The lowdown on ingestible beauty

The latest beauty developments have remixed the old adage “you are what you eat”. With beauty supplements, powders, drinks and pills commonly known as nutricosmetics – “you are what you drink”, too. 

“Nutricosmetics add nutrition to your cosmetic treatments. A relatively new concept, it is quickly becoming an integral part of daily beauty routines,” says Deborah Minnaar, senior aesthetician at TITE Medi Spa by Camelot in Port Elizabeth. 

Adding ingestible beauty into your routine enables you to feed your skin from within – complementing and fully optimising your current beauty regime. 

“By ingesting nutricomestics, essential vitamins and minerals are able to provide extra support and nourishment at a cellular level, contributing towards optimal skin, hair, nail and gut health,” says Minnaar. 

What are nutricosmetics?

Nutricosmetics are the intersection between nutrition, pharmaceuticals and personal skincare. They are dietary supplements, powders and functional foods taken orally and are usually bursting with Mother Nature’s finest active ingredients, minerals and nutrients that fuel the body with plenty of goodness, resulting in gorgeous skin, hair and nails.

How do they work?

“Eating ‘clean’ and nutritious food can sometimes be a challenge. Supplementing what we lack with a nutricosmetic based on your individual concern can bridge the gap to optimise the functions of cosmetics, give nutritional support for a balanced diet and increase overall health and wellness,” says Minnaar.

Feeding the skin from the inside creates a more obvious and longer-lasting effect on the outside, with better results than only applying creams and lotions. They are meant to complement, not replace your usual topical treatments.

The benefits

Nutricosmetics help to maintain a healthy rate of skin renewal and protect skinfrom environmental stressors that may cause premature ageing. 

“Key nutricosmetics like omega 3 essential fatty acids and hydrolysed collagen can reduce inflammation and prevent treatment resistant hyper-pigmentation, as well as organising new collagen fibres to maintain the skin’s 3D dimension. When you can’t eat well, you can be assured that your nutricosmetics are taking care of things from an internal, cellular level,” says Minnaar.

Vital nutrients in your nutricosmetics

Collagen

Key to the skin’s structure and elasticity, collagen is the powerful protein that makes up most of our largest organ. Unfortunately, as we age our collagen production slows down and supplementing becomes crucial to help repair our skin, hair, and nails. The Harvest Table Pure Collagen Powder 450g, R450, and GNC Luster & Lum Collagen Peptides Single Stick Packets, R40.99, can easily be added to hot or cold beverages, making it super simple to include in your daily diet.

Calcium and magnesium

These essential minerals are vital when it comes to supporting your bones, teeth and overall well-being as well as protecting your skin from external damage. GNC Bone-Building Calcium 600mg 60 Soft Chews, R249, and Clicks Expert Glycinated Magnesium 210mg 60 Capsules, R139.99, are a simple and delicious way to provide you with these super supplements.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a potent anti-inflammatory agent, immune booster and is known for its glow-giving abilities. The Harvest Table Collagen Turmeric Latte 400g, R495, makes a delicious spicy drink but can be added to smoothies and curries too.

Probiotics

These are extremely beneficial in restoring and maintaining the balance of your gut, which is important if you want your body to function at its peak, skin to look its best and your immune system to be at its strongest. GNC Probiotic Chewable 100 Chewable Tablets in Vanilla Berry, R299, contains eight strains to help support your digestive and immune system.

Lastly, not all supplements are equal; it is best to read labels and be informed. Remember that supplements are just that – an addition to a healthy diet and not a substitute for eating well.

IMAGE CREDIT: Getty Images