The dry winter air and the heating season increase our skin’s need for hydration and nourishment. Devote more attention to your skin in that period, and you will be rewarded with a fresh  glow and new skin vitality.

In winter time our skin is exposed to a variety of external factors, from icy wind, to harsh sunshine during winter mountain trips, to various types of indoor heating that have adverse effect on the skin’s condition. Quite contrary to popular clichés, it is a time when the skin requires thorough hydration and strengthening to be able to cope with such changeable environment. If we don’t take care of it properly, it may turn against us, cracking, peeling , getting overtly dry, tight and tense. Winter skin care is remedied by vitamins, commonly known and widely used in cosmetology. It is worth taking a closer look at their qualities to be able to fully benefit from what they have to offer.

VITAMINS TO YOUR SKIN’S RESCUE

Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, plays a host of important roles in the human body, as it facilitates healing, increases serum protein binding, strengthens and seals the walls of blood vessels, and boosts microcirculation in the capillaries. Also, it permanently plumps out fine lines and combats free radicals. Owing to its gently exfoliating and brightening qualities, it limits the skin’s susceptibility to form discolouration and freckles, effectively brightening the skin. It is oftentimes, very accurately, referred to as a free radical scavenger. Usually, when our diet is sufficiently rich in fruit and vegetables, the amount of vitamin C supplied with food tends to meet our body’s needs. However, its vast majority is absorbed by the internal organs, with little of it left for the skin. According to recent research, vitamins present in cosmetic products are able to penetrate the epidermis  in larger amounts, thus they are activated in the skin in much shorter time for quickest visible effect. Hence, apart from eating vitamin C rich diet, which is indisputably very important, you can’t go wrong with using cosmetics that contain vitamin C.

Despite ascorbic acid’s long known and proven  beneficial effect on the skin, it was for a long not employed in beauty products due to its particular sensitivity to air, humidity, temperature shifts and light (when exposed to light, it gradually darkens). The contemporary cosmetology, however, has done much to combat all these problems and be able to employ this miraculous remedy in cosmetics. A form of ascorbic acid which does not oxidize or change its properties, but penetrates the epidermis well is amphiphilic vitamin C,  soluble both in water and fats. Due to this form, it may be used to a good effect in lower concentrations, with no accompanying adverse effects. It is recommended even for sensitive skin, and skin with shallow capillaries.

VITAMIN E

Vitamin E or tocopherol  boosts circulation, enhances the blood supply in the connective tissue, skin and mucous membranes, and increases skin hydration. It is sometimes recommended when treating infertility, yet it finds its major application in beauty products, being rightly referred to as the youth elixir. It is perhaps the most commonly used vitamin in cosmetology. This is for a good reason, as it plays two crucial functions. First, vitamin E and its derivatives have an exceptionally beneficial effect on the skin’s condition. Research has proven tocopherol and its esters to be absorbed by the skin and the hair, even by the horny  layer of the epidermis. Second, it works as a potent natural antioxidant of the cosmetic lipidic compounds, thus constituting an exceptional natural preservative that ensures the stability of a cosmetic product, securing its ingredients against deterioration and breakdown.

VITAMIN A

Vitamin A or retinol is among the most potent active ingredients available to the contemporary cosmetology. It is the biology of the skin that guides us to vitamin A, the truly exceptional, and probably the most famous vitamin out there. Discovered over 80 years ago, it has been our faithful ally in the war we wage on signs of aging, such as fine lines, loss of suppleness and smoothness, uneven skin tone and discolouration of all kinds.

The uniqueness of retinol lies in its direct mechanism of action on the cellular level, as it permeates keratinocytes and fibroblasts, where it is bound with relevant receptors. It is active both in the dermis and the epidermis, increases the production of collagen, elastin, and GAG, including hyaluronic acid. It controls the exfoliation process, stimulates the growth of cells in the epidermis’ active layers, thereby promoting its density. It also protects the produced collagen against degradation. It  promotes the formation of new capillaries. It is crucial in inhibiting the activity of tyrosinase, thus helping to brighten dark spots and discolouration, and reducing the skin’s proneness to produce them. Retinol’s effect on the skin is truly impressive, fine lines are visibly plumped out, its suppleness and firmness is restored, the skin is visibly smoothed out. Its brightening properties are invaluable when fighting the effects of hormonally-induced or post-inflammatory discolouration, as well as sun spots. Research has proven retinol therapy to be effective as soon as after 4 weeks of continuous use.

The invaluable effect of vitamins on the skin is common knowledge, yet their role in skin care has been recently paid less attention to. It is well worth going back to the roots, yet taking a close-up at the new available forms of the popular substances present in beauty products. The effects they deliver will surprise even sceptics at heart.

Arkana cosmetics based on vitamins A, E and C can be found at your Favourite Beauty Salon.

Vitamins essential to your health and skin

Vitamin C:

• boosts the immune system,
• facilitates wound healing and bone growth,
• helps replenish vitamin E,
• as a powerful reducer counteracts the oxidation process induced by free radicals,
•  has bacteriostatic and antiseptic properties, helping to fight certain disease agents,
• participates in the production of stress-level reducing hormones,
• increases the body’s physical endurance, boosts concentration, and facilitates a good night’s sleep.

Vitamin E:

• promotes adequate blood supply in the connective tissue, skin and mucosa,
• counteracts free radicals,
• counteracts premature aging of the skin by facilitating faster collagen and elastin production,
• protects against harmful UV radiation,
• boosts hair growth,
• increases skin hydration.

Vitamin A:

• controls sebum production,
• has antibacterial and anti-comedogenic qualities,
• smoothes the skin, improves its structure and tone, and limits horny skin,
• has anti-inflammatory properties, and promotes healing,
• boosts the immune system,
• prevents discolouration.