Top 5 Vitamins For Beautiful Skin

To keep skin supple and glowing, a well-balanced diet is important. But the fact is, "no matter how much of the food in take,the body delivers only a certain percentage of vitamins to your skin," says Mary Lupo, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University School of Medicine. Plus, there's no way to send them straight to your crow's feet or brown spots.

The Solution: Applying vitamins topically to deliver maximum anti-aging benefits—everything from improving texture and tone to fading under-eye circles.

1. Vitamin A for wrinkles

-Best overall age-fighter

Proven to:  Reduce wrinkles, fade brown spots, and smooth roughness. "There are more than 700 published studies on retinoids—they're tried-and-true ingredients. Anyone who wants younger-looking skin should use one," says Doris Day, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University Langone Medical Center.

2. Vitamin B3 for redness

-Boosts hydration to reduce redness. It's often called niacinamide on the label.

Proven to:  Increase production of ceramides and fatty acids, two key components of your skin's outer protective barrier. "As that barrier is strengthened, skin is better able to keep moisture in and irritants out—making B3 a great ingredient if your complexion is dry or sensitive," says Leslie S. Baumann, MD, director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute. In one study, a moisturizer with niacinamide improved the flushing and blushing of rosacea, a common condition that can worsen with age. Another B3 skin care benefit: It inhibits the transfer of pigment to skin cells, minimizing dark spots.

3. Vitamin C for spots

-All-around anti-ager

Proven to: Mop up the free radicals that trigger wrinkling, sagging, and other aging changes. Vitamin C also helps smooth and firm skin and fade brown spots. In one study, women who treated sun-damaged skin with a C cream for six months saw significant improvement in fine lines and discoloration. Though the benefits of retinoids (see vitamin A) and vitamin C sound similar, using both delivers more complexion perfection. "Skin aging occurs in various ways, so you need multiple forms of defense and repair," says Dr. Lupo.

4. Vitamin E for moisture

-Eases dryness and bolsters skin's UV defense

Proven to: Quell dryness by helping skin retain its natural moisturizers. Also, vitamin E's potent ability to neutralize damaging free radicals has earned it the moniker "the protector." A slew of skin care studies document its superstar status. In one, E significantly reduced the number of these unstable molecules created after exposure to cigarette smoke. Others show that when it's used before UV exposure, skin is less red, swollen, and dry.

5. Vitamin K for dark circles

-For younger, brighter eyes

Proven to:  Possibly help lighten under-eye circles. Fragile capillaries that allow blood to leak into skin are considered one cause of under-eye circles, and vitamin K (aka phytonadione) may put the skids on this seepage by controlling blood clotting. Daily use of a K cream significantly lightened circles after 4 months in one study.