Eat Your Way to a Flawless Complexion: 4 Essential Vitamins for Healthy Skin

For a clear, radiant complexion, your diet matters as much as your skincare. Here are the 4 essential vitamins for healthy skin and foods that contain them

When it comes to skin health, the old adage 'you are what you eat' holds true more than ever before. If you are hankering after spotless, radiant complexion, what you put in your body matters just as much (or even more) as what you put on your skin. Here are the 4 essential vitamins for healthy skin and foods that contain them:

1. Vitamin A

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Why is it good? 


Vitamin A is a miracle worker against fine lines, spots and wrinkles. Similar to retinoids, which are derived from it, vitamin A speeds up tissue repair and supports the healthy functioning of skin's protective barrier.


It is also a great supplement for oily and acne-prone skin as it can help reduce excess sebum production and clear rough patches on your face.


Natural Sources of Vitamin A: 

  • Liver and liver products such as pâté (but no more than once a week, too much vitamin A can be harmful to your health, especially if you are pregnant or trying to conceive)
  • Eggs
  • Oily fish
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Carrots and leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale
  • Yellow fruit such as mango, papaya and apricots

Best Vitamin A Product: Ossential Advanced Radical Night Repair


vitamins for healthy skin, vitamin A, retinol


Ossential Advanced Radical Night Repair contains 1% retinol which is the highest retinol concentration you can find in over-the-counter products. Retinol is an active form of vitamin A that clears up uneven pigmentation and diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and pigmentation. Ossential Advanced Radical Night Repair is formulated with multiple antioxidants to neutralise free radicals and prevent future damage to your skin.

2. Vitamin C

vitamins for healthy skin, vitamin C


Why is it good?


We all know vitamin C can help us fight off colds and flu, but its antioxidant properties are great for skin, too. Vitamin C protects your complexion from free radical damage and boosts collagen production. Exposure to sunlight and pollutants depletes the amount of vitamin C in your skin, so add vitamin-rich foods to your diet to ensure you are getting your daily dose.


Natural Sources of vitamin C:

  • Oranges and orange juice
  • Strawberries
  • Broccoli
  • Red and green peppers
  • Blackcurrants

Best Vitamin C Product: Ossential® C-Bright Serum



Ossential C-bright Serum provides a potent dose of 10% pure, stabilised vitamin C to combat spots, dullness and wrinkles. The serum activates upon contact with the skin’s natural water content to maximise exfoliation and reveal radiant, even-toned skin.

3. Vitamin E

vitamins for healthy skin, vitamin E foods


Why is it good?


Vitamin E is another powerful antioxidant that reduces inflammation and neutralises free radicals before they harm the cells in the upper layers of your skin. Studies have shown that vitamin E protects better when it’s combined with vitamin C. When used together, vitamins C and E help reduce the damaging effects of UV radiation twice as effectively than when administered alone.


Natural Sources of Vitamin E:

  • Plant oils such as soya, corn and olive oil
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Wheatgerm – found in cereals and cereal products
  • Avocado
  • Olives

Best Vitamin E Product: Ossential C-bright Serum 


C-bright


 


To optimize the benefits of both vitamins, Ossential C-Bright Serum is formulated with 10% pure vitamin C, vitamin E and Q-10 to protect your skin from environmental damage and stimulate healthy collagen production.

4. Vitamin D

vitamins for healthy skin, vitamin D foods


Why is it good?


Vitamin D is vital for skin cell growth and repair. It prevents the onset of premature aging and enhances skin’s ability to retain and replenish moisture. Vitamin D plays a big role in fighting off bacteria and its deficiency is strongly linked to acne breakouts and inflammation.


Natural Sources of Vitamin D: 

  • Oily fish such as salmon, herring and fresh tuna
  • Mushrooms
  • Egg yolks
  • Fortified cereals
  • Red Meat

Best Vitamin D Product: Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30


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Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin” because our body synthesises it from sunlight exposure. However, letting the sun beat down on your face and body without SPF protection is not the right way to get your daily dose of vitamin D.


The World Health Organisation has identified solar UV radiation as a proven human carcinogen, linking to 90% of nonmelanoma skin cancers and about 86% of melanomas. Unprotected sun exposure is also the number one reason for premature skin ageing. So, is there a way to get vitamin D without abusing your skin and putting your health at risk?


Oclipse® Sunscreen + Primer SPF 30 protects your skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation and enhances skin barrier functions. SPF 30 keeps out 97 percent of UVB rays, which means that 2 to 7 percent of solar rays still reaching your skin; this is more than enough to get the vitamin D your body needs.