Beta-carotene

A pigment among carotenoids

Beta-carotene belongs to the carotenoid family. Some give a yellow or orange color to plants; others, like lycopene, contribute to red tints. In green leaves, chlorophyll masks some of these colors. Diet-related skin coloring therefore depends on a set of pigments and cannot always be attributed to beta-carotene alone.

Absorption depends on the meal and food

The pigments must first be released from the structure of the food. Digestion, preparation of the plant and the lipids of the meal then influence their passage into structures which allow their intestinal absorption. This is why two foods providing a similar quantity of beta-carotene do not necessarily lead to identical absorption. The amount consumed is not fully transferred into the skin.

A contribution to vitamin A

The body can convert part of the beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is useful in particular for vision and the normal functioning of tissues. The rest can circulate as carotenoids. This conversion varies and does not allow milligrams of beta-carotene to be confused with those of preformed vitamin A. For the complexion, we are mainly interested in the pigments which remain present and contribute to the color.

A different shade of tan

The carotenoids present in the skin modify the light it absorbs and reflects, particularly in the yellow component of its color. Tanning relies on melanin and a response to UV exposure. The two contributions can overlap, but increasing food intake does not require getting more sun. The expected result is a warm shade, rather than an intense brown.

Why the effect remains variable

The initial pigmentation, the contributions already present and the absorption influence the change observed. A change measurable with a device can also remain discreet to the naked eye. The trials do not cover all skin colors and eating situations equally. It is therefore more accurate to speak of a possibility of warming the complexion than of a uniform result.

Color and UV response

Trials and a meta-analysis have studied the reduction of certain redness caused by UV rays after prolonged supplementation. This does not turn carotenoids into sunscreen or permission to prolong exposure. For this routine, the desired benefit is color; keep your usual sun protection regardless of the change in skin tone.