Beauty from the inside out

With everything you do to take care of your skin, are vitamins one of them?  Vitamins and minerals are essential to helping your skin stay healthy, young and vibrant.  Believe it or not, there are different types of vitamins for different skin care concerns.  The appearance of your skin is a good indicator of what is going on inside your body.  Everything from acne to aging, there are certain nutrients your body could be lacking.

Vitamins C and E
These two vitamins have been proven to counter the effects of sun exposure.   Vitamin C if used topically, can help to prevent skin cancer and pigmentation caused from the sun (always use sunscreen as well).  400mg Vitamin E used daily internally, has been noted to reduce photodamage, wrinkles and improve skin texture.  Vitamin C and E help by reducing the damage caused by free radicals, a harmful byproduct of sunlight, smoke, and pollution.

Vitamin A

If your skin is dry and flaky, you could be lacking in Vitamin A.  Vitamin A is essential in repairing skin tissue.  Eating lots of fruits and vegetables will definitely raise your Vitamin A levels.  Using Vitamin A topically, you will really see a change in your skin.  Medical studies show a reduction in lines and wrinkles, good acne control, and some psoriasis relief, all from using creams containing this nutrient.  Retinols and Retin A are derived from Vitamin A and are used for anti-aging and acne relief.

Evening Primrose Oil
Evening primrose is a wildflower that grows throughout the U.S.  Evening primrose oil is found in the plant's seeds and is high in essential fatty acids such as omega-6, and omega-3, found in fish oil.  These are used as building blocks for a number of molecules in the body. You can take it orally or break open the capsules and use directly on the skin.  Evening Primrose Oil is an anti-inflammatory, which is great for psoriasis, eczema and acne.  It can rejuvenate tired and aging skin, make tired eyes look fresher by rubbing a little under and around your eyes, it can be rubbed into your skin to remove redness and minor blemishes, helps dry skin to feel suppler and younger, and it can be used to reduce and remove fine lines and wrinkles.

My product pick of the week is Perricone MD Skin and Total Body supplements.  "Designed to help support a healthy immune system and improve cognitive skills, while enhancing the look of the skin. Skin & Total Body supplements support bone and joint function, fight free radical damage and stimulate healthy growth of hair and nails. They also help diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and give skin a radiant and glowing appearance. It's the ideal cocktail of healthy skin vitamins."