Heard of carotenoids but aren’t quite sure what they are? No problem – allow us to enlighten you.
Carotenoids are naturally-occurring pigments found in plants, photosynthetic bacteria and algae. As well as providing the fruits and vegetables you eat everyday with their color (yellow, orange and red hues), carotenoids behave like antioxidants when introduced to the human body. Fun fact: your skin actually already contains carotenoids (specifically beta-carotene, lycopene, zeaxanthin and lutein) naturally, the chief goal of which is to protect the skin from oxidation to the best of their abilities.
There are upwards of 600 variations of carotenoids available from sources like fruits and vegetables. Some of the ones you might recognize are: beta-carotene, lycopene, alpha-carotene, lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, astaxanthin and zeaxanthin. A selection of carotenoids belong to the provitamin A category, meaning that the body turns them into vitamin A after being absorbed. Vitamin A is vital to skin health due to the fact that it increases your dermal healing response, hydrates the skin and contributes to impeding breakouts as well as assisting the immune system. The provitamin A carotenoid banner extends to beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin and alpha-carotene. Carotenoids like lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin, on the other hand, are not labelled as such. This, of course, doesn’t mean that they’re not valuable in their own right.
Zeaxanthin and lutein are two important carotenoids that, despite not being eligible candidates for vitamin A conversion, supply the body with in-built protection that the skin can really profit from. For instance, their ability to help shield the body’s fats, proteins and DNA against damage from UV rays are said to go some way towards preventing such impairment to the skin. Lycopene is also a great anti-wrinkle contender since it has been reported to help protect the skin from the sun as well as increase dermal strength and durability by delaying the breakdown of collagen (caused by collagenases, which are enzymes that degrade collagen’s peptide bonds). If that wasn’t enough to get you on side, the antioxidant qualities in these three carotenoids are also able to aid in both increasing hydration and promoting dermal elasticity. The result is a firmer, plumper-looking complexion, which is very helpful for softening the appearance of wrinkles.
So, how easily are carotenoids absorbed by the body? According to the experts, the effects of carotenoids can be benefited from either via topical application or by ingesting foods containing them. The skin is what’s known as retinoid responsive, which means that it’s able to easily soak up vitamin A and utilize its effects to its advantage. Because carotenoids are fat-soluble (they’re better absorbed in the presence of fat), cooking carotenoid-rich vegetables in natural fats like oil boosts their absorption when ingested (otherwise known as bioavailability). Foods with a high carotenoid content include, but are not limited to: kale, tomatoes, spinach, oranges, bell peppers, watermelon, cantaloupe, yams, carrots, oranges and mangoes.
Reaching for a skincare product enriched with carotenoids can be very rewarding to your skin, but don’t forget to eat them as well. Consuming carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables will always be one of the best methods of reaping their nutrients.
If you’d like to discover more about what makes antioxidants tick, check out our previous post on What Are Antioxidants? or jump straight to our upcoming posts on What Are Polyphenols? and What Are Flavonoids?