When it comes to skincare, most of us focus on the external—cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and even high-tech procedures. But what if your internal health is sabotaging your glowing skin goals? According to esthetician and skincare expert Chris Gibson, no amount of product can make up for key nutritional deficiencies.
In a recent YouTube video, he breaks down the three vital vitamins that could be holding your skin (and your entire anti-aging routine) back, regardless of how much money or effort you’re pouring into your beauty regimen.
“Skincare products can do a whole lot for us, obviously,” Gibson begins. “But if you happen to be deficient in one of these three vitamins, it can undo even the most expensive products—even procedures.” According to him, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and vitamin B12 are the crucial ones to add to your diet. Read on to learn more.
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1. Vitamin D
According to Gibson, vitamin D is far more than just the "sunshine vitamin." It’s responsible for the expression of over 900 genes in the body. Deficiency, he says, has been linked not only to chronic disease and a shorter lifespan, but to accelerated skin aging.
“Vitamin D deficiency can lead to shorter telomeres, which regulate how quickly we age,” he explains. “And when you're deficient, your skin can’t protect itself from UVB damage as well—even though UVB is what helps your body make vitamin D in the first place.”
Interestingly, he dispels the myth that wearing sunscreen leads to low vitamin D levels.
“Studies have shown that people who wear sunscreen do not have lower vitamin D levels than those who don’t. So there’s no excuse not to protect your skin.” Gibson adds that age and body weight can also block vitamin D absorption, especially since stored vitamin D in body fat isn’t bioavailable.
2. Vitamin K2
The second unsung hero is vitamin K2, often overshadowed by its cousin K1. While K1 is known for blood clotting, K2 is a powerful anti-aging nutrient.
“Vitamin K2 has been found to reverse and prevent collagen and elastin breakdown—yes, actually reverse it,” he says. “It also helps distribute calcium correctly in the body, preventing calcification in arteries and even in the brain.”
Gibson emphasizes that bone loss in the face contributes to sagging skin, and K2 helps slow that process, keeping facial structure more youthful. It also helps prevent varicose veins, which he calls a common concern in his audience. “That’s men and women. That’s not just women,” he notes. “It keeps your bones healthy, your workouts effective, and your collagen production strong.”
3. Vitamin B12
Usually associated with energy, vitamin B12 is Gibson’s surprise skin-saver. It plays a major role in cell reproduction and becomes harder to absorb with age. “Vitamin B12 deficiency is extremely common in people over 40,” he warns, citing digestive issues, IBS, Crohn’s, and heartburn medications as culprits. “These are issues that B12 supplementation can improve in just a week to a month, if you’re deficient,” he says.
Chris Gibson wraps his video with a powerful message. “These three nutrients are absolutely necessary in preventing, slowing, and even reversing the signs of aging—in both the body and the skin. The science is there.”
Before you go investing in another $200 serum, Gibson advises getting your blood tested to see if these internal factors could be working against your efforts.
