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B vitamins for facial skin
Medical expert of the article
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
To maintain youthful skin, you need not only proper care, but also supply it with useful substances. B vitamins represent the largest group of organic compounds:
- Vitamin B1 (thiamine, aneurin) – smoothes wrinkles and improves skin texture. Useful for flabby skin, prevents aging processes. Found in large quantities in pork, liver, buckwheat and oatmeal, rye bread.
- Vitamin B2 (riboflavin, lactoflavin) – eliminates flaking and dryness, restores healthy color and normalizes metabolic processes. Present in the liver and kidneys, fermented milk products, hard cheeses, fresh cabbage, eggs, green beans and wheat.
- Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid, niacin) – normalizes sebum secretion and improves color. Accelerates regeneration processes, maintains turgor. Found in kidneys and liver, fruits, bread, chicken eggs, corn and wheat groats.
- Vitamin B4 (choline) is a vitamin-like substance that binds with other components and enhances their effect. It starts metabolic processes and regulates the functioning of vital systems.
- Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) – takes part in fat and carbohydrate metabolism at the cellular level. Promotes the synthesis of glucocorticoids and other useful substances in the adrenal cortex.
- Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyrivitol) – has moisturizing, nourishing and protective properties. Protects the epidermis from ultraviolet radiation and aggressive environmental influences. Contained in whole grains, fermented milk products, legumes, chicken egg yolks, meat and whole grain bread.
- Vitamin B8 (inositol, mesoinositol) – is synthesized in the body tissues from glucose. Ensures the transmission of nerve impulses at the cellular level. Has antioxidant properties and removes free radicals from the body.
- Vitamin B9 (folic acid, folacin) – protects against acne and pimples.
- Vitamin B10 (para-aminobenzoic acid) – used only for oral administration, as it affects the skin from the inside. Activates intestinal flora, promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms and the production of folic acid. Prevents premature aging and wrinkle formation, protects against UV radiation.
- Vitamin B12 (cobalamin, cyanocobalamin) – rejuvenates and increases blood flow. Present in liver, vegetables, soy, eggs, cheese, oranges, potatoes.
- Vitamin B13 (orotic acid) – maintains youth, beauty and healthy complexion. Very often used in the production of cosmetic products. Slows down the aging process, improves turgor and fights wrinkles. Restores water balance, improves metabolic processes.
- Vitamin B15 (pangamic acid) – improves tissue respiration, participates in oxidation processes and is a powerful antioxidant.
- Vitamin B17 (laetral, amygdalin) – takes part in the fight against cancer cells, accelerates the healing of damaged tissues. Has an anti-inflammatory effect, slows down the aging process.
Vitamin preparations of group B are suitable for any type of dermis. The result of their use is manifested by the following reactions:
- Minimization of wrinkles and improvement of facial relief.
- Prevention of fading and aging.
- Cleansing, nourishing and moisturizing.
- Restoration and maintenance of turgor.
To achieve a therapeutic effect, organic compounds must be used correctly in a strictly selected dosage. Otherwise, dermatological problems can be significantly aggravated. This is due to the fact that biologically active substances in concentrated form instantly affect the skin.
Let's look at the most effective recipes for facial care with B vitamins:
- To combat wrinkles, provide adequate nutrition and normalize the skin, take a tablespoon of honey, the same amount of sour cream and cottage cheese. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and add an ampoule of B1 and B12. Apply gently to the skin for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water.
- To help dry face and restore water balance, mash banana thoroughly and mix it with a spoon of sour cream. Add B6 to the finished mixture. Spread the mixture over the face, neck and décolleté area.
- To cleanse and smooth out expression wrinkles, mix a tablespoon of honey with the same amount of aloe juice and ampoule B1. Apply the mask 3-4 times a day.
To achieve a pronounced cosmetic effect, the procedure should be carried out in courses of 10-15 procedures.
Vitamin B12 for facial skin
Cyanocobalamin is an active substance widely used in cosmetology. The beneficial properties of vitamin B12 for the face are:
- Formation of red blood cells and normalization of blood circulation.
- Improving metabolic processes.
- Regulation of carbohydrate-fat metabolism in the body.
- Acceleration of regeneration of damaged cells.
- Improving skin color.
- Relief of inflammatory processes.
For complex facial care, it is recommended to use the following recipe: mix a tablespoon of honey with the same amount of sour cream and two parts of cottage cheese. Add a raw chicken egg and 10 drops of lemon essential oil to the ingredients. Mix everything again, pour in an ampoule of B12 and an ampoule of liquid aloe extract. It is better to apply the mask in the evening for 15-20 minutes, rinse with cool water.
Cyanocobalamin is found in foods that should be included in the daily diet. The natural compound is present in perch and veal liver, salmon, shrimp, sardines, and meat products (lamb, beef). B12 is found in brewer's yeast, soy products, and kelp.
Vitamin B1 for facial skin
Thiamine is an organic compound that is effective in treating many skin diseases. B1 has a pronounced therapeutic effect on psoriasis, pyoderma, eczema, and skin itching. It is especially needed by aging skin.
Thiamine is effective in combating the following problems:
- Wrinkles and flabbiness.
- Dryness and flaking.
- Inflammatory processes.
- Acne.
- Avitaminosis.
- Hyperpigmentation.
- Increased production of sebum.
After the thiamine procedure, the face looks fresh, toned and elastic. Its regular use makes wrinkles less noticeable and evens out the complexion. B1 can be used as applications or added to masks/lotions. But it should be taken into account that B1 is very poorly combined with other components from this group, and the combination with B12 causes allergic reactions.
Vitamin B6 for facial skin
A complex of organic compounds: pyridoxol, pyridoxamine and pyridoxal is vitamin B6. It is useful not only for the face, but also for the body as a whole. The substance takes part in protein synthesis, reduces cholesterol levels, improves the absorption of amino acids. It also stimulates the removal of excess fluid, relieves swelling and improves metabolic processes.
Pyridoxine is useful for the skin. It accelerates the healing of minor injuries, acne and pimples. The following methods of its application are distinguished:
- Mash one banana and mix it with a tablespoon of sour cream. Add an ampoule of B6 to the mixture and apply to your face for 20 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a week.
- To treat acne and improve skin tone, mix a spoonful of honey and kefir. Add an ampoule of vitamin and ¼ lemon juice. Apply the product to cleansed and steamed skin for 20 minutes 2 times a week.
For a comprehensive effect on the body, B6 can not only be applied externally, but also taken internally. It is found in fish and seafood, meat (beef, chicken, venison), offal (beef and chicken liver, heart, kidneys), dairy products and eggs. There are also plant sources of the useful substance: legumes, banana, strawberry, citrus fruits, sea buckthorn, eggplant, green peas, cereals, nuts.
Vitamin B2 for facial skin
Riboflavin is a “skin” vitamin that makes the face not only beautiful, but also healthy.
Beneficial properties of B2:
- Treats acne, dermatitis and seborrhea.
- Accelerates the healing of cracks and ulcers.
- Rejuvenates.
- Has an antioxidant effect.
- Stimulates energy production in the cells of the dermis.
- Protects against the destructive effects of free radicals.
- Regulates fatty acid metabolism.
B2 is a component of many cosmetic products. There are also products rich in riboflavin: milk, meat, fish, liver, eggs, brewer's yeast, green leafy vegetables.
Vitamin B3 for facial skin
Vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid) is ideal for caring for oily skin. This substance is present in every organism, and is also found in food products and pharmaceutical preparations (ampoules, capsules). The microelement has a good effect not only on the skin, but also on the hair, stimulates the renewal of cells and tissues. Its deficiency manifests itself in pronounced disorders of the functions of the dermis.
Beneficial properties:
- Normalizes sebum secretion.
- Smoothes out fine lines and wrinkles.
- Maintains elasticity and firmness.
- Expands pores and moisturizes.
- Promotes rapid healing of microcracks, small wounds and other damage to the skin.
- Improves blood circulation at the cellular level, saturating tissues with oxygen.
- Improves complexion.
- Eliminates bags and dark circles under the eyes.
Nicotinic acid effectively fights acne. To eliminate skin defects, you can use a mask made from the following ingredients: a tablespoon of calendula and birch buds, 1 ampoule of B3, a teaspoon of coconut oil. Mix the calendula and birch buds and pour 200 ml of boiling water to make a strong infusion. Heat the coconut oil in a water bath. Mix 3-5 spoons of herbal infusion with an ampoule of acid and oil. Apply the product to a cleansed face. This mask disinfects, penetrates into the deep layers of the dermis and restores them, reduces inflammation and fights redness.
When using B3 for facial care, it should be taken into account that this microelement dilates blood vessels. Therefore, if the blood vessels are located close to the surface of the skin, the product is contraindicated. Nicotinic acid is prohibited for intramuscular or oral use in diseases of the circulatory system. There is also a risk of developing allergic reactions. Therefore, before applying the acid to the face, test it on the elbow.
Vitamin B5 for facial skin
Pantothenic acid or vitamin B5 is a water-soluble substance involved in energy production at the cellular level. Deficiency of this microelement manifests itself in dermatitis and eczema, skin discoloration. The face becomes flabby and ages quickly.
Beneficial properties of calcium pantothenate:
- Removes toxins and harmful substances.
- Maintains fat and water balance.
- Provides turgor.
- It has antioxidant properties.
- Prevents burning, peeling and dryness.
- Accelerates regeneration processes.
- Has antibacterial effect.
- Stops inflammatory processes.
A derivative of pantothenic acid is D-panthenol, which is involved in biosynthesis, effectively soothes and moisturizes the skin.
Vitamin B5 is present in pasta, white bread, rice. It is found in large quantities in egg yolk, royal jelly and brewer's yeast. For comprehensive facial care and maintaining its youth, you should add the above products to your diet. Calcium pantothenate is easily excreted from the body and does not have a toxic effect, so its excess does not cause side effects.