Aesop’s approach to utilising vitamins in skin care is built on a fascination with scientifically validated ingredients combined with efficacious botanicals and essential oils—and the belief that every ingredient must serve a purpose. Many Aesop products contain vitamins—and those with the highest concentrations of vitamins comprise our Skin Care+ range. These formulations deliver hydration with the added benefits of skin-supportive vitamins, and are particularly suited to mature, dull, patchy or fatigued skin. Each vitamin has unique characteristics and is selected to impart balancing, nourishing or anti-oxidant properties to skin according to the formulation.
Vitamins in skin care
An Aesop approach
Vitamin C
Our skin craves Vitamin C, a resource readily depleted. This vitamin’s potent anti-oxidant and skin-supportive properties are essential in assisting to balance, brighten and fortify skin. In its raw form, Vitamin C is susceptible to degradation if exposed to UV light or aqueous environments. Aesop products use stabilised forms of water-soluble Vitamin C derivatives—Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate—which are converted to Ascorbic Acid by endogenous enzymes in the skin. These stabilised components ensure that our formulations deliver ample levels of this crucial skin care ingredient.
Vitamin B₃ (Niacinamide)
Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3, is well known for its barrier-strengthening and soothing properties, helping to calm sensations of irritation and reduce the appearance of redness. This moisturising ingredient works to support skin resilience, restore hydration and balance the appearance of skin tone.
Provitamin B₅ (Panthenol)
Provitamin B5 is a humectant moisturiser, adept at reducing water loss and drawing moisture to the skin. It balances and softens, aiding elasticity, and has well-documented soothing properties. Many Aesop formulations contain Panthenol, the provitamin of Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5).
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
An excellent moisturiser, Vitamin E offers exceptional skin-conditioning and anti-oxidant properties. When combined with Vitamin C, as in Perfect Facial Hydrating Cream, the two work coactively to fortify skin. Many Aesop formulations use a blend of mixed Tocopherols (of which the functional constituent is Vitamin E), as well as botanical extracts rich in Vitamin E.
