Vitamin K: Where can it be found in cosmetics?

The vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays a role in blood clotting and bone metabolism. It is often prescribed as an anticoagulant treatment. Vitamin K1 is the main form used in cosmetics. However, its use is regulated.

pure Vitamin K1 in cosmetic care products has been prohibited. This follows a rise in cases of contact dermatitis due to allergic reactions associated with its use.

Today, vitamin K1 is found in its oxidised form (vitamin K oxide) in many cosmetic products, which is much less concerning to use because it is more stable, and also effective. The concentrations of vitamin K in skincare products range from 0.1% to 1% approximately.

• Healing creams. The vitamin K is often included in creams that aim to improve healing. Here, vitamin K is utilised for its high healing power. By stimulating the production of collagen and fibroblasts, vitamin K could accelerate skin repair after trauma. Furthermore, it could limit the slowing down of healing caused by oxidative stress, due to its supposed antioxidant properties.

  It is generally combined with thehyaluronic acid to provide a moisturising effect to the product and allow for optimal skin regeneration.

• Topical treatments for reducing redness and bruising. Anti-redness serums and creams containing vitamin K are available on the market. Combined with soothing ingredients such as thechamomile extract, it acts on micro-circulation defects, like bruises after laser treatment and redness associated with rosacea for example. Vitamin K potentially works through its action on blood coagulation by strengthening the vascular walls. Moreover, redness most often appears due to inflammatory issues. Vitamin K also inhibits the NF-kB inflammation pathway, which enhances its action against the development of redness.

• Eye contour care. Two studies have shown an effect of vitamin K against bluish dark circles. As previously mentioned, vitamin K could improve blood circulation by strengthening the vascular walls it induces. Thus, vascular dark circles, which are associated with an accumulation of blood pigments under the skin due to poor circulation and impacted lymphatic drainage (waste removal), the application of vitamin K could restore good micro-circulation and reduce the appearance of purple dark circles.

  Its combination with caffeine and retinal allows the formula to provide a reduction in eye puffiness and an improved skin texture, in addition to reducing the appearance of bluish dark circles.