What is really the Vitamin F?
Vitamin F really is not a vitamin, as we know this term, since these act as active substances that react with other compounds. While the so-called vitamin F, term for denominating unsaturated fatty acids, acts as part of the cell membranes.
What they do have in common is that, like most other vitamins, we must provide them through food or supplements, since our body is not able to synthesize them by itself. Also through cosmetics we can contribute these fatty acids.
Thus, within the unsaturated fatty acids, called vitamin F, we find two families, omega 3 (alpha-linolenic), to which eicosapentanoic acids (EPA) and docosahexanoic acids (DHA) belong; and omega 6 (linoleic acid), to which gammalinolenic acid (GLA) and arachidonic acid (AA) belong.
Within all the functions of these unsaturated and essential fatty acids, we highlight those related to the skin:
- Help maintain the structure of the cell membranes of the skin and restore it in case of any aggression.
- Increases the resistance of the skin against external aggressions: sun, wind, dryness…
- Builds the skin’s moisture barrier, preventing peeling.
The essential contribution of this vitamin is through food and cosmetics.
Food rich in vitamin F:
- Oily fish, recommending the smaller ones: mackerel, anchovies…
- Vegetable oils, such as flax and camelina oil.
- Nuts and seeds: nuts, almonds, chia seeds, macadamia seeds…
And in terms of cosmetics, the following vegetable oils are examples of oils having a very adequate contribution of vitamin F:
- Borage oil, with a very important contribution in omega 6. Present in our Mature Skin Cream.
- Camelina oil, with more than 50% contribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids, being around 35-45% omega 3 and 15-25% omega 6, therefore having an omega 3/omega 6 perfect ratio. Present in our Dry Oil.
- Oils such as argan, sweet almonds, calófilo… are also very rich in vitamin F, mainly in omega 6. They are present in many of our products.
The synergy in the use of these types of vegetable oils in cosmetics, provides a very important contribution of essential fatty acids to properly maintain the skin barrier and therefore, the balance of the skin.
