Vitamin boost your skin

Antioxidants are a hot topic when it comes to skincare. A common example of an antioxidant that many people are familiar with is vitamin C.

Antioxidants are a collective name for several different substances, some examples are flavinoids and polyphenols. In our diet, it is a nutritious supplement that is often found in colorful foods such as fruits and berries, and the ingredient is commonly found in various skin care products.

What do antioxidants do for the skin?

We are exposed daily to free radicals that have a destructive effect on skin cells, which in turn accelerates skin aging, among other things. Adding antioxidants to your skin care helps protect the skin from its destructive effect and has a protective effect as it helps strengthen our cells' defenses. Some common free radicals we are exposed to daily include exhaust gases and environmental pollutants, but also the sun's UV rays, which have a destructive effect on skin cells.

A good example to think of is the apple test.

You cut an apple in two and apply antioxidants to one half while the other half is left without. Within a short time, you see that the half without any protection from antioxidant ingredients has already started to shrivel up and break down, while the other half that is protected has an intact barrier and looks the same as when you cut the apple. This can be compared to how our skin is exposed when we do not protect it.

Find your vitamin

If you haven't used antioxidants in your skincare routine before, it's a good time to review your routine to see if you can include them. Different vitamins have different effects on the skin and depending on your sensitivity, you may need to consider which antioxidant suits your skin and needs.

Antioxidants are also SPF's best friend and together they form a duo that actively works together to protect our skin. Perfect when the spring sun's rays start to peek out!

We will review some common vitamins that are often found below, describe what they do for the skin and who they are suitable for. As always, skin care is individual and must be taken into account.

• Vitamin C – Radiance-boosting and smoothing antioxidant. The vitamin also has a good effect on uneven skin tone and boosts elastin and collagen production in the skin. The vitamin is often suitable for all skin types. It goes by several names, including ascorbic acid. Radiance boosting C-Capsule serum from Make P:rem is a C vitamin serum that works to smooth and contribute to a nice glow.

• Vitamin E – Repairs and strengthens the skin's moisture barrier. The ingredient goes by the name tocopherol and is suitable for all skin types. Especially good for dry and sensitive skin. Vitamin E in combination with vitamin C is a good duo as the ingredients together enhance each other's effects and boost each other. Freshly Juiced Vitamin E mask contains vitamin E and is a moisturizing and brightening multifunctional product that can be used as both a day cream, night cream or night mask.

• Vitamin A - An effective ingredient with a lot of research behind it for skin aging. Occurs in different forms, a common one is retinol. The vitamin is a cell communicator and speeds up the skin's cell renewal. Mainly suitable for mature, acne-prone skin or if you want to work on pigmentation. It is also important to get used to the ingredient and speed up slowly! A product that contains vitamin A is Vitamin A-Mazing Bakuchiol Night Cream

• Vitamin K - Works as a barrier strengthener. Soothing and strengthening ingredient that is suitable for all skin types and conditions but especially good for sensitive and reactive skin! A product with vitamin K is Plc Lipsome Oil Ampoule

• Vitamin B3 – Balancing and moisturizing. The vitamin goes by the name Niacinamide and has nice balancing properties on the skin, also works to even out and is suitable for all skin types. Dr. Ceuracles Hyal Reyouth Toner contains niacinamide and works to moisturize and balance.

• Vitamin B5 - Goes under the name panthenol. Works repairing and moisturizing. Suitable for all skin types and conditions. A serum that contains panthenol is Rice Serum from I'm From.

Another antioxidant that may not be as well-known as vitamin C is Arbutin.

Abrutin is a botanical substance found in plant species. The ingredient's primary origin is from the bearberry bush, which is related to heather plants. It is also found in other plant species such as cranberries, blueberries and pears. If you want to read more about this antioxidant, you can check out our previous post. Arbutin - An antioxidant hero - GLOWiD

Korean skincare is known for using many plant-based ingredients that are rich in antioxidants. Examples of this include pear, green tea, carrot, rice extract, etc.

If you want to set up your routine with vitamins, it can sometimes be difficult to know how to think about the combination, which is why Skin cycling is a good fit.

What is skin cycling?

The method involves setting up a schedule for which day you should use your skincare products to get the best conditions for your skin.

The cycle consists of 4 days where you divide up different types of products in your evening routine. By choosing your days with more active ingredients, it gives the skin better conditions to reduce the risk of irritation and over-exfoliation and helps the skin to recover more easily.

Skincycling is mainly used in the evening routine when the skin has more time to recover and repair itself than during the day when its important task is to protect us and to create a better balance between its active products.

People usually talk about the plan Exfoliate - Vitamin A - Moisture & recovery - Moisture & recovery.

Day 1. Exfoliation – As always, start by cleansing your face before moving on to the next step. The exfoliation should be applied to dry skin as moist skin contributes to a more powerful effect and thus increases the risk of irritation. It is important that you adapt your exfoliation to your skin type and condition, if you experience your skin as sensitive, an enzyme peel can be a good alternative. An antioxidant-rich exfoliation is By wishtrends Green Tea And Enzyme Powder Wash , which is a powder-based enzyme wash that is rich in both antioxidants and vitamins.

If you have more combination/oily skin and want to work more on blemishes and skin imbalances, a BHA exfoliation is a good option to use in your routine as the BHA acid has fat-soluble properties and can thus penetrate deeper into the skin. An example of an exfoliation that contains BHA acid is Cosrx BHA blackhead Power Liquid .

If you want to work on uneven skin, or have hormonal acne, an AHA acid may be a good option to look into. Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water contains mandelic acid and works antibacterially, smoothing and brightening.

Day 2. Vitamin A Once you have thoroughly cleansed your skin of dead skin cells, it is time for a more powerful approach with vitamin A on day two. The vitamin is a well-researched ingredient that has shown good results on the skin. The vitamin has a cell-communicating effect and works primarily to boost the skin's collagen and elastin production. It also works to smooth out and has been shown to have a good effect on acne and post-inflammatory scars.

If you are a little more patient and used to using vitamin A, you can check out By Wishtrends vitamin A-Mazing BakuchiolNnight Cream which contains Retinal and bakuchioil. Like many vitamin A products, this has a yellowish tint, this is due to the main ingredient retinal, there are no artificial pigments added to the product. Retinal is more powerful than retinol and is delivered faster into the skin. It is recommended to get used to the product and then apply a smaller amount like a pea size to then be able to apply the recommended amount of 1-2 pumps of the product. The product is good if you want to work on fine lines, enlarged pores or dullness and uneven skin tone.

A product that contains a lower level of retinol is Yuzu Vitamin C Sleep Mask, which is a brightening mask where one of the main ingredients is, as the name suggests, yuzu. Yuzu contains 3 times more vitamin C than any other citrus fruit and together with niacinamide and retinol it works to smooth, brighten and prevent aging.

Day 3 & 4 Moisture & recovery . Once we have activated the skin the previous two days, it is time for the end of the cycle, which involves two days of moisture, soothing & strengthening ingredients to recover the skin. This means that you put your more active products on the shelf and let your skin repair itself before the cycle starts again. As usual, it is individual what suits your skin best and it is always good to be empathetic. If you notice that you already have a reduced barrier, you can completely stop your skin cycling and your active products for a longer period and only work soothing and strengthening to allow your barrier to recover. A healthy skin barrier = A healthy skin.

Focus on soothing and strengthening ingredients such as centella asiatica, aloe vera extract, ceramides or soothing pear extract. I'm From has released a wonderful new product, namely Pear Serum . The serum has a wonderfully moisturizing texture that contains 83% extract of wild pear leaves that has a calming and strengthening effect on the skin's barrier. The texture is quickly absorbed into the skin and provides relief to irritated skin.

Another soothing product that also contains pear extract is their Pear Soothing Pad . These are pre-soaked pads in a moisturizing and soothing essence consisting of, among other things, 75% wild pear leaves, hyaluronic acid and panthenol. The main ingredient in the pads is extracted from pears and is called luteolin, which has a cooling and soothing effect on anxious and irritated skin. The jar contains 60 pads and is used after cleansing, perfect for placing a few as a soothing sheet mask and letting it work on the skin for a few minutes before following up with your next step in the form of a soothing serum and repairing cream. A star at soothing and repairing is Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream, which is a real savior for irritated skin.

After a few days of recovery, the cycle starts again. Remember to adapt your cycle to your skin and your needs. Maybe you need a few more days of recovery right now?

If you have questions or concerns about what suits your skin best, we will be happy to help you further via chat, DM, or info@glowid.se <3