Vitamin F (Linolenic Acid): What is, Skin Benefits, Foods
Somewhere between the moisturizing properties of vitamin E to the glowing effects of vitamin C on your skin, there is another vitamin that is rarely listed among the absolute essentials for skin health, protection and increased radiance. Its name? Vitamin F.
Guru lovers everywhere believe that vitamin F should be the absolute must in skin care.
With the other vitamins stealing the show when it comes to skin care, it’s time to add this factor to everything you know.
So in a nutshell, vitamin F is fat. It is used to represent linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that is rich in omega-6.
Besides, fats are also known as lipids and are incredibly important in maintaining a strong, healthy corneal layer that will externally protect the skin from fluid loss.
Vitamin F consists of two essential fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid, and linoleic acid (LA), an omega-6 fatty acid that together help regulate and promote healthy body function.
Linolenic Acid is a substance that was discovered as recently as 1987 by Dr. Michael Pariza, a scientist at the Institute for Nutrition Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, United States. It was discovered by a scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA.
Typically, it was discovered through research on mice, in which he showed that the presence of this substance, called CLA-conjugated linoleic acid, prevented the development of cancerous tumors in the test animals, and the same scientist in experiments with rabbits showed the positive effect of CLA in reducing atherosclerosis.
What Exactly Is Vitamin F
Vitamin F appears to be a vitamin, but in reality it is far from the typical definition. It more accurately fits the description of a fatty acid or lipid.
Vitamin F is a term that refers to the combination of two key fatty acids: linoleic acid (LA) and linolenic acid (ALA) that offer a plethora of health benefits such as reduced inflammation, improved heart health, mental health support, and controlled blood sugar.
In the beauty world it is more commonly referred to as linoleic acid, which belongs to the omega 6 family of fatty acids, with all scientific reports referring to it as an incredible anti-inflammatory ingredient, which is of top importance for repairing and maintaining the skin’s natural protective barrier.
Commonly found in rose oil, sunflower oil, argan oil, olive oil, flaxseed oil and chia oil which means it can easily even be incorporated into your diet for even more benefits.
How To Use It
This ingredient can be found in various forms and is incorporated into many skincare products.
From serums to oils and creams, vitamin F is a valuable ingredient used by many brands worldwide.
The correct way to use it varies depending on the product, but the pure form of the oil can be used both in the morning and at night as part of your daily beauty routine.
As a general rule, it’s best to incorporate it slowly and steadily and work your way up to twice a day. This way you will see how your skin reacts.
Alternatively, you can create your own mask by mixing vitamin F into a mild face cream or serum.
How?
Add the oil directly to the section you’re going to place on your skin – not the entire jar or bottle, as you can disrupt the concentrations of ingredients in your product and potentially reduce its half-life.
TIP: Be sure to leave the mask on long enough to allow the ingredients to penetrate the skin.
Vitamin F Dietery Sources
In which foods we find Vitamin F? Basically, in foods that have Omega-6 such as:
Vitamin F Skin Benefits
Final Take
What is certain is that when your skin lacks vitamin F, symptoms of dryness, irritation, eczema, sun sensitivity and acne are magnified.
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