icon

Beauty Supplements Guide

Beauty Supplements Guide

We all know how our health is dramatically affected by our diet. A beneficial diet rich in vitamins and minerals, and low in added sugar plus artificial ingredients will help to prevent and overcome illnesses, keep us at a good weight, assist with our mental health, and keep us looking fantastic. There are so many fantastic advantages to ensuring we consume the optimum nutrients, and in this feature we are going to concentrate on the benefits to our looks, and how supplements can help with this. Using the best skincare products such as Nakin’s natural anti-ageing range will feed your skin from the outside, and supplements can support this by feeding skin from the inside.

If we eat a balanced nutritious diet, we may wonder what the benefits of supplements are. But it can be hard to achieve all of our nutrient requirements from our diet, due to intensive farming methods and our modern lifestyles. Vitamin D is a great example, as it is easily obtained when we are exposed to sunlight, but as we are advised to always wear sun protection we can become deficient. Some nutritionists advise not to take supplements and that we can get the same nutrients from a well balanced diet. However, this is not always the case.

In this feature we will assume that we are achieving the right amount of the common vitamins and minerals, and focus instead on supplements that have specific beauty powers. So here’s a list of our favourite beauty supplements, to help skin look and feel amazing. Just a little mention that when purchasing supplements there is a huge variation in quality and strength, and if possible we recommend using natural food based supplements. Taking supplements and choosing the right one will always depend on individual needs, lifestyle and requirements, and we always recommend seeking medical advice before starting a supplement programme.

Pre-Biotics & Pro-Biotics

It’s well known that pro-biotics are good for our gut as beneficial bacteria keep a balance, and there is a lot of research into how they help our mental wellbeing, but they are also known as skin miracles. Pre-biotics help pro-biotics to function & we love Dr. Amy Myers explanation on pro-biotics; she advises that conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and acne are really inflammatory conditions, and often a manifestation of something that is happening deeper within the body. When you fix the gut (which, depending on your health, might include getting rid of an infection like Candida, eating a clean diet, and taking a probiotic), skin issues often resolve as well. We can gets lots of good bacteria in our diet from foods such as beans, but taking a supplement can easily ensure that we are getting enough.

Collagen

This is a structural protein and the holy grail of good skin, as it protects from wrinkles and sagging. However, the only way at present to ingest it from a natural form is to use hydrolysed collagen, but it is usually derived from fish. To overcome this there is a host of supplements that support collagen function in the body, these supplements include ingredients rich in vitamins such as C and E, plus minerals like Zinc. They generally include potent plant extracts rich in anti-oxidants, and the vitamins plus minerals assist our internal Collagen formation. They work with the Amino Acids to help and boost the process. Collagen plays an important high role in how our skin looks and and is a popular supplement for maintaining our youthful looks.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera may be one of the more common plants, but it really does have special benefits. Being alkaline it can sooth and help to neutralise acidic environments. It’s beautifully hydrating and detoxifying. The natural antioxidants, minerals, vitamins and compounds help heal damage to skin from the sun.

Ashwaganda

This is well-known in Ayurvedic lifestyles, but is not a traditional beauty supplement, however it is easily available. It possesses antibacterial and antimicrobial abilities to help keep skin clear, as well as healing skin. We love it for the incredible antioxidants that help protect cell damage; but it can help with a multitude of issues from insomnia to improving memory. This super supplement has the added benefit of being an adaptogen, as it assists us to manage stress, improve our mood and lower Cortisol levels - and these relaxation properties are good for the skin.

Spirulina

The anti-oxidant power of marine supplements is something to think about if you are looking for to detoxify and boost your complexion. Spirulina is a blue-green algae, and the wonders of green marine matter are well known for the skin. It helps with cell turnover, cleanses and improves skin vitality due to the massive amount of nutrients, fatty and amino acids.

Omega

Omega 3 consists of fatty acids and one of these is Eicosapentaenoic Acid which helps to balance oil production and increase skin hydration, these both help skin to look young and fresh. A study by the Journal of Lipid Research actually found that Eicosapentaenoic Acid can help to stop the release of enzymes that damage collagen. It is also antioxidant and reduces inflammation, which means it can help prevent and heal skin damage.

COQ10

Coenzyme Q10 is actually an antioxidant that is found in all the cells of the human body. It has an important role in helping energy levels, and keeping the heart healthy. It benefits skin by looking after cells and reducing inflammation, oxidative stress plus general damage. Our ability to produce COQ10 naturally can reduce as we get older, or if we are subjected to stress. It is thought that once we reach thirty years old we start to naturally produce less than desirable levels. A supplement can help to reduce future skin damage, and repair past skin damage. It helps to promote Elastin and Collagen production in the skin, which helps to resist lines and sagging.

Biotin

We felt Biotin deserved a mention as it seems to have some very impressive user reviews. The benefit of Biotin is that it helps to boost Keratin, which is a protein that helps strengthen the structure of skin. It’s actually vitamin B7, although through our research we read that having a Biotin deficiency is actually quite rare.

 

All our suggested supplements are easily available, but as discussed previously the quality between different brands can very hugely. Always see medical advice before starting a supplement programme, to ensure it is safe for your individual lifestyle.

Leave a comment

Back to top