How to Turn Up Your Glow: Top 10 Vitamins for Glowing Skin

Getting the perfect amount of glow and radiant skin might seem achievable only through spending a pretty penny on every beauty product ad served to you…but it doesn’t have to be that way. Almost all vitamins A through D hold some cosmetic value. So ditch the overstocked beauty product shelf and try some of these inexpensive (and healthy) alternatives!

Below are our picks for the top 10 vitamins for glowing skin. We chose these particular nutrients based on their unique benefits for your complexion and their ability to target multiple skin issues at once. Whether you’re suffering from a dull and lifeless complexion, acne or other types of blemishes, or wrinkles, lines, and other signs of aging, these are all key nutrients that can play a powerful role in any skincare routine.

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A is responsible for protecting and healing skin. Today, a key ingredient in beauty products called retinoid is a derivative of Vitamin A and helps prevent wrinkles, cure brown spots, and smooth rough skin. Retinoid is also used in many acne treatments, adding to its reputation as both a protector and preventer.

Here’s one valuable tip for using vitamin A as part of your skincare routine – it’s best to apply retinoids and other topical forms of this nutrient at night. The reason? Vitamin A has a reputation for increasing sun sensitivity in some people. That means that morning application of vitamin A-based skincare products might make you more vulnerable to sunburns and dry, irritated skin.

For best results, use beauty products that contain vitamin A as part of your evening skincare routine, and make sure that vitamin A product is followed by a moisturizing cream or lotion. Retinoids and other forms of topical vitamin A are powerful and penetrating, so they may cause irritation if your skin isn’t properly moisturized.

2. Vitamin B-Complex

B-complex vitamins, in general, are essential for overall beauty health. B-complex vitamins are also known as antioxidants, beneficial for hair, skin, and nail health. B vitamins improve keratin levels in the body, which is essential for promoting healthy, hydrated skin. B-complex vitamins are available in many different foods, such as red meat, poultry, and other dairy products. B-complex vitamins are arguably the best vitamins for beauty.

One B-complex vitamin that has a glowing reputation for promoting skin health is biotin. Found in numerous foods including eggs, nuts, and seeds, biotin plays an important role in maintaining healthy hair, skin, and nails. It’s also associated with the production of collagen, an essential protein that makes up most of your skin’s cellular structure and helps give it a firm, youthful appearance.

3. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is vital for healthy, youthful, radiant skin. Like vitamin B-complex, vitamin C boosts collagen production, giving you firmer, clearer skin. Vitamin C can also provide surface defense against harmful UV damage. It also helps prevent the spread of free radicals in cells, which cause illnesses and other chronic conditions. In general, vitamin C is vital for providing a healthy lifestyle.

Many beauty experts recommend adding vitamin C-based products into both AM and PM skincare regimens since this antioxidant is gentle enough for twice-daily use. Some of the best ways to use topical vitamin C are in cleansers, moisturizers, and serums, and you can get vitamin C in your diet through regular consumption of fruits and vegetables.

4. Vitamin D

Vitamin D is a vitamin we typically receive just by going outside. Exposure to sunlight is one of the main ways vitamin D enters our body. In terms of beauty, vitamin D can help save skin from acne and reduce wrinkles associated with aging and UV exposure, keeping your skin soft and smooth.

When it comes to skincare, vitamin D is one ingredient that you might not encounter too often in skincare products. While using topical vitamin D is in fact an option, some of the best ways to get enough of this vital nutrient are from sunlight and your diet, via vitamin D-fortified foods such as some milks and cereals, as well as in natural sources like fish, egg yolks, and mushrooms.

5. Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in a variety of food sources. It helps improve skin health by boosting collagen production in the body while simultaneously combating free radicals. Vitamin E is proven to be more effective when taken in unison with vitamin C. Vitamin E is most effective when taken as a topical skin condition.

One of the biggest perks of adding topical vitamin E to your skincare routine is how gentle this valuable nutrient is on your skin. While some antioxidants like vitamin A have the potential to irritate the sensitive areas on your face, vitamin E is much gentler while still providing plenty of nourishing benefits.

The non-irritating nature of products containing vitamin E makes them suitable for parts of your face that are normally more prone to dryness, redness, and sensitivity issues. These areas include the skin around your eyes and nose, as well as around your lips.

One of our top recommendations for topical vitamin E is for the skin under the eyes. Some products are too harsh to come into contact with this highly sensitive part of your face, but vitamin E soothes and nourishes. Vitamin E-based eye creams are easy to find, and they’re best used in the evening, followed by moisturizer.

6. Glutathione

Glutathione is a tiny protein molecule found in all protein-rich foods. They include fish, eggs, and poultry, to name a few. As far as we know, Glutathione is one of the most efficient antioxidants to fight the physiological symptoms of aging and oxidative stress.

In addition to dietary sources like eggs and fish, supplements are another reliable source for glutathione. Supplementing with this amino acid is especially helpful if you don’t consume many (or any) animal products.

7. Lycopene

Lycopene helps adjust skin texture. Assisting in the formation of collagen, Lycopene is exceptionally effective at preventing wrinkly skin. Few foods like watermelon and apricots contain Lycopene. Still, tomatoes are the largest natural source of the antioxidant. Beauty care products also offer Lycopene in topical creams and moisturizers. 

8. Protein

Our bodies take the protein we eat and turn them into amino acids, creating more proteins such as collagen and keratin, which help structure our skin. Amino acids also help rid of old dying skin.

One of the most important proteins for turning up your glow is collagen — while many nutrients like vitamin C can help promote collagen production in the skin, you can also consume collagen supplements. From collagen protein powder to collagen capsules, there are plenty of ways to incorporate more collagen (or collagen-stimulating vitamins) into your diet. If you’re vegan, there are specific formulas out there with plant-based collagen-stimulating ingredients that can still do a great job of upping this firming protein.

9. Healthy Fats

Healthy fats are what you think they are: fats that are healthy (what a concept). This is how and why your skin gives off a “glow.” Not enough dietary fat can make skin wrinkled and dried out. Good sources of healthy fats include nuts, seeds, and fish. These fats differ from saturated fats because they are easier for your body to break down.

A few excellent sources of healthy fats are nuts, seeds, eggs, avocados, and fish. While old-school nutritional advice might make you want to steer clear of these high-fat foods, healthy fats are key players for healthy skin, a strong immune system, and our body’s natural anti-inflammatory pathways.

10. Zinc

Zinc is one of the many essential nutrients your body needs to function properly. It helps protect your immune system by combating free radicals. Zinc is fantastic for fighting acne due to its anti-inflammatory effects. Zinc can also help treat and prevent certain skin conditions such as melasma, rosacea, dermatitis, and eczema. 

Conclusion

Vitamins and minerals aren’t just crucial for sustaining a healthy lifestyle; they can help promote a beautiful one as well. These vitamins and antioxidants, along with a healthy diet, can greatly help enhance already radiant skin, long and healthy hair, and robust nails, letting you show off your best you. There isn’t an “end all be all” for beauty products, but this is a good start.