Complete Guide to Vitamin A in Skincare
Vitamin A is the most loved, yet most misused and misunderstood skincare ingredient available today. Praised for its ability to smooth lines, soften texture, lighten spots, and combat acne but also scrutinized for irritating the skin and causing barrier damage. Osmosis’ Advanced Vitamin A Serums only use the vitamin A derivative Retinaldehyde in their formulas because Retinaldehyde is gentler on your skin when compared to other forms of vitamin A such as Retinol. Keep reading below to learn about the benefits of vitamin A for your skin, which high-performing Osmosis Retinal serum could be best for you, rosehip as a vitamin A alternative and potent skin food.
WHAT DOES VITAMIN A DO FOR THE SKIN?
Vitamin A in skincare has the ability to reprogram how cells function, influencing them to behave in a younger, healthier way for a radiant glow. It also helps with problematic skin conditions like acne by normalizing oil production, and pigmentation by regulating tyrosinase (an enzyme that plays an important role in the production of melanin). Vitamin A speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliation process - restructuring the skin from the ground up. It helps smooth fine lines, target pigmentation, keep pores clear, and
supports collagen.
Beta Carotene converts into Retinol, Retinol into Retinaldehyde and Retinaldehyde into Retinoic Acid. All of these vitamin A derivatives contribute to your skin health, but the struggle is to formulate products with the ability to penetrate the top layer of skin so they can work, and that is what often causes the skin irritation that some people experience with some forms of Vitamin A.
TYPES OF VITAMIN A
Retinoic acid, like that found in the infamous Tretinoin, is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A. It is not extracted from natural sources. Instead, it is synthesized in a laboratory by chemically modifying retinol or other retinoids.
Retinol in skincare is typically obtained from animal-derived sources. It is synthesized through chemical processes that convert natural sources of vitamin A, such as animal liver, into retinol. Alternatively, retinol can also be produced synthetically in a laboratory setting.
Retinaldehyde is typically derived from plant-based sources such as beta-carotene found in carrots, sweet potatoes and other fruits and vegetables. Osmosis Retinal serums are more bioavailable, meaning they absorb faster and more thoroughly, making them clinically-proven to work 11 times faster than Retinol.
Benefits of Retinaldeyhyde:
Ability to accelerate skin cell renewal
Stimulate collagen production.
Reduces inflammation
Antibacterial
Decreases sebum production
Increases the rate of wound healing
Improves the skin's hydration
Retinal is 1000 times more effective at stimulating collagen production than Retinol, yet it's gentler to the skin.
Retinal is not sun-sensitizing and doesn’t increase your risk of UVA/UVB damage or hyperpigmentation (like Retinol), so it can be included in your daytime skincare program.
WHAT IS THE BEST VITAMIN A SERUM FOR YOUR SKIN’S NEEDS?
Now that we understand the main vitamin A for skin benefits, we can now discover which Osmosis vitamin A serum you should be using in your skincare routine based on your skin’s needs.
OSMOSIS CALM GENTLE RETINAL SERUM
Formulated for those with moderately sensitive skin, Osmosis Calm is a vitamin A serum has all the benefits of .035% Retinal, while working to calm sensitive skin, restore the lipid barrier and reduce inflammation. This multitasking retinaldehyde serum is a great starter vitamin A and also suited for anyone with inflamed sensitized skin conditions such as but not limited to rosacea or acne because it helps to soothe the skin, prevent breakouts and reduce redness. Vegan and gluten free.
Also contains: Wild Cherry Bark Extract – Historically the inner bark of Wild Cherry has been used for its highly anti-inflammatory and astringent properties to treat rashes, psoriasis, and eczema, as it soothes, detoxifies, and stimulates healing.
OSMOSIS CORRECT PREVENTATIVE RETINAL SERUM
Correct is a powerful, non-inflammatory vitamin A serum. Suited for most skin types, this Preventative Retinal Serum with .083% Retinaldehyde is beneficial for texture, pigmentation, acne and early signs of aging. Professional-grade liposomes deliver proprietary nutrients beyond the surface to feed and remodel the skin. Real changes result from 9 collagen stimulators and 7 antioxidants that also offer UVB protection and barrier repair. A smooth, rejuvenated and luminous finish results from this concentrate of scientifically validated actives.
Also contains: Dimethyl Sulfone (MSM) | Organic sulfur compound that strengthens skin’s support structure; promotes the synthesis of proteins and connective tissue (flexibility and resilience of skin). Sulphur itself has a long historical record in dermatological remedies for acne, psoriasis, rosacea and wound healing.
OSMOSIS RENEW ADVANCED RETINAL SERUM
Renew is the highest possible potency of Osmosis MD’s liposomal retinaldehyde. Step into a world of transformation with 0.165% Retinaldehyde, the supercharged form of Vitamin A, clinically recognized for its ability to match retinoic acid in collagen stimulation. Designed specifically for skin that has already been regularly exposed to vitamin A skin care products. Osmosis Renew serum can dramatically restore the condition and tone of your skin. Making it ideal for skin that has been affected by the aging process, mild scarring and texture. Containing a powerful combination of fibroblast stimulators. This best-selling retinal serum helps to renew skin cells and promote skin cell turnover, both of which will result in younger-looking skin.
This powerful serum also contains hyaluronic acid, which is known for hydrating the skin. As well as lactic acid and peptides, which can help to stimulate further collagen renewal and, in turn, firm your skin.
ROSEHIP AS A VITAMIN A ALTERNATIVE:
Rosehip oil is rich in vitamin A, mostly from beta carotene which converts to retinoic acid farther down the line (as mentioned earlier above). Rosehip oil’s essential fatty acids support and protect your skin’s moisture barrier, unlike most vitamin A serums available, while similarly working to smooth and soften the complexion while evening out overall skin tone. Rosehip is said to help reduce signs of aging, redness, breakouts, control acne, brightens the skin, and provides incredible antioxidant protection. Rosehips also contains the highest bioavailable form of vitamin C available - but we will keep vitamin A the star of the show here and save that for another day.
Find the rosehip inside:
Vitamin C Regenerating Balm is magic nectar in a jar that will bring your skin back to life. Its rich, creamy blend of organic plant butters & oils like rosehip, prickly pear, pomegranate and calendula sink deeply into skin to help retain hydration, radiance, and barrier support, sealing in moisture and preventing trans-epidermal water loss. Skin will feel perfectly supple, luminous and comforted. A team of skin-repairing antioxidants, a phytonutrient infusion & active botanicals like turmeric & calendula address premature aging. Thyme and chamomile help alleviate acne.
Ritual Oil is an ethereal blend of harmonizing face oils that leave behind a silky, radiant glow after your self care rituals. Organic pomegranate seed, jojoba, and rosehip oils work together to repair and restore the skin’s natural balance. Seabuckthorn and coconut help to restore, relax and send lipids deep into the skin.
SKIN FOOD: ROSEHIP TEA
Via — Herbal Academy Pinterest
The rosehip is the rose’s soul. Before you brew rosehip tea, set the serving of dried rose hips you intend to use in the sun for five minutes (no more). This will activate the rose hips’ most powerful memory of swaying in the wind and basking in the sun on a perfect August day—which enhances the soul of the rose so it can pass on its maximum potency to you.
Once you’ve made your tea, add a squeeze of lemon and some raw honey to make the vitamin C content highly active.
Rose hips are amazing for alleviating UTIs—much more powerful at the job than cranberries—and for healing skin conditions. They also have a higher ratio of antioxidants than most healing foods, and contain a wide variety of antioxidants (many of which are still undiscovered) in addition to vitamin C. Roses’ roots go deeper into the soil than many other shrubs. Because of the depths to which they reach, they’re able to work their way into clay and loam, and draw up nearly every type of mineral, including critical silica. They also boosts the immune system against viruses, bacteria, yeast, mold, and other unwanted fungus — Medical Medium.
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