Skin care takes time, effort, and knowledge about ingredients that help nourish and repair the skin. These ingredients can be found in food and cosmetic products, but they are not all created equal. Those that provide the most benefits are called active ingredients, and beta-carotene is one of the most potent.
This article discusses beta-carotene in skin care, lists its benefits and potential side effects, and provides tips on increasing its skin-boosting qualities.
What is Beta-Carotene?
Beta-carotene is a pigment found in yellow, orange, red, and green plants. It belongs to carotenoids, pigments known for their antioxidant effects. Beta-carotene is very popular in cosmetics for its antioxidant, anti-aging, photoprotective, and brightening properties. Humans can’t synthesize beta-carotene, so it is necessary to ingest it through food and topical products.
Benefits of Beta-Carotene and Vitamin A
Beta-carotene converts to vitamin A after consumption and topical application. Because it is a precursor to this nutrient, it is also called provitamin A.
Benefits of Beta-Carotene for Skin
Beta-carotene is often used in skin care because of the following properties:
- Antioxidant – Helps neutralize free radicals, reducing oxidative damage and strengthening the skin.
- Photoprotective – When converted into vitamin A, it acts as a natural SPF, helping protect the skin from sun damage and other environmental factors.
- Rejuvenating – As vitamin A, it increases cell turnover, helping to decrease aging signs, improving skin tone, and reducing roughness.
- Colorant – Beta-carotene gives products an orange-yellowish hue. It is often used in self-tanning products, toners, bronzers, and lipstick.
- Skin-brightening – Scientists speculate that beta-carotene may inhibit melanin production, improving pigmentation disorders like melasma and post-acne discolorations.
- Moisturizing – Studies show beta-carotene can reduce skin dryness by increasing moisture by 20%.
Benefits of Beta-Carotene for Overall Health
Beta-carotene provides more health advantages apart from improving the skin. These benefits include:
- Stronger immunity
- Reduced risk of skin cancer
- Better eye health
- Improved cognitive function
- Better heart health
Risks and Side Effects of Beta-Carotene
Foods high in beta-carotene are a safe and healthy way to enjoy its beneficial effects. Cosmetic products are usually safe for all skin types but may cause irritations in rare cases, especially if combined with retinol.
Though rare, high doses of beta-carotene supplements may cause the following adverse effects:
- Carotenemia, or yellowing of the skin (face, hands, soles of feet)
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Joint pain
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Increased risk of lung cancer for smokers, alcohol abusers, and people exposed to toxic substances
How to Use Beta-Carotene
We can take beta-carotene orally through food and dietary supplements or apply it topically with cosmetic products.
Foods and Supplements
Research shows beta-carotene consumption enables its accumulation in the top dermal layers, significantly improving our skin’s health. The best food sources of beta-carotene include:
- Sweet potatoes
- Carrots
- Oranges
- Pumpkins
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Kale
- Cantaloupe
- Apricots
Supplements with beta-carotene are a good solution for people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables or need strong protection against the sun due to acute photosensitivity.
Skin Care
Beta-carotene is one of the most potent antioxidants in skin care. Many cosmetic products are formulated with this compound, including lotions, creams, oils, sunscreen, soaps, tanning products, and makeup.
Use it in the morning to provide powerful protection against UV radiation and at night to accelerate cell turnover and help repair skin damage.
Vibrant Skin Bar recommends SkinMedica’s Dermal Repair Cream, formulated with beta-carotene to prevent moisture loss, strengthen the skin, and restore its natural glow. It can be used in the morning and evening as the last step in your skincare routine.
Avocado oil by Osmosis MD is another product with high beta-carotene concentration, thanks to sea buckthorn oil. It improves collagen synthesis and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other premature aging signs. It is ideal for dry and mature skin.
Note: Pumpkin facials are a popular beauty treatment for various skin concerns. The pumpkin’s rich nutrient profile (including high beta-carotene content) helps reduce hyperpigmentation, decrease wrinkles, and tighten loose skin.
Beta-Carotene FAQ
Foods with beta-carotene provide numerous health benefits and should be part of your daily meals. However, if you want to enhance your beta-carotene intake with supplements or start using cosmetic products with this ingredient, the following information can help.
What Can You Not Mix with Beta-Carotene?
Beta-carotene supplements may moderately interact with mineral oil, orlistat, lutein, verteporfin, cholestyramine, and vitamin A. Also, they may not be suitable for cigarette smokers, people who often drink alcohol, and people exposed to toxic substances at work.
Consult your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or supplement regimen, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications.
What Is the Best Way to Absorb Beta-Carotene?
Follow these tips to enhance beta-carotene absorption.
- Since beta-carotene is fat-soluble, it is absorbed more efficiently when combined with healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds.
- Lightly steaming or sauteing vegetables rich in beta-carotene increases the compound’s availability compared to eating these plants raw. Overcooking destroys most nutrients.
- Adding protein to meals may also increase beta-carotene bioavailability.
- Certain beta-carotene supplements increase its absorption by up to 70%.
- Hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E increase the effectiveness of beta-carotene in skincare products.
Does Beta-Carotene Convert to Retinol?
Beta-carotene taken orally converts to retinal in the small intestine, which then converts to retinol. However, the body only converts beta-carotene to this active form of vitamin A if the body needs it.
Skin experts believe topically applied beta-carotene remains as an antioxidant in the skin. However, some studies show it may convert to retinyl esters, which may further turn into epidermal vitamin A (retinol).
Conclusion
Beta-carotene is one of the most beneficial active ingredients in skin care because of its potent antioxidant properties. It protects the skin from UV radiation, increases skin moisture, and helps reduce aging signs.
Incorporate more beta-carotene foods into your diet for the best effects and use quality cosmetic products with this ingredient. If you need help with a particular skin concern, contact our friendly skin experts at Vibrant Skin Bar!
