It’s easy to get glowing skin. all you need to do is pick an alphabet that suits your skin type — A,B, C, E, H or K. Yes, the right vitamin in your beauty potions can guarantee a flawless, radiant complexion. “It’s mandatory to have topical vitamins in both, face as well as body products,” says Dr Raj Parikh, Consultant, Medical Relations, Vichy Laboratoires. “The skin can only function correctly if it gets the essential vitamins and minerals in sufficient quantities. As the body is unable to produce vitamins, it must get them from your food intake. But because our modern diet doesn’t provide these in the required quantities, vitamins in products provide the dynamism and balance that our skin requires to function properly,” explains Meeta Awatramani, Training Manager, Clarins, India.

For any product to deliver effective results, the right concentration of the vitamin is very crucial. Vitamins will work provided they are absorbed, stresses Dr Snehal Sriram, Head Dermatologist, Kaya Skin Clinic. It’s not a good idea to line your dressing table with all available vitamin-enriched creams because you might not end up getting the benefits of each. But two or three vitamins together can produce fabulous results. “Vitamins like A, C and E act as antioxidants and prevent our skin from damage caused by free radicals in the atmosphere, which could lead to visible signs of ageing as well as darkening and dehydration,” explains Sayyami Rane, Brand Manager, Bourjois.

Vitamin A, which is used as Retinol in products, is great for rough, wrinkled or even acne-prone skin, especially on the elbows and knees. However, this ingredient when combined with AHAs or other exfoliating agents, could cause the dermis to flake and peel, warns dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel. “Avoid using products containing a high concentration of vitamin C and A during the day as it could cause inflammation when exposed to the sun. Use these products at night since the skin is very receptive then and these ingredients show maximum results while you’re resting,” cautions Dinaz Jehani, Brand Manager, Shiseido. “Vitamin C helps build collagen, reverse the ageing process and reduce pigmentation and sun damage. But being a water-soluble vitamin, it’s harder for the skin to absorb. Biotin or vitamin H is great for treating hair loss and smoothening skin. Vitamin K works wonders for treating under eye circles especially when combined with vitamin A,” reveals Goel. Vitamin E, being oil soluble, is easier for the skin to absorb and is great in creams or lotions especially for dry skin. It can also be used for sensitive skin if it does not contain perfumes or strong irritants but is generally too thick for oily skin since it clogs pores.

An important point to consider — it might not be the vitamin that disagrees with you but the base in which it is used. For example, if the base is sticky, it could lead to breakouts. So ensure that it suits your skin type and always do a patch test. Sippy Jindal, Brand Manager, H20 Plus advocates choosing products with natural ingredients over chemical based ones. Products that contain vitamin C and A should be stored in a cool, dark and dry place as they are very unstable when they come in contact with light, moisture and heat.