The Vitamins You Should Be Taking For Your Skin

So I keep seeing nosy little Kristen Bell on my television between breaks of my America's Next Top Model rerun binges. I suppose she's the new spokesperson for Neutrogena's Natural Skincare line, but she keeps interrogating me on whether I know what's in my skincare products. Well, Ms. Bell, as a matter of fact, I do! Kind of. Maybe. Or, at least, I have a pretty good handle on which vitamins are best for my skin.

Of course I'd love to use the simplest, most natural products out there, but I was not blessed with normal, easy-going skin. And between that and the fact that I have some sort of aversion to repurchasing products, I'm always on the hunt for the latest goops and potions. Unfortunately, ingredient lists on skincare these days can be a mile long. I try my best to be a well-informed consumer by always checking the ingredients of my beauty products before I buy, but I swear those lists are in a foreign language.

The sad part is, of the few words that I can recognize, I don't actually know what they do. I mean, I know vitamins and minerals are good for me, but I didn't know why. Just in case you're in the same boat, here's a breakdown of the most popular vitamins and minerals, so you don't have a Good Burger moment.

1. Vitamin A

This is the anti-aging vitamin. Most of the time, you'll see this as "retinol." However, Vitamin A promotes cell turnover, which makes skin sensitive to the sun. So make sure to wear sunscreen when using products with this vitamin.

2. Vitamin B

This is a multipurpose vitamin. B can help with evening skin tone, increasing circulation, and even decreasing age spots and acne.

3. Vitamin C

In addition to vitamin A, this antioxidant also aids in the anti-aging struggle. Vitamin C additionally fights free radicals and brightens skin.

4. Vitamin E

This vitamin also fights free radicals along with keeping skin hydrated. If you have problems with acne or dark spots, make sure your skincare has this vitamin.

5. Vitamin K

If you have dark circles under your eyes, try an eye cream or treatment with vitamin K. This vitamin helps with hyperpigmentation, rosacea, and constricting capillaries under the skin.

6. Zinc

This mineral might be best known in the form of that white paste that people smear on their noses to prevent sunburn. Yes, zinc is great for sun protection, but it is also amazing for treating acne because it controls oil production and is an anti-inflammitory agent.

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