BeautyFresh Blog

Beauty Ideas, Tips, Reviews & Hints

Understanding Vitamin A

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Vitamin A’s vital role in the skin is central to the IIAA skincare philosophy, particularly in Advanced Nutrition Programme products. Recently IIAA have received several questions on exactly how and why vitamin A has such powerful skin benefits. To answer these questions, IIAA asked their experts to explain the science behind the so-called ‘skin vitamin’.

Dr Des Fernandes, founder at IIAA

“Every skin cell naturally contains about 91% retinyl esters (mainly retinyl palmitate (3% retinol and 3% retinal and 3% retinoic acid. The only form that makes any change to skin is retinoic acid that acts on the DNA through various receptors. Every molecule of retinoic acid was in the beginning retinyl palmitate / ester. That is the natural pathway – Retinyl Palmitate to Retinol to Retinal and finally to retinoic Acid.

The body carefully controls the levels of the various steps. If there is too much retinol it is converted into retinyl esters, if there is too much retinal, it is converted to retinol to be converted to retinyl esters. There is no limit to the size of the retinyl ester stores. The higher they are, the less likely it is to develop a skin cancer. You cannot build up your ‘store’ of retinol because it is changed to the ester form to keep the retinol at physiologically safe levels.

Whichever vitamin A you put on the skin gets converted to retinyl esters. Every single molecule of vitamin A can only become a single molecule of retinoic acids and that is what works.

The important message is that no matter what form of vitamin A you use, they all go through the same process and provided that they are not retinoic acid, they will be converted to retinyl esters. The higher the storage state is of Retinyl esters, the more retinoic acid we make eventually.

Vitamin A is a most precious molecule and the body controls it exceptionally carefully. Most skins are damaged by light and lose their storage forms of vitamin A. there is less change to the levels of retinol / retinal, but this all ends up with less activity of retinoic acid. Once the stores are filled, the cell starts to work normally again, cancers become less likely etc. However, depleted skin must be slowly re-introduced to good levels of vitamin A. That’s why Start Low – Go Slow”.

Dr Gaby Prinsloo, Medical Director for IIAA

“Vitamin A regulated DNA activity and metabolic process in numerous cells in the skin, and it is essential for normal cellular function. It also aids in DNA repair.

It regulates many genes controlling the growth and differentiation of keratinocytes. This leads to a thicker epidermis, a compact stratum corneum and a smooth skin surface. It controls melanin production in the melanocytes and ensures an equal distribution of melanin leading to even pigmentation.

Vitamin A also acts on fibroblasts, stimulating collagen producing genes to increase the production of healthy collagen, improving the quality of healthy collagen, improving the quality of elastin produced and increasing the secretion of high quality hyaluronic acid (HLA). This restores dermal papillae, improves skin elasticity, decreases wrinkles and sagging and increases hydration of skin. Vitamin A decreases the degradation of collagen by decreasing the production of, and inhibiting matrix metalloproteinases (enzymes that can break down proteins).

Vitamin A acts on sebaceous glands, normalising oil production. It improves the immune system in the skin as well as the blood supply to the skin. Finally, retinal esters act as chromophores absorbing and providing some protection against UVB rays.

In addition to the benefits in skin, vitamin A is essential for general body health. It regulates gene transcription leading to healthy growth and development of numerous tissues throughout the body. It is essential for the optimal functioning of the immune system and is crucial to the formation of rhodopsin (visual purple) in the retina which is needed to see in low light.

Physiologically, topical vitamin A and oral vitamin A have the same effect on the skin, but reach it in different ways.

It’s always good to use both oral and topical vitamin a to ensure that we are getting maximal availability of vitamin A in the skin. Topical vitamin A fortifies the skin from the outside, while oral vitamin A feeds from the inside, reaching the deepest layers of the skin, all our skin and it feeds the skin 24 hours a day.”

<< Purchase your Vitamin A today from Beauty Fresh >>

60 capsules

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vit A+ (60 capsules) – Beauty Fresh

120 capsules

Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Vit A+ (120 Capsules) – Beauty Fresh

Skin Collagen Plus

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Limited edition Skin Collagen Plus is Advanced Nutrition Programme’s powerful advanced skin collagen formation duo, which unites Skin Vit C and Skin Collagen Support together. The combination of these supplements synergises to support skin collagen, brighten dull skin, protect cells from oxidative stress and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. An excellent addition to any Advanced Nutrition Programme supplement to support during times of stress. 

Key Ingredient Technologies

  • Vitamin C has been consistently proven and recognised as skin supporting by both the nutritional and skincare industries – it helps support normal collagen production. 
  • Zinc is packed with properties to support our skin, hair and nails, and is also revered for its antioxidant protection. 
  • Acerola Berry is an exciting addition to ANP ingredient library as it boasts rich nutrient values with recent research explaining that it is ‘one of the best fruits rich in ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and polyphenols’. In fact, it features 50-100 times more vitamin C that oranges or lemons. Emerging studies have also reported potential benefits on UVB induced pigmentation. 

In addition to vitamin C and zinc, Skin Collagen Support also features the following: 

  • Grapeseed Extract which strengthens and prevents collagen from breaking down. 
  • MSM helps make keratin which is one of the key structural components of skin, hair and nails. 
  • French Melon Extract which is high in super antioxidant Super Oxide Dismutase. 

SKIN BENEFITS

  • Brighten dull-looking skin
  • Support normal blood vessels
  • Protect cells from oxidative stress
  • Support collagen formation
  • Plumps and smoothes skin
  • Supports skin health 

Please do not hesitate if you have any questions. 

Cheryl xx

Turn Back The Clock With Collagen

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Whether whizzed into a morning smoothie or brewed in a Bullet Proof Coffee, celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry and Kate Hudson have fed our hunger for collagen powders, pills and potions. Here we lift the lid on the super supplement de jour and disclose how it can benefit our Beauty Fresh customers.

Originating from the Greek word for ‘glue’. Collagen is part of the protein scaffolding that holds the body together. Found in skin, muscles and connective tissue, it’s the secret to a supple, youthful complexion and has many other benefits to boot.

Collagen make up about 75% of the weight of your skin.

Going, going, gone

Essential for keeping our skin supple and resilient, collagen is found in the dermis and created by fibroblast cells, suspended in a ‘gel’ which consists of hyaluronic acid and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The bad news is collagen production slows as we age, in fact by the time you hit your mid-40s, levels have plummeted by a jaw slackening 30%, cue wrinkles, sagging and fine lines. Lifestyle factors such as poor diet, smoking and pollution, will expedite the drag of the natural intrinsic ageing process but the good news is that you can slow this decline by using the tools needed to ramp up your collagen production.

Restore and Replenish

So, what’s the best way to reverse plummeting collagen levels? Religiously applying creams containing the nutrients skin needs to manufacture its own supply – vitamin A, Vitamin C and peptides are all pivotal to collagen production and cosmetic needling at home will enhance penetration for better results.

Beauty Fresh would also like to stress the importance to replenish levels from the inside. Consuming pills, powders or drinks containing collagen may not be necessary, says Lorraine Perretta, Head of Nutrition. Collagen is made from amino acids found in protein foods. Most of us have enough of these in our diet, so the body already has the building blocks it needs to make its own collagen. What you need are the synergistic nutrients to make this process of converting amino acids into collagen more efficient, and to protect the fibres once they’ve been created. There’s little point consuming products containing collagen if you haven’t got the co-factors to assimilate it into the skin.

Gram for gram collagen fibres are stronger than steel.

Your NEW collagen building tool

NEW Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Collagen Support. The Advanced Nutrition Programme are pioneering aesthetic nutrition by reformulating Skin Collagen Support with a unique combination of skin supporting ingredients. A review of the latest advanced in research underpins our complex of powerful nutrients to build and protect collagen. The new formula fuses proven ingredients which are backed by over 150 scientific studies confirming their positive effects on skin. The exclusive new Skin Collagen Support includes a clever cocktail of Zinc, MSM, Grapeseed extract, vitamin C, and Melon concentrate rich in Superoxide Dismutase (a powerful free radical fighter) to activate collagen synthesis for a younger looking complexion.