The 15 Best Vitamins for Skin

Why is vitamin A good for your skin?

If you’ve been searching for a powerful anti-aging vitamin, look no further than vitamin A – also known as retinol. The vitamin A we use is vegan and cruelty free and derived from clean, synthetic sources. This beneficial vitamin helps to promote cell turnover, as well as increase firmness, tone, and elasticity in your skin while you sleep. And that’s not all for this A-plus vitamin!

Vitamin A is a superstar at helping to keep skin clear. With the help of vitamin A, the buildup of dead skin cells is minimized, producing a stable ecosystem of oil production and sebum in the epidermal layer. For those suffering from acne, vitamin A treats oil production, pore congestion, and cystic breakouts. Over time, vitamin A can also reduce the look of enlarged pores.

If you’re looking for a supplement to help you look younger, vitamin A-wesome has your back – and skin – too! Due to its standout quality of promoting cell turnover, vitamin A helps to lessen the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It also increases the skin’s ability to create new collagen while simultaneously stimulating blood vessels in the skin for a rosy appearance. Over time, vitamin A can reduce dullness in aging skin, providing a youthful complexion and radiant glow.

PRO TIP: Vitamin A skin care is best used at night, and should always be followed with a natural SPF the following day.

Skin Benefits:

• Cellular health

• Firms

• Anti-Aging

• Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Found In:

• Carrots

• Squash

• Sweet potatoes

• Acai

Top Products with Vitamin A:

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riche PM Treatment
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum
Retinol Restorative Overnight Balm
Retinol PM Eye Cream
Retinol Restorative Neck Cream
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Facial Oil
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Eye Treatment

Why is Vitamin B5 good for your skin?

Also known as panthenol or pantothenic acid, Vitamin B5 is one of the best vitamins for skin and hair. When applied topically, Vitamin B5 works to help moisturize, soothe and heal both skin and hair.

For dry, itchy, or irritated skin, vitamin B5 delivers superb hydrating, healing, and calming benefits. This vitamin is also beneficial for hair strengthening and growth, and is ideal for applying to the scalp and skin to encourage healthy hair growth.

Skin Benefits:

• Increases ceramide levels

• Retains moisture

• Enhances suppleness

• Smooths

Found In:

• Avocados

• Sunflower seeds

• Broccoli

• Mushrooms

Top Products with vitamin B5:

Vitamin C Serum
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum
Green Tea Fiber Brow Builder

Why is Vitamin C good for your skin?

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can encourage collagen production for firmer skin, and it increases cell turnover, which means brighter skin and a more even skin tone. It also provides protection against UV assailants, and can even scavenge free radicals to prevent the onset of fine lines and wrinkles. This anti-aging star can reduce hyperpigmentation, helping to keep your skin spot-free.

Since vitamin C has antioxidant properties and the abilities to counteract free radicals – much like vitamin E can – it can get confusing which vitamin is better for your skin. The skinny on that is both vitamins are equally great for your skin and they can be paired together. It also depends on the skin concern you’re trying to target.

Vitamin C helps to lighten and brighten skin naturally, with some anti-aging attributes to boot, while vitamin E (more on that superstar below) can help to reverse existing skin issues like chronic dryness, aging, inflammation, and dermatitis. Skin that has suffered from overexposure to the sun, harsh acne medication, scars, or even excessive tanning can seriously benefit from vitamin E skin care.

Back to vitamin C-elebrity. Our technologically advanced vitamin C is at the top of the natural skin care game, thanks to methods developed by 100% PURE™ co-founder Susie Wang. By formulating a stable, natural vitamin C serum that doesn’t oxidize over time, our vitamin C serums are able to continually deliver potent antioxidants and vitamins until the last drop.

Vitamin C Skin Benefits:

• Firms

• Brightens

• Evens skin tone

• Fights free radicals

Found In:

• Citrus

• Strawberries

• Pineapple

• Mango

Top Products with Vitamin C:

Vitamin C Serum
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants PM Facial Oil
Fermented Rice Brightening Cleanser
Brightening Serum
Dark Spot Remover

Why is Vitamin E good for your skin?

Tocopherol, or vitamin E, has become a staple in any vitamin arsenal. It is also known as the beauty vitamin as it creates a sort of force field across your skin, protecting it from the sun’s rays, plus those harmful free radicals floating in the air. Vitamin E keeps skin hydrated, happy, supple and smooth.

Whether ingested or applied topically, this antioxidant-rich vitamin has plenty of health benefits. Known for helping to heal skin and reduce the appearance of scars, vitamin E can also help moisturize cracked and dry skin. This is exactly why we’ve included it as a key ingredient in so many of our natural skin and body care products.

Did you know that vitamin E enhances the beneficial effects of other vitamins for skin, like vitamin C? Research shows that these pairings work together to protect skin from sun damage.

Vitamin E Skin Benefits:

• Reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

• Heals

• Soothes

• Moisturizes

Found In:

• Sunflower seeds

• Almonds

• Avocado

• Olive oil

Top Products with Vitamin E:

Super Fruit Oil Nourishing Eye Cream
Creamy Long Last Liner
Nourishing Body Cream
Pro-Vitamin B5 Smoothing Hair Serum
Cocoa Butter Matte Lipstick

Why is Folic Acid good for your skin?

We’re highlighting another B vitamin: Folic Acid. This vitamin plays an important role in maintaining healthy, beautiful skin. Folic acid has a high concentration of antioxidants, meaning it has enhanced anti-aging effects. Not to mention that folic acid is found in some of our favorite fruits, like strawberries and raspberries, where we get our patented fruit pigments.

Folic Acid Skin Benefits:

• Anti-Aging

• Moisturizing

• Antioxidant-rich

Found In:

• Papaya

• Raspberries

• Grapefruit

• Strawberries

Top Products with Ingredients Containing Folic Acid:

Fruit Pigmented® Pretty Naked Palette
Fruit Pigmented® Better Naked Palette
Fruit Pigmented® Eye Shadow
Wrinkle Smooth Mask
Pink Grapefruit Shaving Cream

Why are Probiotics good for your skin?

From kimchi to kombucha to sake (fermented rice), probiotics are super beneficial ingredients for healthy, happy skin. These friendly bacteria develop when there are perfect conditions, and are also naturally occurring in your digestive tract and gut.

Did you know that there is a connection between our GI tract and the health of our skin? When your gut isn’t functioning properly (absorbing nutrients, eliminating toxins), your body isn’t able to fight off bad bacteria that can lead to inflammation. Probiotics are an important part of our overall gut microbiota that allows for proper digestion, immune regulation, skin health, and so much more.

We can see here that probiotics are absolutely essential for a healthy gut, and it would follow then that they’re also equally as important for healthy skin. That’s right, and precisely why we use natto beans (a lesser known legume) as a probiotic that supports a natural biome and is also a rich source of polyglutamic acid.

As the supercharged sister of hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid contains tons of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. This skin powerhouse is such a star that we formulated an entire skincare line around it in! Our Watermelon + Cucumber Skincare Trio is powered by the power couple of clean skincare ingredients - polyglutamic acid from natto beans and hyaluronic acid from sweet potatoes.

Our water locking serum, moisturizer, and mist combines watermelon and cucumber hydrosols to help restore, soothe, and cool skin while also locking in moisture for hydration that lasts. This trio includes:

Watermelon + Cucumber Water Locking Serum: locks in watermelon hydrosol to revitalize dehydrated skin cells with skin plumping polyglutamic acid from fermented natto beans and moisture retaining hyaluronic acid.

Watermelon + Cucumber Water Locking Moisturizer: locks in watermelon hydrosol and polyglutamic acid to naturally restore skin elasticity, promote cell regeneration and reduce signs of aging.

Watermelon + Cucumber Water Locking Mist: naturally reinvigorates dehydrated skin cells and reduces signs of aging by locking in cactus juice, watermelon hydrosol, and hyaluronic acid.

Skin Benefits:

• Healthy digestive tract for clearer skin

• Balances skin with good bacteria

• Fights Inflammation

Found In:

• Sake

• Kimchi

• Kombucha

• Miso

Top Products with Probiotics:

Fermented Rice Water Toner
Fermented Rice Water Cleanser
Fermented Rice Water Serum
Restorative Sea Culture Replenishing Serum
Restorative Sea Culture Hydrating Toner
Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme
Water + Cucumber Hydration Kit

Why are Omega 3 Fatty Acids good for your skin?

Not all fats are created equal, but when it comes to Omega 3 Fatty Acids, we’re all about sprinkling these healthy fats into our health and beauty routine. Omega 3 Fatty Acids are an excellent way to combat wrinkles, both by ingesting and applying topically, because they are able to help fight inflammation.

Did you know that Omega 3’s is also critical for skin hydration? These healthy fats work behind-the-scenes to help lock in moisture and significantly reduce overly dry skin that leads to cracking or irritation.

Skin Benefits:

• UV protection

• Anti-Aging

• Hydration

• Moisture

Found In:

• Chia

• Flax seeds

• Walnuts

• Tofu

Top Products with Omega 3 Fatty Acids:

Hydra Drench Cream
Restorative Sea Culture Hydrating Toner
Vitamin C Serum
Fruit Pigmented® Powder Foundation

Why is Collagen good for your skin?

We harness the power of vegan collagen from kelp, seaweed, and algae to create natural skin care products. Conventional skin care brands often source their collagen from animal sources: bones, tendons, teeth, or skin.

There’s no need for animal cruelty, when Mother Nature has already perfected this ingredient with plants! Seaweed and kelp are the ideal specimens when it comes to moisture retention, not to mention their natural abundance of minerals and vitamins for skin.

Skin Benefits:

• Skin elasticity

• Hydration

Found In:

• Seaweed

• Kelp

• Alteromonas ferment extract

Top Products with Vegan Collagen:

Restorative Sea Culture Extra Riche Créme
Restorative Sea Culture Replenishing Serum
Restorative Sea Culture Hydrating Toner
Mattifying Primer
Caffeine Mask
Kelp & Mint Volumizing Shampoo Kelp & Mint Volumizing Conditioner Moisture Drench Conditioner
Moisture Drench Shampoo

Why is Hyaluronic Acid good for your skin?

While hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the human body, it tends to decline as we age. Applying this ingredient topically will promote more supple, hydrated skin when your natural H.A. stores begin to dwindle.

Unlike some skin care ingredients, hyaluronic acid can deeply penetrate your skin with ease. Sodium hyaluronate helps assists skin with absorption of other hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, and can hold up to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water.

Skin Benefits:

• Moisture retention

• Elasticity

Found In:

• Soy

• Potatoes

• Citrus

• Kale

Top Products with Hyaluronic Acid:

Green Tea Water Bomb Mask
Ginseng Collagen Boost Mask
Fermented Rice Water Toner
Tea Tree & Willow Clarifying Astringent
Retinol PM Eye Cream

Why are Flavonoids good for your skin?

Flavonoids are known to be rich in antioxidants, anti-carcinogenic properties, and anti-inflammatory benefits. You can wear your dark chocolate and eat it, too – flavonoids can be consumed and applied for similar benefit.

Green tea, red wine, and dark chocolate all contain skin protecting properties from flavonoids. Have you peeped our natural makeup ingredient list? It’s loaded with vitamins for skin that not only smell or taste good, but are good for your skin.

Skin Benefits:

• Antioxidant-rich

• Anti-carcinogenic

• Anti-inflammatory

Found In:

• Dark chocolate

• Green tea

• Red wine

• Berries

Top Products with Flavonoids:

Luminous Primer
Cocoa Pigmented Bronzer
Fruit Pigmented® Ultra Lengthening Mascara: Dark Chocolate
Maracuja Mascara: Dark Chocolate
Green Tea EGCG Concentrate Cream

Why is Vitamin K2 good for your skin?

Not to be confused with vitamin K1 – found in leafy greens – Vitamin K2 is a force all its own. Commonly found in meat and dairy, vegans will need to look to fermented food for their Vitamin K2 fix.

Topical use of Vitamin K2, also known as 'menaquinone', can increase youthful suppleness in skin, while supporting elastin and collagen production. A study in Japan also found that Japanese women who consumed fermented soy and other Vitamin K2-rich foods had higher bone density and reduced calcification of the arteries.

These benefits weren’t only internal; there was a correlation found between higher bone density and reduced wrinkles.

Skin Benefits:

• Supports collagen production

• Supports elastin levels

Found In:

• Fermented foods (pickles, kimchi, sauerkraut, etc)

Top Products with Vitamin K2:

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment

Why is Vitamin B3 good for your skin?

Also known as niacin or niacinamide, Vitamin B3 acts as an antioxidant with serious brightening and anti-aging abilities. According to Alexandra Tunell at Harper’s Bazaar, vitamin B3 “strengthens the skin’s barrier function.” That’s important for two reasons: first, a strong skin barrier helps keep moisture in, which makes your skin feel soft, smooth, and hydrated. Second, a strong skin barrier also keeps skin-damaging irritants out – that means less pollution, dirt, and oil clogging your pores.

Skin Benefits:

• Reduces inflammation

• Minimizes appearance of pores

• Strengthens lipid barrier

• Balances skin tone

• Brightens

Found In:

• Spirulina

• Coffee

• Rice bran

• Peanuts

• Chia

Top Products with Vitamin B3:

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum
Fermented Rice Water Serum
Retinol Restorative Neck Cream
Tomato Lycopene SPF 20 Moisturizer

Why is Vitamin D good for your skin?

Ah, vitamin D: you’re what we crave in the gloom of winter, when dreaming of sunnier days. Skin is triggered to create this fat-soluble hormone when exposed to sun’s UVB rays, making it beneficial for absorbing a healthy amount of sun.

Vitamin D has been linked to improved acne conditions in multiple studies, making sunshine or supplement sources beneficial for acne-prone skin types. Vitamin D has also been credited for stimulating healthy cellular growth, repair, and renewal; all are important for aging or sun-damaged skin.

Another interesting fact about this ‘sunshine vitamin’? Melanin helps block UVB rays from entering the skin, so skin with more melanin (skin pigment) experiences less UVB-related sun damage in skin. This means that people with more melanin will suffer less sun damage in skin, but are also more likely to be deficient in skin-healthy vitamin D. In summary, this vitamin is all about balance!

Skin Benefits:

• Neutralizes free radicals

• Supports cellular growth

• Supports repair and renewal

• Anti-acne benefits

Found In:

• Sunlight

• Maitake mushrooms

• Chanterelle mushrooms

• Portobello mushrooms

Top Products with Vitamin D:

Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment

Why is CoQ10 good for your skin?

This powerhouse antioxidant is naturally found in our bodies, in the mitochondria that produce energy for our cells. As with collagen and hyaluronic acid, CoQ10’s production decreases as we age.

To reap the anti-aging benefits of Coenzyme CoQ10, you’ll need to apply it or ingest it. Adding this antioxidant to your diet or skin care routine energizes skin cells to renew your complexion, reduce oxidative damage, and lessen the severity of fine lines and wrinkles.

CoQ10 Skin Benefits:

• Neutralizes free radicals

• Improves texture

• Reduces wrinkles

• Counters sun damage

Found In:

• Peanuts

• Soybeans

• Spinach

• Cauliflower

• Broccoli

Top Products with CoQ10:

Argan Oil Creamy Cleanser
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Ultra Riché PM Treatment
Multi-Vitamin + Antioxidants Potent PM Serum
Wrinkle Smooth Mask
Bakuchiol Moisturizer Vitamin C Glow Max Bright Mask