Vitamin A

What are sources of Vitamin A?

There are many ways that we can source Vitamin A. 

Get Vitamin A From Food

We can get vitamin-A through our diet by eating such food as herring, salmon, beef liver, dark green leafy veg and beta-carotene rich food like yellow and orange peppers and carrots. Beta-carotene when ingested can be converted by the body into retinol.

Topical Skincare as a Source of Vitamin A

If we rely on our source of Vitamin A to be solely dietary, it can be near impossible to consume enough of this specific food type to target or treat certain skin concerns. Cooking and storage of these foods can also have an effect on their vitamin content after consumption. This is where the correct Vitamin A skincare product can really help change and correct even the most stubborn of skin concerns. Vitamin A has many different forms and strengths and there is a Vitamin A product out there for all and every skin type. 

The below examples are all types/forms of Vitamin A. Every one of these types of Vitamin A will make their way to the skin cell and enter the skin cell as retinoic acid. The difference between each of these is the time they take individually to convert to retinoic acid.

Types of Vitamin A:

• Retinol (alcohol form)
• Retinoic acid (active form)
• retinaldehyde (aldehyde form)
• Retinyl palmitate and retinyl acetate (ester forms)
• Retinyl retinoate (an ester of all-trans retinoic acid and all-trans retinol) 

Vitamin A Supplements

Amazingly up to 90% of women are deficient in Vitamin A. Vitamin A in supplement form has many amazing benefits and is ideal to take if you are or have ever had sensitivity when applying Vitamin A topically. Most good quality Vitamin A supplements will incorporate Vitamin D ad these two nutrients go hand in hand for overall skin and bone health especially in women.

Is topical Vitamin A safe during pregnancy?

There are so many different types and strengths of Vitamin A when it comes to topical skincare. Every skincare brand has their own ethos and guidelines for their pregnant client. Consult with your skin therapist in clinic if you have any questions related to this. In pregnancy the skin can completely change and sometimes does not tolerate many different ingredients even the gentlest ones so best to get the correct advice from a trained professional.

There are alternatives to retinol that many people pregnant or not choose to use that have very similar properties like Bakuchiol!

Bakuchiol is derived from the seed of the Babchi plant and therefore is also suitable for Vegans.

Bakuchiol has amazing benefits for the skin such as stimulating cell renewal, boosting collagen production, anti-oxidant protection to name just a few. It can also be used on sensitive skins that need a longer time to adapt to retinols.

Fun Facts About Bakuchiol and Retinol, did you know?

Bakuchiol and Retinol can be used together! When both ingredients are combined Bakuchiol can help stabilise Retinol and keep it effective for longer.

Other ingredients that work well alongside Vitamin A include:

• Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Peptides
• Squalene
• Vitamin C-depending on the formulation, some cosmeceutical products can contain vitamin a alongside other antioxidants like vitamin c and vitamin e 

Things to avoid when using Vitamin A

Don't exfoliate on the same night that you are applying Vitamin A, again this can depend on what type of exfoliation method you use and what type of Vitamin A you are using. Always check with your Skin Therapist as they could have a specific reason for getting you to do things in a certain order.

Skin Expert Edele's Top 5 Vitamin A Products 

1. Environ AVST Moisturisers
2. Advanced Nutrition Programme Vit A
3. Image Skincare Ageless Total Retinol A Crème
4. Obagi Retinol 
5. Skinceuticals Retinol