Meet Our Vitamins
It's no secret that vitamins can be great for skin. Some brighten or lighten, others smooth and tone. By design (and by nature) all Honua products are rich in a variety of vitamins. Let's dive in to what you can find and where to maximize results.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A can be a hot topic, namely because of Vitamin A derivatives, like retinoids. At Honua, we currently only use naturally occurring Vitamin A, which is found in many of our oils, like kukui nut oil. Kukui nut oil is a natural moisturizer, rich in both omega 3, 6 and 9 (oleic and linoleic) fatty acids AND it is full of antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A. It is a great all-over skin treatment because of its protection against free radicals. Kukui Nut Oil can also be used as an under-eye treatment to soften/smooth lines and crows feet. We use Kukui Nut Oil in many products, including Aloha Youth Serum and 'Ōlena Beauty Oil.
While Honua does not use retinoids, we do use bakuchiol, a gentle and effective plant-derived alternative to a retinoid. Note, bakuchiol mimics retinol's properties in many respects but it is much more gentle, so results in less irritation, typically, because it is a bit less...aggressive.
Vitamin B
Turmeric is rich in vitamin B and if you know anything about Honua....you know we LOVE turmeric. You can find it in many of products: Aloha Youth Serum, 'Ōlena Beauty Oil, 'Āina Detoxifying Mask and Moana Rejuvenating Mask. There are eight B vitamins and they are all essential for health and wellness. When it comes to skincare, vitamin B drives cell renewal and stress relief, two important factors in skin. Vitamin B9 can even fight sun damage and aging, leading to more firm skin.
Vitamin C
Another favorite of ours, vitamin C can be found in many of our ingredients, but namely in noni, which is known for being a highly effective antioxidant. You'll find noni in our Aloha Youth Serum and 'Ōlena Beauty Oil, to name a few. Noni is rich in vitamin C and other nutrients to keep your skin bright, smooth and glowing. This potent plant helps to lighten dark spots, producing a more even skin tone.
Passionflower seed oil is also rich in essential fatty acids as well as antioxidant vitamins A and C, so it does double duty as a moisturizer while reducing the appearance of fine lines without clogging pores.
Vitamin E
Game changer alert: A powerful antioxidant, vitamin E has been effective at fighting UV damage in skin. It also keeps skin moisturized, smooth and helps to heal blemishes and wounds. Macadamia nut and kukui (and kamani) nut oils are rich in vitamin E, as is wheat germ oil. You can find this powerhouse in Aloha Youth Serum, 'Ōlena Beauty Oil, 'Āina Detoxifying Mask and Moana Rejuvenating Mask.
Vitamin K
Lesser known for skin benefits than the other alphas, Vitamin K is still a powerhouse. It can help with dark spots, hyperpigmentation, under-eye circles, and scars. It even helps cuts heal faster. It's very gentle and has no know side effects, so is a great option for all skin types, even sensitive. You'll find vitamin K in taro root, which is a key ingredient in our 'Āina Detoxifying Mask. Taro is also rich in quercetin, an antioxidant that protects against excessive free radical damage.
Finally....let's talk about hibiscus. It is rich in amino acids AND antioxidants called anthocyanins, which fight off free radicals while preventing premature skin aging and decreasing inflammation. Not only that, but it is a great natural moisturizer because of the mucilage, which is a viscous fluid found in plants that helps skin look and FEEL hydrated. Now you probably understand why this is one of Honua Founder Kapua Browning's favorite ingredients and you can find it many of our products - Pa'akai Cleansing Cream, Hawaiian Beauty Water and Aloha Youth Serum, to start. She has also found it to be very low on the allergenic scale and it is suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin.
Incorporating vitamins in your skincare routine is easy, effective and it can be affordable too. We didn't cover all vitamins here but will add on as needed!
Stay healthy, 'Ohana!