for true wellness.
In this article, we will focus on the power of the sought-after vitamin groups for specific skin concerns, both internally and externally, for skin repair, maintenance, and overall health.
We will feature the power of nutrients and minerals for radiant skin in a future post.
Vitamins For Glowing Skin
With many buzz terms like niacinamide and retinol, it is easy to be confused with their function. Essentially, they are vitamin infusions for the skin.
The issue is that many new vitamin-focused skincare products are nonorganic in their creation—and as a result their toxic load can be high.
Let’s look at the needed vitamins for glowing skin:
Vitamin A
Skin Firming + Regeneration
This vitamin is most famed for its association with retinol—or retinoids—and revered for its cell renewal ability. Skin renewed at the cellular level can motivate skin to repair and regenerate. A favored reaction for aging skin and scarring, as well as skin conditions such as hyperpigmentation and acne.
Many reach for retinols to boost healthy skin cell growth and to inspire collagen production for youthful looks, for longer. The issue with many retinols, or retinoids, is that they’re known irritants.
Board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Claire Wolinsky, explains that she uses retinol to “reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles.” Yet she notes that “many patients just can’t tolerate it. For these patients, there’s an exciting retinol alternative called bakuchiol. This is a gentler form of retinol.”
We have sourced certified organic retinol alternatives, Bakuchiol, Alfalfa, that give the active power of Vitamin A without irritation or sensitivity. “One of the products that I love is the Plant Stem Cell Retinol Alternative Serum,” Dr. Wolinsky explains. It’s featured in our retinol alternative serum—our go to for skin aging. We consider this a win for skin elasticity and for healthy bounce.
Vitamin B
Brightening + Protecting
The most well-known skin care product to feature Vitamin B is niacinamide—more specifically Vitamin B3. Vitamin B5 is also a favored nutrient for healthy skin, hair and nail growth.
This group of vitamins are called upon for its brightening and hydrating properties and to inspire faster cell turnover to promote healthy cell growth. Which is good news for aging, as well as acne prone skin. Vitamin B3 is also an antioxidant which can protect the skin against environmental aggressors. Yet as with many nonorganic products, irritation is common with this ingredient.
The better news is that the qualities of Vitamin B—brightening, hydrating and protecting—can be obtained via organic ingredients that are also sensitive skin friendly; healthier for your skin, and your body. The potent antioxidant and immune boosting properties of certified organic turmeric provide qualities akin to Vitamin B, to boost skin health and inspire a healthy, enviable glow. B vitamins are also found naturally in silver ear mushroom—which is one of many reasons we created a range of products to improve your skin’s texture.
Vitamin C
Brightening + Collagen Enhancing
We adore this skin-loving vitamin (and power antioxidant) for the many qualities it brings for a youthful, glowing and even skin tone.
Firstly, it brightens and gives effortless daily glow while doubling with strong protection to fight against free radical damage. It’s a natural immune booster for your skin with bonus anti-inflammatory properties. It has the power to help prevent further pigmentation, and can even skin tone and break down dark spots and pigmentation with ease.
Let’s not forget the catalyst it is, for scarring, within the skin. With natural wound healing properties, if you have acne scarring, this should be a staple in your daily routine.
Yet our favorite trait is that it inspires collagen and elastin production—which is your best friend for aging support—as after the age of 25 our bodies decline in producing these revered proteins.
Let’s discuss the importance of collagen and elastin for your skin, and body as you age. Imagine collagen and elastin fibers being the glue that holds your skin together while holding the weight of your skin to appear firm.
You can see the way skin ages as it begins to fall. Fine lines appear as the start of the aging process, before deeper folds and creases form in the skin over time. When these prized proteins break down they are not able to hold the skin up. This is then doubled when gravity overpowers the loss of skin strength due to declining collagen production.
Enter the potent antioxidant, Vitamin C—Ascorbic Acid—to boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity. Not forgetting the power it has to remedy dark spots and uneven skin tone at the same time.
It’s important to give your skin back what it loses in a day, and using a Vitamin C serum each morning will help your skin to age with grace, and keep you looking younger, for longer. This is why we say Vitamin C is a must in any anti aging routine to inspire collagen production every day.
We choose the power of Ascorbyl Glucoside (stabilized Vitamin C) and Vitamin-C rich natural extracts such as Kakadu Plum, Acerola Cherry, Noni Extract as a daily injection of vitamins and antioxidant protection. Found in our Kakadu Plum Vitamin C Serum and Berry Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream.
Vitamin D
Regenerating + Protecting
This vitamin is best absorbed through sun exposure yet the double-edged sword is that while doing so your skin can be simultaneously exposed to dangerous UV rays that can result in sun damage, or worse, skin cancer. We love Vitamin D skincare to boost collagen production and elasticity, and motivate skin cell growth for repair and regeneration, topically. Which is good news for scarring and to treat the signs of aging.
We cherish the radiance (and glow) that Vitamin D gives your skin while remedying dry and sensitive skin conditions. Applying a Vitamin D infused product each day can further protect the skin against sun damage, making it a necessary addition to your skincare routine.
This is why we call on Silver Ear Mushroom to keep your skin hydrated and protected thanks to the innate power of this sun-loving vitamin. We call upon Vitamin D in our much-loved Milky Mushroom Gentle Cleansing Oil and our Noni Glow Sleeping Mask.
Vitamin E
Soothing + Protecting
Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant, and a supreme hydrating and soothing ingredient to improve skin health. Often referred to as tocopherol or alpha-tocopherol, it’s a quiet achiever for skin cells; found in every cell of the body.
One of the natural gifts of using this vitamin in skincare is to enhance photo-protection by absorbing UV light. Akin to Vitamin C, it works to protect against sun damage caused by sun exposure to dangerous UV rays. When coupled together, these vitamins are a powerful force to neutralize free radicals (environmental factors that spur oxidative stress).
It’s more known for its soothing properties for burns and scars, yet the truth is it works at a cellular level to boost your skin’s immunity against germs. A silent hero.
Vitamin E is found in your natural skin oils, making it your best friend to improve skin hydration and balance oil production. It also prevents and remedies dry skin—while helping oily skin, that fluctuates between oily and dry, to find its balance.
We utilize certified organic vitamin E in our range of oils, moisturizers and eye products.
Vitamin K
Inflammation Reducing + Scar Regeneration
This is an often forgotten vitamin, yet we know it to be a sought-after nutrient and power antioxidant for the skin. It’s an amazing natural healer for wounds, bruises and scars. Due to it’s innate qualities to reduce inflammation and induce blood clotting; essential for skin healing.
When applied to the skin, it has the power to reduce inflammation and power up your protection against the environmental dangers of daily life. Much like Vitamin B, Vitamin C and Vitamin E—all rolled into one. It’s a humble yet revered vitamin in skincare and found in plenty in alfalfa (and green vegetables) and your best friend to help reduce dark circles, acne scarring and to treat and protect your skin against the visible signs of aging.
Alfalfa is a natural retinol alternative to visibly improve the signs of aging and smooth out rough, damaged skin—without irritation. Found in our skin firming range to support your skin. We love what our consumers say about the power of our retinol alternative—gifting you, your best skin, organically.
Skin Health | Beauty In The Blend
Just like eating a balanced diet of nutrient dense foods has many health benefits for your body—your skin care should have the same efficacy of essentials nutrients to prevent premature aging and boost overall skin health for the long term. Each of these essential vitamins are then multiplied when fused together; even better news for your skin.
We like to use the example of blending Rosehip and Acai Stem Cells in our retinol alternatives. Both are powerful antioxidants that contain Vitamin A, Vitamin C & Vitamin E as well as Ferulic Acid and when blended power-up to give supreme hydration, noticeable results for aging skin, protection against the elements and for overall skin health.
In each of our blends we have a number of skin serving vitamins and potent antioxidants for healthy cell growth to inspire, and maintain, healthy skin (and healthy hair). We blend the above in our efficacious blends so you get the power of organics—without irritation.
Why Miranda Created Retinol Alternatives
“Traditional retinols have always been harsh on my sensitive skin, and when I was pregnant with my three boys, I had a hard time finding a healthy, natural option that gave me the results I needed. I’m so proud to bring you one that finally does.” – Miranda
Vitamin A products traditionally can only be used once a day, at night due to their sun sensitivity. Yet we have sourced safe retinol alternatives not made from vitamin A that can be used 24/7. In fact, Dr. Claire Wolinsky appreciates our retinol alternatives as they’re “gentle to use twice a day.” You can read more about our retinol and niacinamade alternatives and the ingredients in our retinol alternative serum for maintaining healthy skin.
Our skin is our body’s largest organ, and we believe that to protect the skin, we must feed it with same nourishment we do your body. It’s important to remember that what you put on your skin soaks in, so choose organic skincare.
