They say what you put on your skin is only half the story and ingestible beauty products are huge right now. But what makes them so beneficial?
Well, by definition, beauty supplements are capsules, powders, gummies or liquids with healthy ingredients for skin, hair and nails. Sure, you can find many of the same ingredients formulated into topicals, but ingesting good-quality supplements can help your body enhance its natural glow-giving powers. Beauty from the inside out, as they say…
What ingredients should you look out for?
While there is no such thing as a miracle pill for skin, beauty supplements usually contain ingredients we know play important roles in skin function and overall health. Some of the most popular ones are:
Antioxidants: The term “antioxidants” casts a rather wide net. You have your vitamin alphabet such as vitamins A (think beta-carotene), C, E and so on, but you also have phytochemicals from many unique plants that can contribute greatly to healthy skin.
Collagen peptides: Studies have shown that taking collagen peptides will support skin elasticity and hydration levels, promoting youthful texture. Especially type I, which is especially abundant in the
skin, where it’s responsible for keeping it pliable and youthful-looking. Collagen supplements also provide many of the amino acids and nutrients needed for hair growth.
Hyaluronic acid: A popular ingredient in many beauty products, oral forms of this acid have also been shown to support skin hydration and appearance.
Probiotics: Given the research on the gut-skin axis, optimising your gut function can work wonders for your skin as well.
So, now that you have a baseline knowledge of the best ingredients for beauty supplements, let’s talk about some of the best that fit the bill!
Healtheries
New from the heritage New Zealand brand, Healtheries Beauty Wellness powders, $29.99, are a delicious blend of collagen, protein and prebiotic fibre to help you shine from the inside out. The formula is perfect for a quick-and easy fix when prepared as a morning shake for those on the fly or added to your smoothie or breakfast bowl.
Vida Glow
Vida Glow founder Anna Lahey’s own introduction to ingestible beauty was completely transformative. “After suffering from hair loss and trying every supplement available, I only achieved tangible, long-lasting results from marine collagen,” she says.
The brand’s offering is now vast, including Clear Advanced Repair Capsules, $95, a daily ingestible supplement that’s jam-packed with probiotics, fatty acids, vitamin A and more to reduce blemishes and pimples in acne-prone skin, while Hairology Advanced Repair Capsules, $95, target the cause of thinning hair, and optimise the environment necessary for hair to grow and thrive.
The Beauty Chef
The Beauty Chef Cleanse Inner Beauty Support, $70, and Glow Ageless, $79, were created by the brand’s founder Carla Oates in response to her own needs. The former is a bio-fermented super-greens powder designed to help support your body’s natural cleansing processes, while Carla says of the latter, “In my late forties, I’m certainly noticing changes in my skin, from its tone, to feeling drier and a few more fine lines. To be honest, the fine lines don’t worry me as much – I just want my skin to feel and look healthy!”
Dose & Co
Created by New Zealand-born, US-based nutritionist Libby Boxall, the Dose & Co brand has gone seriously global. A range of premium collagen products designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine – wherever your day might take you – the brand has been on an upward trajectory since it first appeared online and in stores, with no sign of stopping. Khloé Kardashian praises Dose & Co’s sustainably sourced collagen products, particularly the Kiwi brand’s Marine Collagen, $49.99, which is easily digested and absorbed by the body.
Jeuneora
Another New Zealand brand going great guns, Jeuneora created edible beauty before its very successful foray into skincare. Its latest release Pink Renew+ Marine Collagen Super Powder – Pink Lemonade, $99, is in partnership with the Breast Cancer Foundation NZ and $5 from every container sold will be donated to the charity to help Kiwis affected by breast cancer. The new flavour supports the health and appearance of hair, skin and nails thanks to premium marine collagen peptides – and it tastes delicious!
