Beauty Supplements

You may know your AHA's from your BHA's but how up-to-date are you with your skin supplements?

Supplements can nourish your complexion, repair your skin barrier and improve your overall skin health, so regardless of your skin goals, supplements, much like your SPF, should be a standard part of your skincare routine.

OMEGA-3 OIL

Opti3 Omega-3 EPA & DHA 60 Soft Gels

Beauty comes from the inside and optimal levels of Omega-3 are one of the more important nutrients for a healthy, dewy complexion. Not only does Omega-3 they help repair the skin barrier, but it also influences the gut-skin axis. When our body doesn't have enough Omega-3, elastin fibre production decreases, causing our skin to lose hydration and plumpness, which can lead to the appearance of ageing.

Omega fatty acids are essential for visibly beautiful skin and hair, they help to seal in moisture, improve skin barrier function, and keep out irritants. A deficiency of essential fatty acids—either omega-3s or omega-6s—may cause rough, scaly skin and dermatitis.

The cooking process can damage Omega-3, so it may be beneficial to take a supplement on top of eating foods rich in Omega-3.

LIPOSOMAL VITAMIN C

Lipsomal Vitamin C differs from the usual Vitamin C supplements in that it has a phospholipid membrane, which is exactly the same as the membranes in our cells. It is therefore much more bioavailable and does not cause the common gastrointestinal side-effects.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that contributes to normal collagen formation and protects our skin cells from environmental oxidative stresses which cause ageing, loss of skin firmness and elasticity.

PRE + PROBIOTICS

Probiotics are live bacteria that can be sourced from live yoghurt, kefir or fermented foods such as sauerkraut and apple cider vinegar. It is important to avoid sugary versions of these products however, as this can be counteractive. These live bacteria and yeasts are important to balance the gut's microbiome and strengthen our immune system. An imbalance in our microbiome can impair our body's natural ability to absorb nutrients, regulate blood sugar and store fat, which in turn causes inflammatory skin conditions such as rosacea, acne, psoriasis and dermatitis.

The Beauty Chef Glow Inner Beauty Powder

It's also good to remember that our microbiome isn’t just found in our gut but also on our skin, and there are many skin brands now available that include live bacteria such as lactobacillus ferment, a wonderful probiotic that may help to support your skin.

Whilst probiotics often get most of our attention, prebiotics - the food for cultivating live microorganisms - is paramount to inducing a healthy growth of live bacteria. Add food like asparagus, yam, banana, oats, honey, garlic, leek, apple and onion to your diet to get the benefits.

ZINC

Zinc is an essential mineral and powerful antioxidant that may benefit acne prone skin, with its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and ability to regulate sebum production. Studies have shown that zinc can kill the bacteria that causes acne, helping to clear breakouts whilst also reducing the inflammatory response to blocked pores.

Zine can also help with signs of ageing by supporting the growth of healthy skin cells, serving as a co-factor for collagen production and DNA repair.

Food-Grown Zinc Plus 30 Capsules

There are studies to suggest that people suffering with acne have lower levels of zinc compared with those with little or no acne. Eating a diet which includes foods high in zinc such as oats, pumpkin seeds, cashews and chickpeas, should be enough to prevent a zinc deficiency. If your zinc levels are at normal levels, supplementation is unlikely to improve your skin appearance. However, for those with a zinc deficiency, zinc supplements may improve inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, eczema or dermatitis.

It should be noted that exceeding 40mg of zinc daily can have serious side effects such as a lower immune response, nausea and vomiting, so it is always advisable to discuss any changes to your diet with your GP or nutritionist so they can properly advise you.

Jo Sharp
Nutritional Therapist BANT, CNHC
@JOSHARPNUTRITION_

Frederika Van Hagen
Holistic Facialist
@saintlyskin

DISCLAIMER This program is not designed to provide medical services nor is a health and nutrition consultation being provided as a substitute for a consultation, diagnosis, and treatment by a licensed primary health care professional, such as a Medical Doctor. Products or treatments recommended in this program are not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat symptom, defect, injury, or disease. The information contained herein is intended to inform, not provide individual medical advice or care.

Tags: Skin Care | Author: Jo Sharp, Nutritionist & Frederika Van Hagen, Holistic Facialist