If you’re a diehard skincare junkie, the emergence of a buzzy new ingredient is somewhat akin to the wonder and excitement of Christmas. And let’s be honest, in the endless world of products we pack onto our faces in the name of amazing skin, one that makes our mugs look calmer and more awake truly qualifies as a gift that keeps on giving. Well, the new kid on the block Vitamin K is officially here to revive your exhausted, irritated complexion and we spoke to Daniel Isaacs, Director of Research at Medik8 (one of the OG brands to bring it into the skincare space) to find out just how it works. Consider this breakdown our present to you.
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What exactly is Vitamin K?
Okay, before we dive into topical territory, let’s get some things sorted: what is Vitamin K and what on earth does it do? “Vitamin K is an essential vitamin, which comes in two forms; vitamin K1 and vitamin K2”, explains Daniel. “You can find vitamin K1 in salads, sauerkraut, broccoli, spinach and other green vegetables, and vitamin K2 is produced naturally by our gut bacteria. While vitamin K1 is primarily involved in blood clotting, K2 has a more diverse range of functions including protecting the heart and making sure our bone health is at its optimum. K2 is more easily absorbed by our body”, he says.
What does it do for my skin?
Now that we know what it does for our bodies, let’s talk skincare benefits. “Vitamin K is able to support the skin’s natural processes to help strengthen connective tissue in veins and capillaries to help reduce the appearance of redness in the skin,” Daniel says. “Weak capillary walls can lead to breaks within the capillary wall called telangiectasias, and these can be seen from the surface of the skin, appearing as redness or thread veins. Broken capillaries can be caused by irritation, inflammation and UV exposure, and they can lead to an uneven complexion and permanent redness in certain areas of the face. [Vitamin K] can not only minimise the appearance of redness in the skin, but also helps to visibly minimise dark circles which can also be caused by capillaries in the under eye area”, he explains.
Why haven’t I heard about it before?
Besides its status as the ultimate text conversation killer, “K” also deserves to be heralded in the vitamin world. It’s basically the Jan Brady of the skincare vitamins: often pushed to the side by its louder relatives (vitamins C and A, aka Marcia and Cindy), despite an impressive list of accomplishments and all it has to offer. “Vitamin K is slightly outshone by its more famous cousins vitamin C and vitamin A”, confirms Daniel. So how did it finally make its way into the spotlight, you ask? “We first came across vitamin K when developing our Calmwise range, specifically designed for redness-prone skin types. Vitamin K2 is featured in the Calmwise Soothing Cleanser, to help reinforce the skin’s natural defences against redness prone skin”, he says.
How should I use it?
If your skin is stressed (or if you are, and have been losing sleep as a result), vitamin K is ideal for your skin, whether applied to the entire face as a complexion calmer or just to soothe puffy peepers. “It can be used all over the face for general redness but it can also be useful specifically under the eyes to target the appearance of dark circles”, confirms Daniel. Unsure where it fits into your routine? Lipid formulas are the way to go. “It’s an oil soluble vitamin, so can be used in any form which allows for oils to be incorporated into the formula. It’s perfect in cleansers or oil-based serums”, he explains. So, add a Vit-K topical into your routine ASAP and prepare for the complexion revival of a lifetime.
bh loves: Medik8 Calmwise Soothing Cleanser ($52, medik8.com.au), Exuviance Brightening Bionic Eye Cream ($96, thebeautyclub.com.au), Omorovicza Reviving Eye Cream ($158, mecca.com.au),
Main image credit: Getty Images
|Have you heard of Vitamin K in skincare before? Would you try it to soothe redness and dark circles?
