what does the vitamin content in moringa oil mean for your skin?

March 3, 2021

Do you take a daily multivitamin (or at least try to remember to take one)? We’re with you. But vitamins aren’t just to ward off a cold. They’re great if you want glowing skin, too. Which is why, at Moringa Project, we pack them into our skincare routine, via our facial oil and body bars.

Vitamins can in fact offer protection against pollution, repair free-radical damage and help combat fine lines and wrinkles. Essentially, if you name a skin problem, there's a vitamin for that. And by mixing a good diet with the right products, achieving a healthy-looking complexion is now as easy as one, two, three.

In Moringa oil, whose nutritional components are almost too plentiful to name (here are a few: calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, carotenoids), there are four vitamins: A, B, C, and E.

So what exactly do they do? Let’s see.

Vitamin A

A real powerhouse for both anti-ageing and acne care, Vitamin A builds collagen – the vital component that your skin is made of. As such, it increases cell turnover, stimulates elastin production, and even fades pigmentation.

That’s not all: it also helps to prevent sun damage like hyperpigmentation and sunspots by interrupting the process that breaks down collagen; combating acne by sloughing away dead skin cells; improving skin tone by stimulating the production of new blood vessels; and promoting wound healing.

Vitamin A is really important for good skin health: studies have shown that people with higher vitamin A concentrations in their skin tend to look younger, while those with lower vitamin A concentrations tend to look older and have dry and scaly skin.

Diet tip: Vitamin A can be found in foods such as beef, liver, eggs and dairy products. Beta-Carotene, on the other hand, is converted into vitamin A in the body. Food sources include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale and apricots. Think of orange food! Try to include a portion of one of these foods in your diet every day for good skin health.

Vitamin B

Vitamin B isn’t just any regular vitamin. There are eight different classes of it, all of which come from different sources and have a variety of skincare benefits:

Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
Vitamin B9 (Folate/Folic Acid)
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Overall, it has potent anti-ageing properties, is hydrating and anti-inflammatory -- which helps soothing skin irritations like eczema -- and is also beneficial when trying to brighten and even out skin tone. It also boosts skin's elasticity, making it ideal if you're running low on sleep and you feel you need a bit of a complexion refresh.

Diet tip: Oatmeal, rice, eggs and bananas contain vitamin B complexes, which include biotin, a key ingredient in the development of nail, skin and hair cells. A vitamin B deficiency in your diet can cause dermatitis or lead to hair loss. For a good dose of vitamin B3 (which can help to treat rosacea, acne, eczema, dermatitis, hyper pigmentation, sun-damaged, aging and dry skin) try turkey, mushrooms, peas, chicken, peanuts, sunflower seeds, avocado and tuna.

Vitamin C

You might think of vitamin C as the miracle vitamin against the sniffles, but the organic molecule is great when used on the skin, too, especially on a daily basis. Vitamin C can help collagen production, soften wrinkles, and reduce sun damage, as it's an antioxidant. It’s also proven to diminish acne scars, even out skin tone, hydrate skin, and protect it from pollution.

Additionally, it blocks the enzyme responsible for melanin (or pigmentation) production, which means it brightens skin and prevents dark spots. Skincare hero much?

Diet tip: Besides oranges, foods rich in the vitamin include peppers, spinach, kale, broccoli, kiwis, strawberries and peas.

Vitamin E

Not only does vitamin E provide superior hydration, it also locks in moisture, and aids the barrier function to protect the skin. It's excellent to moisturise and protect against UV rays (particularly important if you live in a sunny country like Thailand) as well as soothing and calming the skin.
If that wasn’t enough, it also works as an antioxidant -- meaning it prevents oxidative damage to cells by helping remove free radicals (a result of daily environmental stressors like unprotected sun exposure and air pollution), protecting the skin from damage.

Diet tip: Good food sources of vitamin E include almonds, spinach, avocados, sunflower seeds, butternut squash and extra-virgin olive oil. Make sure to always integrate some of these in your diet.