What Are Pro-Vitamins

Pro-vitamin is one of the most popular buxx words on the market. It is easy to pronounce and sounds healthy and scientific. Pro-retinol or pro-retionol -A (a made-up name) sounds even better. Retinol is the chemical name for vitamin A, and so pro-retinol-A is probably just pro-vitamin A - which is beta-carotene, a natural colorant found in many roots. Including carrots. Cosmetic manufacturers and beauticians will tell you that pro-vitamins nourish the skin, combat free radicals produced in the skin by ultra violet rays, act as antioxidants, and so on.

But this is another myth. The truth is, they add little to the quality of the product and have no discernible biological effect unless you eat them as part of a balanced healthy diet. Pro-vitamins, are in fact, substances in our diet that are absorbed by the body and converted into vitamins. Panthenol  (pro-vitamin B 5) and beta carotene  (pro-vitamin) A ) are the most common pro-vitamins used in cosmetics.

Reference: Cosmetics Unmasked: Dr Stephen & Gina Antczak